So, the past couple of months I've been absent because I was finishing my med school applications and I started working! Working full time is a bit different at this job, because instead of doing Mon.-Fri. 9-5, my schedule is three 12-hr shifts in a week. Now, you may think, "Wow, three on, four off!! That's amazing! She must have so much free fun time!" Yeah, no. I've mostly been working nights, and they ride into the next day. I'm doing nights partly because they pay more, partly because I think the people on the night staff are awesome, and partly because I like the night shift responsibilities a little bit better than the daytime ones. Well, night shifts ride into the next day, so I'm technically working everyday. And when I'm done I'm so tired that I sleep. And then do it all over agin.
Anyway.
The other day I hit my four-month mark at Intermountain Medical Center. I wanted to work at a hospital since I thought it'd be a good learning experience in preparation for the future.
After interviewing, I was granted the option of working on either the Cardiology floor, or the Neuro/Medical floor. I'd never done anything cardio related, so that was going to be my choice, until I was on the phone with the recruiter. Something told me that Neuro was the spot, so I just rolled with it. I'm grateful I did!
The reasons for my last-minute decision to go on the Neuro floor have become clearer over time. I'm pretty sure the Lord is giving me a lesson in hardcore patience. 12-hour shifts are nothing compared to the life of a doctor, I know, so I think it's good practice and all.
Here are a few things I've learned over the past couple of months.
1. STAY AWAY FROM DRUGS, kids.
Sometimes we work on the floor and have anywhere from 6 to 14 or 15 patients that we're in charge of, and sometimes we have to stay in a single patient's room. Usually these patients are high-acuity and require special attention. I've had to sit in the rooms of people withdrawing from drugs or alcohol and all I'll say is that it's made me realize that addiction is truly a disease. Withdrawals are awful. For the patient, for the patient's family, and for us as medical staff. Drugs are bad. Say no to drugs.
I once had a guy give me ten dollars for some heroin. It was kinda funny. But then, he started convulsing. Not funny at all.
2. We all handle pain and stress in different ways
There's been people that are funny, and those patients are always the best. But, we've had staff kicked, punched, and we've had our fair share of insults and crying. Haha, it's the neuro floor for a reason.
3. When a medical staff asks you if you need anything else, think about it for a second and respond accordingly. Don't make me walk out of your room, only to get called in five minutes later because you want water, or soda crackers, or to be adjusted just so in bed.
4. If you're ever at the hospital, recognize that you're not the only patient that is in pain/needs things.
Your pain and comfort is real for us as medical staff, and we want to do our best to ease in a speedy recovery. But the reality of being in the hospital is that you're sick, and that sucks, but so is everybody else at the hospital. That means 30+ people on the floor are in your same situation, so don't be a whiny baby. Also, that means 30+ people need water, and meds, and to go to the bathroom, and when there's 15 patients to one staff member, it's gonna take us a bit to attend to everyone.
No, we don't forget that you want water/bathroom/meds, and no, we're not ignoring you. But if you call for water, and we have another patient throwing up, throwing punches, or having an episode, I'm not going to feel bad about bringing you water half an hour after you call. You're not going to die of thirst. Sorry that you can't have food because you're having surgery tomorrow. This isn't a third-world country. You will get water. You will get food. Eventually. Relax. That's all.
5. People matter
In a hospital, everyone matters to someone. Most often, it's families and friends that come to visit, but for that one patient that never has visitors, you matter to us. You matter to me. Maybe I'm just naive and haven't been properly desensitized, or whatever, but I always remember patients. It's a bit harder to care about you if you're demanding, annoying, or rude, but that doesn't take away from the fact that, even if it is just for a night, you are my patient, and I care.
6. My coworkers are pretty dang great
I'm really not trying to be a suck up, but my coworkers are freakin awesome. I thought medicine was all Grey's Anatomy, and although sometimes it is haha, it's here that I've learned that medicine is a collaborative field. The doctors could not do without us and we couldn't do without the doctors. As staff, we couldn't do without each other. Through the hard days and hard patients, it's the "Is there anything you need help with?"'s from my coworkers that make me realize we've all got each others' backs. If a patient is particularly difficult, we tackle the challenges together. I've truly come to care about these people, and it's because of them that my sometimes 80-hr weeks are bearable and even fun. Taco Tuesdays, Waffle Sundays, and Orange Julius nights ftw. Selfies to come.
7. I want this. I WANT THIS.
I've had particularly bad days, when I start to really question whether medicine is the right path for me. This week, for example, I had three patients pass away. Tears were shed. One week, I felt seriously harassed by a patient. Frustration was expressed. To my mom haha, but still. Other days, I get to sit down for literally 20 minutes during the whole time I'm at work. The struggle is real.
I know medicine is what I want to do, however, because despite all the challenges, I get excited when I think about how one day (hopefully) I'll be able to diagnose and treat these patients myself. I'm not always excited to sleep and go do it all over again, but when I get there it's actually fun. Sometimes, when I hear a physician describing a condition I'm unfamiliar with, I'll go look it up to learn about it. I'm fascinated by the drugs administered on the floor, and the procedures that are brought up every week. I've become more familiar with patterns of recovery, and I love thinking about how maybe I'll one day be able to more directly aid in this recovery process. It makes me so excited!
All my dreams are riding on what happens in these next couple of months. I'm scared to death. But I'm really hopeful.
