First day... and night
So... my first day as an intern came and went quickly!
After morning report at 8AM, I had general clinic where I saw a bunch of patients. There were quite a few brand new babies in the mix that I get to keep in my continuity clinic - yay! In the afternoon I went to the GI specialty clinic.
Side note: I really enjoy the clinic attendings I have worked with so far - very helpful, good teaching, etc!
I was done with GI clinic slightly early - a pleasant surprise - and I was able to relax for 2 hours before I went in for my ER night shift. It was quite an adjustment for me in the ER... I think it was primarily the plethora of decisions that need to be made quickly, and now I'm the one who has to make them!
It was a very steady stream of patients throughout the entire shift (6PM-7AM) and I estimate I saw about 15 patients. In the Peds ER we see patients up to the age of 21, so it was inevitable that on my first day I was called upon to do a pelvic on an abdominal pain/pregnant girl. The patients I saw ranged from several R/O appendicitis/abdominal pain to massive hives/facial swelling, 11 day hx of constipation, strep throat, a toddler who fell off some concrete steps, a teen with tylenol overdose - that one took a looong time, a newborn with thrush (why they decided 2am was a good time to come in is beyond me), etc... I was nervous about suturing, since it's been a while, and since it was my first day, the senior resident who was on with me volunteered to take those patients. Next time I'll just have to suck it up and do the suturing!
Finally, at 6:15AM my senior resident and I successfully cleared out the Peds ER. And she insisted I could go home early. After only one "Are you sure?" I got out of there, made it home by 6:30, and fell asleep by 7.
The day FLEW by, everything just a blur of paperwork, decisions, and patients.
But, I think I can do this. :)
Things I have learned from my first day:
1. Love your Harriet Lane.
I'm bad at doses right now, so it's immensely helpful. The only downside - each attending has their own special preferences when it comes to meds.
2. Be thankful for the Peds ER nurses.
They are also good teachers. From paperwork and how the tube system works, to the meds and studies the attendings are going to want - they know what's up.
3. I get really tired around 4am.
This necessitates a run to the cafeteria for coffee. (And no, they haven't put $ on my ID card yet. Pretty soon I'll be scraping my pennies together to get by!)
4. On the phone, it's amazing how "Dr. Brown" commands more respect than "Kelly."
5. Sleep is not overrated.
I can't wait to hear about everyone else's first days!
After morning report at 8AM, I had general clinic where I saw a bunch of patients. There were quite a few brand new babies in the mix that I get to keep in my continuity clinic - yay! In the afternoon I went to the GI specialty clinic.
Side note: I really enjoy the clinic attendings I have worked with so far - very helpful, good teaching, etc!
I was done with GI clinic slightly early - a pleasant surprise - and I was able to relax for 2 hours before I went in for my ER night shift. It was quite an adjustment for me in the ER... I think it was primarily the plethora of decisions that need to be made quickly, and now I'm the one who has to make them!
It was a very steady stream of patients throughout the entire shift (6PM-7AM) and I estimate I saw about 15 patients. In the Peds ER we see patients up to the age of 21, so it was inevitable that on my first day I was called upon to do a pelvic on an abdominal pain/pregnant girl. The patients I saw ranged from several R/O appendicitis/abdominal pain to massive hives/facial swelling, 11 day hx of constipation, strep throat, a toddler who fell off some concrete steps, a teen with tylenol overdose - that one took a looong time, a newborn with thrush (why they decided 2am was a good time to come in is beyond me), etc... I was nervous about suturing, since it's been a while, and since it was my first day, the senior resident who was on with me volunteered to take those patients. Next time I'll just have to suck it up and do the suturing!
Finally, at 6:15AM my senior resident and I successfully cleared out the Peds ER. And she insisted I could go home early. After only one "Are you sure?" I got out of there, made it home by 6:30, and fell asleep by 7.
The day FLEW by, everything just a blur of paperwork, decisions, and patients.
But, I think I can do this. :)
Things I have learned from my first day:
1. Love your Harriet Lane.
I'm bad at doses right now, so it's immensely helpful. The only downside - each attending has their own special preferences when it comes to meds.
2. Be thankful for the Peds ER nurses.
They are also good teachers. From paperwork and how the tube system works, to the meds and studies the attendings are going to want - they know what's up.
3. I get really tired around 4am.
This necessitates a run to the cafeteria for coffee. (And no, they haven't put $ on my ID card yet. Pretty soon I'll be scraping my pennies together to get by!)
4. On the phone, it's amazing how "Dr. Brown" commands more respect than "Kelly."
5. Sleep is not overrated.
I can't wait to hear about everyone else's first days!