Post Night Shift Education for Interns: A Pilot Program.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Residency Training
• Graduate Medical Education

Background:

• Night float rotations in surgery are linked to reduced feedback, educational engagement, and team interaction.
• Interns on night float experience increased isolation and decreased team involvement.
• A novel initiative was developed to mitigate these negative impacts on interns' education and sense of belonging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of a new post-night shift educational initiative on surgical interns.
• To evaluate improvements in the educational experience and sense of belonging among interns.
• To address shortcomings associated with night float rotations.

Main Methods:

• A weekly senior resident-led post-night shift session was implemented for general surgery interns during the first quarter.
• Four interns and one senior resident participated in each session.
• Feedback surveys and a validated Belonging in Surgery survey were administered to interns and senior residents.

Main Results:

• Interns reported increased familiarity with peers and seniors, improved clinical decision-making, and a safer space for discussion.
• Senior residents found the sessions enjoyable and beneficial for intern familiarity.
• While categorical interns showed higher belonging scores, no significant difference was found between interns who did and did not have early night float rotations.

Conclusions:

• The post-night shift program enhanced intern decision-making, inter-resident familiarity, and comfort seeking senior resident assistance.
• No statistically significant difference in belonging was observed based on the timing of night float rotations.
• Such programs can potentially improve learning opportunities and community during challenging rotations.