As chief resident, I had observed two types of residents. The good ones weren’t always the smartest (although intelligence is important, as are diligence and an ability to apply what one knows). The good residents were the ones that didn’t make excuses to try to avoid the work. The work was almost always demanding, but the good residents were there, with the right attitude and a spirit willing to help.

By contrast, a few residents weren’t good. Again it wasn’t a matter of intelligence, for nobody can make it that far without being bright. Their problem was a matter of attitude. The bad residents would do everything they could to avoid work. When they were paged by the nurse from the ER their first response often was, "Well, have you done this? Have you tried that?" Then they would direct, "Do this or that and then call me again." These residents didn’t want to answer the call, so they thought up excuses not to examine the patient. They weren’t making themselves available.

David Stevens, MD in Jesus, M.D., a doctor examines the Great Physician