Andrew S. Moon, MD
June 19, 2026
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One of the best pieces of advice I ever received came from an attending who told me, “Do not be afraid to ask stupid questions as a PGY-1.”
At the time, it sounded reassuring but also a little obvious. I was about to start residency, of course I was going to have questions… and a lot of them were probably “stupid.” But what I didn’t fully appreciate at the time was what this advice really meant.
As a PGY-1, you’re not expected to know everything. In many ways, you’re expected not to know everything, and that’s okay. The danger isn’t in asking a basic question early. The danger is staying quiet because you’re fearful or embarrassed, then carrying that same uncertainty into your PGY-2 or PGY-3 year when people may reasonably expect you to know it.
There are so many small things in residency that no one formally teaches you. How do you present a consult efficiently? What details actually matter to your chief? When should you escalate a floor issue immediately? How do you pre-op a patient properly? What does your attending want available before incision? When is a post-op symptom expected, and when is it concerning? Some of these things you learn by watching, and some you learn by doing, but many you will learn faster, and more safely, by asking.
Early in intern year, I remember thinking that asking too many questions might make me look unprepared. In reality, thoughtful questions usually showed the opposite. They showed that I was paying attention, that I cared about doing things correctly, and that I understood when I needed help. In general, senior residents and attendings will be happy to explain something when they know you’re just trying to learn. Looking back now, the residents I’ve seen grow the most were not the ones who pretended to know everything, but the ones who were honest about what they didn’t know and cared enough to ask.
That doesn’t mean asking the same question repeatedly without making an effort to remember the answer. Start a running document on your phone and write down attending preferences, consult templates, post-op protocols, splinting tips, order sets, and the little workflow details that make each rotation run more smoothly. Your goal isn’t to avoid asking questions. Your goal is to ask, learn, and build your system so you’re better the next time.
PGY-1 year can feel overwhelming because everything feels new at once, but that’s also what makes it such an important year. It’s your chance to build a strong foundation you’ll rely on later as a senior resident. Ask the question, clarify the plan, and admit when you don’t know. Then don’t forget to remember it.
You won’t know everything as an intern, and no one expects you to. But the questions you’re willing to ask now will help you become a safer, more confident, and more prepared resident in the future.
DISCLOSURES: Dr. Moon This individual reported nothing to disclose
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