Resident Struggles with Procedures

I am a new staff and work closely with a lot of residents. I work in a procedure heavy surgical field. We always do our best to make sure our procedures are performed safely that pain is minimized. This includes IV meds prior to procedures, local anesthetic, regional blocks, topical anesthetic, peri-procedure anxiety medications. I am very familiar with procedural pain management and I am quite sensitive to the issue

Procedures we commonly perform include: Dressing changes, I & D of wounds laceration closure, fracture reductions etc. We always address anxiety and anesthesia for the procedure prior and during. The truth is however some things will be uncomfortable.

I am currently working with a junior resident however who is VERY uncomfortable causing any discomfort to patients. We have worked together several times and whenever a patient shows any signs of discomfort with a procedure the resident locks up and stops the procedure - often against the benefit of the patient.. The person will not continue even with coaxing. He also has clear concerns performing these procedures and questions it every single time to the point I think he is avoiding them on call, and somehow thinks we are causing unnecessary pain to patients.

How would you address this with a junior resident in a surgical field? My concern is they are so sensitive to the issue that they avoid making the appropriate clinical decision.

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