Life in The ER

The hospital went to an EMR yesterday and I don’t think I’ve had to work as hard as yesterday. I was running around the ER with my head chopped off AND we had an ER Code which made matters more hectic. I do like that it makes my job easier and I get to be more detailed in my notes though. Before, when using paper, there was only so much room to write, and now I can be as detailed as time will allow me. 

Had to hold a combative patient down while they were getting a chest tube who “wasn’t stable enough for conscious sedation”.

I’m pretty sure that was the most difficult thing I’ve ever had to done my arms are still sore two days later

IF YOU’RE THEFREAKING CV SURGEON ON CALL FOR THE ER DON’T GO ON FREAKING VACATION THE ONE WEEKEND A MONTH YOU TAKE CALL

Work finally calms down…
Exhausted, I sit in our office, and finally get a chance to open my book and get a small amount of studying done.
And of course… as soon as I open up my book there’s a code blue in the ICU.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!

   So, along with the cornucopia of questions we have all received/ seen out there in the medblr universe, community college seems to be a popular subject. There’s quite the insidious rumor that has been around in the pre-med world for eons, quite possibly before the advent of the telegram. Who started it you ask? I have no clue (gives a sassy glare at student doctor network)

The rumor is that taking any type/any amount of pre-requisite coursework at a community college, will look hurt your med school app and more you appear less qualified/competitive/competent/blah blah blah…

      Let’s address summer classes at community colleges. HAVE YOU EVER TRIED TAKING A SCIENCE CLASS OVER THE SUMMER!? IT’S FREAKING HARD! You’re taking a course that was meant to be taught over an entire semester and condensing it into five weeks. That’s just a lot of crap to learn in a short amount of time. Taking these courses and doing well in them are not going to harm your application. It’s challenging (to say the least) and it takes a great deal of stamina to be able to complete these courses, especially if you’re doing a course like organic chemistry.

            Most people who take pre-reqs over the summer do so because it’s difficult to fit all the pre-reqs into their fall/spring semesters, especially if you’re a non-science major (like both AspDocs and me). That sounds like a pretty good reason to take summer classes, unless someone wants to lend me Hermione’s time-turner so I could get an extra 4-5 hours in for class/studying?

No? That’s what I thought…

Granted, you might have to give a reason for taking your pre-reqs over the summer, and you better hope it’s a better reason other than an attempt to take the easy way out (SURPRISE, it actually isn’t all that easier). You’re not going to be penalized for being unable to alter the quantum mechanics of time travel in order to get that extra class in, none of has have a Tardis at our disposal (BUT…if you do, sharing is caring)

AspiringDoctors:

Honestly, I had never heard this ‘community college credits/summer credits are teh suckzors and will ruin your life’ stuff until like… this summer. Seriously. In my world, it just appeared out of nowhere, but has apparently been around for a long time.
Since I started the pre-med track after my sophomore year was completed, taking as many pre-reqs in the summer as possible was a necessity for me. I took a full course load every summer for two straight years. Summer classes are freaking hard; but, if anything came close to giving me a taste of the med school pace, it was that wretched June when I took Ochem I, Physics I and Physics I lab at the same time (add this to my ever-growing list of less than brilliant ideas).However, this did not seem to hurt my application, even though I did not get all A’s. No one even asked me about it, but my prepared answer was that I had to do it because art classes were only offered in the spring/fall semesters and not every class was offered in the spring and fall. 

Continuing on to the questions about community college classes being frowned upon in favor of university classes…. Stop. Just stop.

Personally, I don’t think it matters if your Ochem grades are from Podunkville Community College or from Harvard. What matters is whether or not you have a full grasp of the material. Now, granted, some courses may be more or less thorough or well taught than others… but the basic principles in these introductory courses haven’t changed much in the past few years so it’s not like you are really missing out on some university-level instruction on electron orbitals. This is why standardized tests like the MCAT exist- to level the playing field (because America is, theoretically, all about leveling the playing field).

 So, regardless of where you got your instruction, you will get the same questions about biology, chemistry, physics, and verbal reasoning as everyone else. Want to prove that your diploma from Tinytown Community College isn’t glorified toilet paper? Know your stuff and kick ass on the MCAT.

In summary, no one is going to look akimbo at your summer classes, and no one is going to care about your community college credits provided you proved that you know your stuff by excelling on the MCAT.
/end rant

AWKWARD MOMENTS WHEN PATIENTS HIT ON ME

BUT WHAT DO I DO IF THEY’RE KINDA CUTE?

My hobbies include: 

• Going through your previous ER charts and counting how many milligrams of Dilaudid you’ve gotten in the past year after trying to tell me you’re not a drug seeker
• P.S. IT WAS MORE THAN 30mg!!!

I worked about 85 hours in a week and now I’m just lost at finding what to do with myself..

(In reality it’s more like figuring out ways to procrastinate on my studying)

Had a radiologist compliment me on my ability to read CTs last night

That was pretty awesome.

Also seeing as I am the epitome of a black cloud there are supposed to be tornadoes in my area tonight.

I really hope this doesn’t happen as I would like to make it out unscathed tonight and would like a night free of trauma.

Now has internet after an almost week and can now return to regular posting!
I now also live in a house. 
No more campus living

The best part?

I have a dishwasher

You don’t know how much not have a dishwasher sucks until you spend three years without one.

aspiringdoctors:

And, the always amazing and wonderful ERmedicine sent me a present for finishing M1 because he is the sweetest.

AND OMG IT CAME TODAY IN THE MAIL!!!

This is my best grumpy cat frown.

Thank you ERmedicine!!

BUT THAT’S NOT ALL!

We have a collaborative series coming up for anxious pre-meds! Starting Friday! Hang onto your hats!

ITS SO CUTE

And expect some insight from both sides on pre-med and the ever boding existential anxiety