Happy studying.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Monday, May 24, 2010
Ow.
So after a good 6 hours of studying today, my head is killing me. I'm craving carbs, and alcohol. I think my brain forgot what it means to study. Ow.
In other things, I went to the farmer's market with my hypochondriac-ish friend and found some wonderful finds. I got some local honey that is "creamed". It doesn't have cream in it, but something with the crystallization of it (i didn't get a good explaination at the time) makes it look "creamy". And it has cinnamon infused in it. Let's say it's amazing with oatmeal in the mornings. also found where you can buy half a lamb, half a cow, and goat (yes, GOAT). Not to mention some of the creamiest goat cheese I've had in a while. Just goodness all around! I'm glad I went, because it was something fun and I got to see where they moved it (I remember the farmer's market being behind the U in the train platform type of things).
Also, I had time to read while on my peds rotation. I completed The House of God and also Laughing in the Dark by Chonda Pierce. The House of God was not as good as everyone made it out to be. Overall, I would rate it 7/10 due to lack of realism, lack of actual medicine, and too much sex/preoccupation with boobs. Laughing in the Dark seemed more of a journal than an actual book. I found it lacking any substance and more of a "pour your heart out and see all of the terrible troubles poor little me went through". Also, there was no clear resolution. I give it a 4/5. Just because as she's a comedian, there were some funny parts.
Well, I suppose it's about that time to pop about 4 ibuprofen and resume my USMLE world question bank. I don't think I'll finish my questions by the internal medicine board, but I can try. As of right now my head is screaming in pain, i may just lay down and call it a night. Hope all is well with everyone else in blog-land.
In other things, I went to the farmer's market with my hypochondriac-ish friend and found some wonderful finds. I got some local honey that is "creamed". It doesn't have cream in it, but something with the crystallization of it (i didn't get a good explaination at the time) makes it look "creamy". And it has cinnamon infused in it. Let's say it's amazing with oatmeal in the mornings. also found where you can buy half a lamb, half a cow, and goat (yes, GOAT). Not to mention some of the creamiest goat cheese I've had in a while. Just goodness all around! I'm glad I went, because it was something fun and I got to see where they moved it (I remember the farmer's market being behind the U in the train platform type of things).
Also, I had time to read while on my peds rotation. I completed The House of God and also Laughing in the Dark by Chonda Pierce. The House of God was not as good as everyone made it out to be. Overall, I would rate it 7/10 due to lack of realism, lack of actual medicine, and too much sex/preoccupation with boobs. Laughing in the Dark seemed more of a journal than an actual book. I found it lacking any substance and more of a "pour your heart out and see all of the terrible troubles poor little me went through". Also, there was no clear resolution. I give it a 4/5. Just because as she's a comedian, there were some funny parts.
Well, I suppose it's about that time to pop about 4 ibuprofen and resume my USMLE world question bank. I don't think I'll finish my questions by the internal medicine board, but I can try. As of right now my head is screaming in pain, i may just lay down and call it a night. Hope all is well with everyone else in blog-land.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Seriously?
Okay, so pet peeve #15: don't keep sending me emails to check something off online when you don't send me the link to do so. I don't have time to search the internet to find this "check off". I told you that in TWO separate emails TWO different ways. Send me the link, or it won't get done. If I have to repeat myself a THIRD time, it's not going to be nice. If you're wondering, I got an email to sign off on my OB/GYN preceptor. You know, that rotation I completed 6 weeks ago. Unfortunately, the secretary didn't send me the link in order to evaluate him. I check e-value where all the other evaluations are done, and I have no evals yet to be completed coming up in my box. I ignore because apparently it's not important enough to send me the link.. Get another email red flag reminder (she LOVES those things) saying "please sign off and help me out".So I evaluate my preceptor in the email. Get another email "go online and add comments there". .::deep breaths, deep breaths:: send one saying "I DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING IN E VALUE AND YOU DID NOT PROVIDE A LINK". I don't know how much clearer I can get that it is impossible for me to do this evaluation that is floating around somewhere in interspace.
Other than that, finally submitted my last H&P, gotta get some peds studying in somewhere today, and then Peds test tomorrow. Then 2 weeks of boards. Why is internal medicine first? you know, the one with ALL the stuff. why can't we do surgery? I'm sorry, but surgery just isn't as complicated as internal medicine. ::sigh:: Then after that, I have 3 weeks to get it together for STEP2. I may end up postponing it 1. I'm chicken 2. I'm burnt out 3. I don't wanna.
So I suppose I'm off to dig myself another nerd hole. Peace out.
Other than that, finally submitted my last H&P, gotta get some peds studying in somewhere today, and then Peds test tomorrow. Then 2 weeks of boards. Why is internal medicine first? you know, the one with ALL the stuff. why can't we do surgery? I'm sorry, but surgery just isn't as complicated as internal medicine. ::sigh:: Then after that, I have 3 weeks to get it together for STEP2. I may end up postponing it 1. I'm chicken 2. I'm burnt out 3. I don't wanna.
So I suppose I'm off to dig myself another nerd hole. Peace out.
Friday, May 14, 2010
Big Smiles
With one week left in my pediatric rotation, 6 weeks separating me from my STEP2 CK, and 7 weeks before I begin my 4th year, there's not much to smile about. I'm exhausted, overworked, and frustrated.
But when one of the pathology interns stops in the hall just to ask when you're rotating in the dept and smiles and says "yay" it just makes my day. I'm excited about my pathology months and cannot wait to be there. I just hope I can make a good impression and get some good letters. And by god, I need to get my research month thrown together about..NOW. however, YAY PATHOLOGY!!!!! :D
I hope everyone finds one thing to make them smile today, even if it's friday!
But when one of the pathology interns stops in the hall just to ask when you're rotating in the dept and smiles and says "yay" it just makes my day. I'm excited about my pathology months and cannot wait to be there. I just hope I can make a good impression and get some good letters. And by god, I need to get my research month thrown together about..NOW. however, YAY PATHOLOGY!!!!! :D
I hope everyone finds one thing to make them smile today, even if it's friday!
Friday, May 7, 2010
The Road That Was Long Seems So Short In the Terms of Now and Then
2 weeks left in M3 year. So unbelievable. Looking back, it's amazing what we've all endured, learned, and triumphed over. Every rotation has taught me a valuable lesson, and I have countless stories for each service. Now as I stare down the barrel of "the rest of my life" type of thing, I almost get this cold sweat on my feet, my heart starts to pound, and I start feeling really shaky. Now as everything comes pummeling on top of me: boards, step, schedules, CV, dean's letter, department letters, applications, step AGAIN....I just have to stop and take a deep breath.
Any advice for the M2's that will be M3's in less than a month is this: learn what you can, sleep when you can, and have fun when you can. M3 isn't the year that is so wonderful. True, no more 10 hour lectures in front of powerpoint, and no more PhD's trying to prove their worth by ass raping you via a 200 question final cumulative exam. Instead, you will have to wake up at a quarter to the ass crack of dawn, smile to the patients who roll over or curse at you for waking them up, then smile as the resident that's had too many mountain dews and not enough sleep curses at you for not writing down RANGES for all the vitals, and then retract like a pro when the surgeon yells at you for not reading his mind. Sometimes spending 12+ hours at the hospital. By this time next year, you will hate UMC as an institution because you realize how much of the past year you have spent in that place.
My advice: let it roll off you. What are they going to do? Kill you? If you show up when you're supposed to, do what you're told, you get the EXACT same grade as any world class kissass gunner that bought him/herself an extra 4 hours of work. Not only will you get the exact same 85 grade, but you'll have an extra 4 hours of sleep to boot.
If I knew then what I know now, I would have done a lot of things differently....
Surgery: I would have hid in the student on-call room and either sleep or study. I would have appeared ONLY when my pager went off. yes, some people may call you a slacker, but in all honesty you don't get graded for trauma call and your OFFICIAL duty is to basically fill out bifolds and scrub in to retract on traumas.
Family Medicine: I would have drank a LOT more and gone out every night.
Psychiatry: There are no tips except you're screwed for the test and no matter how GOOD or CORRECT your logic, they won't give you credit for those questions that suck. The board exam? May as well take it with a hangover.
Medicine: you'll learn to write REAL notes and work your ass off. I learned the most on this rotation.
Ob/Gyn: no matter what you do, you're going to piss off your resident. Just ignore them and make it out alive
Pediatrics: everyone is nice and the kids are great. Take the opportunity to get your work done and disappear. If the resident says "go study and page me later" take that as "if you go home and don't page, they'll never realize you're gone".
All in all, it's another year down. I wouldn't do it again, but I learned a lot. And as an M4 i'm taking the most SLACKER schedule ever!!!!!
July: Anatomic Path
August: off for possible research/vacation
September: Clinical Path
October: Anesthesia for those who don't want to do surgery
November: Review of Histo
December: OFF
January: Computers in Medicine
February: House Medicine (hopefully VA)
March: Heme/Onc Clinic (Peds)
April: Family Medicine Clinics
May: OFF
June: off for moving in/travels!!!
July: Start residency:
It's going to be a whirlwind, but it's here! THE LAST YEAR. I have a couple of pesky tests in the way, but all in all, we made it. We did it. Now, we become the slacker M4's!
The next giddy in our step: Match day!
Any advice for the M2's that will be M3's in less than a month is this: learn what you can, sleep when you can, and have fun when you can. M3 isn't the year that is so wonderful. True, no more 10 hour lectures in front of powerpoint, and no more PhD's trying to prove their worth by ass raping you via a 200 question final cumulative exam. Instead, you will have to wake up at a quarter to the ass crack of dawn, smile to the patients who roll over or curse at you for waking them up, then smile as the resident that's had too many mountain dews and not enough sleep curses at you for not writing down RANGES for all the vitals, and then retract like a pro when the surgeon yells at you for not reading his mind. Sometimes spending 12+ hours at the hospital. By this time next year, you will hate UMC as an institution because you realize how much of the past year you have spent in that place.
My advice: let it roll off you. What are they going to do? Kill you? If you show up when you're supposed to, do what you're told, you get the EXACT same grade as any world class kissass gunner that bought him/herself an extra 4 hours of work. Not only will you get the exact same 85 grade, but you'll have an extra 4 hours of sleep to boot.
If I knew then what I know now, I would have done a lot of things differently....
Surgery: I would have hid in the student on-call room and either sleep or study. I would have appeared ONLY when my pager went off. yes, some people may call you a slacker, but in all honesty you don't get graded for trauma call and your OFFICIAL duty is to basically fill out bifolds and scrub in to retract on traumas.
Family Medicine: I would have drank a LOT more and gone out every night.
Psychiatry: There are no tips except you're screwed for the test and no matter how GOOD or CORRECT your logic, they won't give you credit for those questions that suck. The board exam? May as well take it with a hangover.
Medicine: you'll learn to write REAL notes and work your ass off. I learned the most on this rotation.
Ob/Gyn: no matter what you do, you're going to piss off your resident. Just ignore them and make it out alive
Pediatrics: everyone is nice and the kids are great. Take the opportunity to get your work done and disappear. If the resident says "go study and page me later" take that as "if you go home and don't page, they'll never realize you're gone".
All in all, it's another year down. I wouldn't do it again, but I learned a lot. And as an M4 i'm taking the most SLACKER schedule ever!!!!!
July: Anatomic Path
August: off for possible research/vacation
September: Clinical Path
October: Anesthesia for those who don't want to do surgery
November: Review of Histo
December: OFF
January: Computers in Medicine
February: House Medicine (hopefully VA)
March: Heme/Onc Clinic (Peds)
April: Family Medicine Clinics
May: OFF
June: off for moving in/travels!!!
July: Start residency:
It's going to be a whirlwind, but it's here! THE LAST YEAR. I have a couple of pesky tests in the way, but all in all, we made it. We did it. Now, we become the slacker M4's!
The next giddy in our step: Match day!
Sunday, May 2, 2010
People Are Crazy
So instead of a fa-la-la post on how much I hate/disdain/actually like a rotation, I'm going to share my thoughts on why Wal-Mart is the gathering ground for crazy people.
Note: this is completely based on a true story (aka the actual occurrences during my weekend outing).
Disclaimer: I usually shop at one of the *real* grocery stores in town, and buy my loose odds and ends at Target because they would otherwise be a bit pricey at the grocery store. However, my mom had a gift certificate to Wal-Mart and I decided to use it during my weekly grocery outing to save some bucks. So no, this is a once in a very blue moon with streaks of purple in it.
Observations:
People push their grocery carts like they drive.
Exhibit A: I was cruising by the milk on the way to the yogurt nook when I notice that this lady is riding my ass. Literally, her cart is about 4 in from my butt. I look around and notice that no, there are no other carts in the vicinity blocking her from steering around me and going about her merry way. She decides that the best place for her to be IS FOUR INCHES AWAY AND COMPLETELY INSIDE MY PERSONAL SPACE. I have a feeling she's a tail gaiter. Luckily me stopping in front of the Greek yogurt gave her the opportunity to steer around me and then stop about 3 yards away. typical.
Exhibit B: I was coming around the corner of an isle when a lady going oh, 40mph slams into my cart, then gives me the evil eye as if it was my fault. Luckily for her, there was no window for me to flip her the bird and shout profanities, as well as no horn attached to the middle of my cart handle. I need to look into installing car horns onto grocery carts. It helps with my road rage, maybe it'll help with apparent wal-mart shopping rage. Unfortunately, neither can remedy the stupidity that necessitates the existence of a horn.
Let's just say that there was more cluster-fuckery occuring, but I won't outline the complete circus that was my outing to wal-mart. Let's just say that I will now refuse to go to wal mart unless I have a gift certificate and even then, it may just be used on a DVD or some batteries.
On a brighter note, on to another week of peds wards. Not feeling the impulse to slit my wrists every morning is a new one for me. I'm actually enjoying my time. Although, the last encounter with residents has left me with a bad taste in my mouth, but they will get a very interesting evaluation from myself (let's just say no patients on the list+post call does not equal going home). Let's just hope my new sister team is the bomb. I'm hoping that the streak stays where all of them are awesome and I keep having this "waking up at 5 am isn't THAT bad when I get to see cute kids and work with nice residents" feeling.
Cheers!
Oh, and as always
Note: this is completely based on a true story (aka the actual occurrences during my weekend outing).
Disclaimer: I usually shop at one of the *real* grocery stores in town, and buy my loose odds and ends at Target because they would otherwise be a bit pricey at the grocery store. However, my mom had a gift certificate to Wal-Mart and I decided to use it during my weekly grocery outing to save some bucks. So no, this is a once in a very blue moon with streaks of purple in it.
Observations:
People push their grocery carts like they drive.
Exhibit A: I was cruising by the milk on the way to the yogurt nook when I notice that this lady is riding my ass. Literally, her cart is about 4 in from my butt. I look around and notice that no, there are no other carts in the vicinity blocking her from steering around me and going about her merry way. She decides that the best place for her to be IS FOUR INCHES AWAY AND COMPLETELY INSIDE MY PERSONAL SPACE. I have a feeling she's a tail gaiter. Luckily me stopping in front of the Greek yogurt gave her the opportunity to steer around me and then stop about 3 yards away. typical.
Exhibit B: I was coming around the corner of an isle when a lady going oh, 40mph slams into my cart, then gives me the evil eye as if it was my fault. Luckily for her, there was no window for me to flip her the bird and shout profanities, as well as no horn attached to the middle of my cart handle. I need to look into installing car horns onto grocery carts. It helps with my road rage, maybe it'll help with apparent wal-mart shopping rage. Unfortunately, neither can remedy the stupidity that necessitates the existence of a horn.
Let's just say that there was more cluster-fuckery occuring, but I won't outline the complete circus that was my outing to wal-mart. Let's just say that I will now refuse to go to wal mart unless I have a gift certificate and even then, it may just be used on a DVD or some batteries.
On a brighter note, on to another week of peds wards. Not feeling the impulse to slit my wrists every morning is a new one for me. I'm actually enjoying my time. Although, the last encounter with residents has left me with a bad taste in my mouth, but they will get a very interesting evaluation from myself (let's just say no patients on the list+post call does not equal going home). Let's just hope my new sister team is the bomb. I'm hoping that the streak stays where all of them are awesome and I keep having this "waking up at 5 am isn't THAT bad when I get to see cute kids and work with nice residents" feeling.
Cheers!
Oh, and as always
Kitty in a Basket!!!!
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