Nostalgia?

This week was our last didactic week. Our last OSCEs. Our last shelf exams. Our last time on campus really. I wish I could say I was sad, or that I was nostalgic about it. But no, the only thing that mad me upset was knowing that my friends and I would be splitting up for 4th year....everyone going their separate ways to different hospitals and as much as facebook can keep us in touch, we will be apart.

Today, Thursday June 14, 2012, was the last time i had to sit in that lecture hall. I hope. Unless i failed something...or unless they bring us back for something stupid during 4th year. but otherwise, next time our class will all be in one room is graduation on Friday morning, May 17, 2013. When we get the title 'Doctor.'

studying...

"Welp, at least we can say we will probably be the tannest people at shelf exams tomorrow. Bahahahahaha"
-Nicole to LJ


Update: they were

"There is no such thing as a prescription for marijuana. Yes there is in LA, no there is not in real life"

-Dr White

decisions

"so last time we were chatting you were still debating specialties. any new revelations since then?" -me

"lisa wants me to do radiology so i can buy her nice purses" -Daniel

"thats a pretty good argument"

Last didactic week, EVER!

"Another study weekend - why are there so many interesting things on the internets? and why is my kitchen so dirty??"
-Alex

Last day of third year rotations!!!!

welp....thats it. 75%  over. 3/4 done. 3 down, 1 to go.... There are many ways I can say it over in my head but it doesnt matter, I still cant wrap my head around it. I have to start realizing that in less than 1 year, I will become a physician. I will be responsible for my actions. I will be responsible for lives [with a safety net of senior residents and attendings of course.]

This year was very difficult. As always, it was more difficult than the previous one. I assume next year will be more difficult than this year but I hope this is not true. 

I am excited to do rotations in emergency medicine and begin learning the skills I will use for the rest of my career. I am excited to focus on the field I know I will love. I am excited to move around the country and change up the day-to-day scenery. I am even more excited to begin applying for residency and becoming closer to settling in a new job. I am even MORE excited to finally start getting a paycheck....but, note to self, that wont be for another year.

to sum up, my core rotations are done. I have done all my pre-requisites. I helped deliver babies, did well child exams, rectal exams, cut people open, listening to schizophrenics tell me they were god, diagnosed people with fatal diseases, cried, laughed, loved, hated, become overwhelmed, gained confidence, lost that confidence, then gained it back [and repeated that cycle over and over again]. I learned how to practice medicine, how to answer tough questions from an attending without looking scared, how to speak to a patient without sounding like a kid, how to gain someone's trust, how to get over awkward moments like that time i was doing a lower extremity neuro general sensation test and the old man told me to keep going up...I have done a lot. and i am happy to say, I am proud of myself and my classmates for doing it. For learning it all, and staying sane. We have sacrificed a lot to get this far.

So thats it, this chapter is done and the next and final one of medical school is beginning. Bring it on 4th year!

Murmurssss

heard my first "washing machine" type murmur today. a pt with endocarditis. it was LOUD and you could palpate a thrill on his chest. crazy.