ABSTRACT
Challenging residents, also known as 'problem learners' or 'learners in need', are a major source of frustration for full-time teachers and preceptors alike. The first suggestion of a problem may come from a patient, a colleague or the nursing staff, or it may arise from your own observations. In some instances, there may be a warning to 'watch Dr X like a hawk.' More commonly, a critical incident will arise unexpectedly - a resident is chronically late, a complaint filters to your front desk, or a medical assistant confides that she wonders how Dr X 'made it through medical school.' By understanding the challenges inherent in residency training and correctly defining the problem, a challenging situation can often be transformed into a rewarding one.
