First week of the rest of my career

abdominal pains, 3 year olds with arm fractures, IV lines, lacerations, chest pain, casts, splints, traumas, helicopters, suturing, incision and drainage of abscesses, motor vehicle accidents, ultrasounds, jail patients, suicidal teenagers, teenagers being brought in by cops for medical clearance before they go to jail...and so much more. This is just a portion of what the first 3 shifts in the emergency department have been. Add this to the amazing people, practical jokes, pandora playing on the computers in the background, staff willing to help with anything, and fun down to earth residents...it has been a great rotation. I have only worked 3 12 hour shifts and the staff is already starting to recognize me and call me by name, I have made a great impression on some residents, met the program director, and have had a blast with all of this. I could not be happier and I am so glad I have found something i enjoy so much.

At the beginning of my shift today there was a huge accident on the freeway and the entire freeway was closed to clean up the mess.  While driving by, I wondered if I would see any patients in the ED when I got to work. Sure enough, the driver who caused it was in our pod.

PS At the end of my shift, I shook the hand of the doctor who pronounced Rodney King dead. Thats right. Hes practically famous.

Feelin good!

Week of vacation over. 

4th year rotations have begun. 

First up, my first emergency med rotation. SO FREAKIN EXCITED! My first shift isnt until tomorrow so I went in this morning for orientation and was home by 11am. Been studying and gonna start practicing my sutures on some pigs feet [thanks Dad].

tomorrow I start in Pod B...high acuity patients and TRAUMA :) 

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