I see this all the time. Find out exactly what you can to do to improve, find what the weaknesses are. Sometimes its a personality thing where upper level residents/fellows etc run the show because they know if something happens its gonna be them taking the beating. I let my residents run things when I know that they are accountable, hard working, knowledgeable, and mostly knowing that they know when they know and don't know what they are doing (someone who doesnt know when they don't know is dangerous and I watch them like a hawk because of the dangers of someone making wreckless decisions). How prepared are you during rounds?? can you answer most the questions about labs and whats going on or does someone above you have to jump in a lot?? If I have a resident that has an A-game, thinks inside and outside the box and I can follow their thought process I will back off and let them handle it because I know that they will come to me to discuss things soon enough. The ones that try to keep me in the loop by updating me about changes (which I already know) show me that they are thorough and on the ball. I wont put the labs in for them and work everything up but I know what I will do if they do not. When it comes to a crashing situation thats where it gets tricky. If they are running a code and doing the right steps I will be right there with them and let them run it but interject here and their to optimize care if needed. I hold as much hand as I need to know the patient is getting the best care. IF i get a resident struggling with simple cases and low volumes I tend to step in quite a bit to let them do the highest quality work that they can do and sometimes if may feel like I snagged a patient. Bottom line...its about the patient care and if you can contribute in that highest level of care I would doubt that the resident would snub you (if you have a resident that can run the show it helps the senior supervise and oversee the entire team as opposed to every individual detailed minutia).