End of ER, Start of surgery

Working in the ER was a great time. Saw a few really sick patients, got to suture a great deal and learned a lot. I also stuck myself with a needle which was pretty intense. I was injecting lidocaine into a wound to be sutured and slipped and and stuck my finger with it. The patient was tested and came back negative for everything which was a big relief. But I was nervous none the less for the day it took to get the results.

Next up is surgery. I hear the surgeon I am working with is a great guy and a good teacher, i.e. not like a lot of other surgeons, so I am looking forward to lots more learning.

I feel a bit isolated on rotations since I don't have much contact with my classmates and my wife really isn't too interested in the "cool details" of my day - I really have no one to share my day with. Basically it is like I never saw the things I saw or did the things I did. I come home, have a superficial conversation with my wife, play with my son if he's not already asleep, go to sleep, wake up and do it all over again. At least it's not as bad as the didactic year was. Money and free time are essentially nil. Meaningful human interaction is minimal outside of clinic. On top of that my parents and sister consistently present opportunities to test my communication skills, patience and ability to love unconditionally. Now I have to start worrying about finding a job. Ahhhh, the joys of life and PA school.

EMERGENCY!!!

Some of the challenges I have faced during my rotation in the ED:

1) Most of the stuff we see there is not an emergency - vomiting x 1 day; diarrhea on and off for 3 days; sinusitis; small lacerations; used up pain meds too soon; ingrown toenail; flu-like illness, etc.

2) People game the system to get pain meds. It gets old quick and I don't have any real compassion for these kinds of addicts. I think they are really crappy people actually. see the youtube video for a humerous yet spot on depiction.

3) Nurses. Some seem to have a problem with students. PA students to be precise. Others don't and that is great.

4) I still don't know sh!t. I am reminded of that constantly.

On the other hand, this has been my most enjoyable rotation - lot's of hands on and the PAs who precept me let me do a lot!

Emergency Med

My rotation in the ED has been a lot of fun so far. I started seeing patients on my own immediately - and the preceptors allow me to do pretty much everything. I've gotten to stitch up a few people which was fun. The ED is interesting because many people use it like a walk in clinic. Most of what we see is not an emergency but I try to have fun with each case. A few are annoying, but I just let those people slide right back down to where they came from.

This ED is a level 4 trauma center which means it can't handle anything too serious. Occasionally stabbings or a car wreck comes in but nothing major so far.

I am working 4 12s a week which leaves me surprisingly little time to do what I need to once I catch up on sleep and complete my fatherly duties. When I get home from a shift I don't even get onthe computer, I just watch TV for 30 minutes and go to sleep. Ahhhh...sleep.