If you think about it there is a high probability that you will someday die in the ICU. Unfortunately my month, notably my last two weeks became well known for the record setting 14 patients we celestially discharged. For the majority of these people death was inevitable, their last few breaths before a massive heart attack just [...]
Archive for the ‘Intern Year’ Category
Once the initial shock of foreign dials and tubes wore off I was starting to fall into the rhythm of how the unit works. In reality a lot of it is pretty cookbook, and I was getting better at baking. There are only so many paths to walk down when someone comes in with [...]
The difference between the ICU and the medicine wards is sort of like the difference between making a microwave dinner and preparing a five course meal from scratch. What became painfully obvious to me the first day on the ICU is that I’ve gotten really good and pushing the buttons on the microwave, yet [...]
Is the answer to the question what I will be when I grow up! Besides last month the last few months haven’t been all that bad. I was on Neuro for a month and then GI, my role was somewhere along the lines of a med student with the ability to write prescriptions. I got [...]
If the CCU wasn’t bad enough the way call was set up was down right dangerous, and everyone knew it. If I only to admit CCU patients all night and tend to existing patients it would be more than manageable. The issue was I also had to oversee the existing ICU patients and admit to [...]
There is a question that every patient gets asked when they are admitted to a hospital. It can be easy, or awkward depending on the delivery. Its called a code status. Basically we have to ask them if they would like to survive this experience. I don’t remember any interns or residents asking this [...]
Updates over Pancakes
Posted: July 12, 2009 in Intern YearTags: medicine, military medicine, night float, residency
After a little over a week of night float I’m thankful to report that the first night was by far the worst night. The work load is really hit or miss, and I think it depends who is staffing the ER. Some attendings are seasoned walls and can feel comfortable managing a [...]
“What is that?”. “I’m not sure. Whats that smell?”. “I think, ya, that’s fear alright”. “poke it with something would ya, I’m a little worried”. As the two senior attendings examine the body quivering underneath the desk it slowly turns toward them and peers back with swollen, sunken beety red eyes. Only a few months [...]
