Day 370: First Day with the Interns: Introducing Dr.Harvard

Wow what a day- I would say that today was my official first day working with the interns. I couldn't believe what I stepped into today.

SO basically I decided to go in a bit early to the hospital, since it was my first day, and I wanted to get to know the patients better. I went to the sign out "early". I don't really think it was early because the interns are already their doing the notes. We can usually catch up quickly because you are use to a lot of the clinical scenarios. The problems started when the chief resident called me to take pictures of all the Residents !!! I knew this was not a good way to start because the intern would be left alone and they might feel overwhelmed and get upset. Anyways I went to her office and took the picture of most of the residents, by the time I came back I found the intern. I don't know him very well, but I was about too. Out of all the 10 new interns he and another intern (female) are very overly aggressive. He is aggressive and assertive in another way. He tries to show off that he knows everything, but is still really not sure. I think he wants to prove that he knows a lot, but he is still lost, like we ALL Are when we start. It doesn't matter how much research or your credentials, but everyone is lost and scared in the beginning. And it can be a disadvantage if you are not scared and willing to take direction. He tries to do too much too early, and doesn't really know everything. He still not sure what the consultants are saying, and he doesn't completely know how to do work ups, but he tries to. Its good to see him motivated but he needs to slow down.

I went with him to see one of the patients that we were rounding with. It was the first time I saw the patient, but he tried to kind of show of to me that he knew the patient more than I did. It kind of threw me back a bit. I was caught off guard. Its sometimes not a good idea to show people who think that know everything that you are not sure of something. A lot of times when you start residency you will see that you are more comfortable working with some people than others. You don't want them to put you down. Or they think they know everything, and you don't feel like asking them. Some people are arrogant and tend to reflect a lot of people in their lives. Some of the greatest people I ever met in life were the most humblest and approachable. I enjoyed spending time with them and learning from them. I think that's why I liked so much the third years that left, I loved learning from them and they were very teachable. Most of them were very helpful and I appreciate them for that.

Its too early to tell but hopefully he will turn around.

So basically when I met Dr.Harvard (he did some research at Harvard, so I will call him this.) I spent the entire morning running around and trying to learn about all the patients as fast as I can , before Dr. Harvard "hurts" someone. It was a fast scramble. My wife was calling me all morning and i didn't have time to respond to her.

I tried to be patient and not fight with him. I have a basic rule in residency, don't argue or fight with ANY resident. A lot of people are stressed out, and you might need their help. You will be working with them very very very closely and 80-100 hours week. And you need to get along with them !! SO holding your tongue will profit you in the long run.

Well by 12 o'clock I was patient ans tried to help him out. He was post call, and I wanted to help him leave early. I did about 2 notes for him. (they are allowed only 5) Anyways, so I went to the noon conference and I sat next to my friend- another second year. He told me that he had just completed an admission. I asked him who he did it with. He told me it was with Dr. Harvard. I smiled and turned away. I saw the look on his face. Later on during the day I text him asking him how his admission with Dr. Harvard was. He text me back "lol". I guess he knew what I was talking about. We later met up and talked about it. Seems like he did an admission with Dr.Harvard and he found out how Dr.Harvard was. I told him "I guess Dr.Harvard is ready to do unit admissions and nuero surgery at the same time." He laughed and said that the other female was the same way. (we will call her DR.ICU - since she was a previously an ICU attending 9 years AGO !!) They both are pretty much giving us orders...lol.

Anyways around 1pm. I text superman (who is now doing an infectious disease fellowship) and I text him this- "sorry for fighting and arguing with you as an intern. Now I know what its like.lol. Presidente!" He text me back laughing and I responded back that it was pay back for me. I guess it shows how life is circular and what goes around sometimes goes around.

Anyways, if that wasn't amazing enough. You will b surprised how the day ended. It was around 2pm. And I saw Dr.Harvard still doing notes. I understand what it is to be post call and doing notes. I told him to go home and sleep and not to worry about it. As I went to see another patient of ours and saw him running back to get more charts. I told him "Hi... DR.Harvard I made 2 of your patients non-teaching so don;t worry about them." His eyes lighted up like a Christmas tree and he then grabbed my hand and kissed them !!!! He told me "thank you thank you" in his broken english. I was a bit taken back. I told him "don't worry about it. Its ok"


WOW... can you believe that !!! Not often in life you get thanked by someone with them kissing your hand. I was a bit taken back, but then again I understand his stress and emotion. You feel so overwhelmed some times as an intern. If you are not crying at least once a week, then you are not doing a good job!! I'm serious you feel over whelmed sometimes. Its part of your body adjusting to the times and the work. In 8 months they will be laughing at this. Its not a negative to have a lot of work and situations to deal with. The more you do , the more you get use to it, and it becomes routine.

All in all, it was a great and tough day. I loved teaching the other resident I worked with, after DR.Harvard left. It was a good day. I'm on-call 30 hours with them tomorrow. I'll let you know how it goes.

God Bless
Dr.mike

Day 369 1st day as a Senior (PGY2)

Well the day we all wished for finally came. good bye to the intern year and hello to the senior. Today was my first day as a senior or second year. I wish I had more to write of what happened that day, but I was in elective, so I didn't get to see what was going on. I spent the day with the radiologist. I got to speak to some of my fellow 2nd years. They seem to be more relaxed. The interns seemed to be doing the running around. the only thing we are stressed with about now, is doing the unit admissions. (the intensive care admissions) Its tough because we don't really know what to expect, and a lot of times the patients are sick with multiple problems, its a lot of fun , but very stressful. So that is what is mostly of the minds of the second years. And on top of that you are running the codes and RRT beeper and AOD...lol. Its just a higher level of responsibility. And supervising the interns.

I kind of dread going back to the unit, because of the experience I have had their in the past. My issue with them has always been the ICU nurses which are very combative at times and tend to give you an attitude. A lot of it stems from the stress, and other of it stems from the fact that they expect you to know everything. they seem to get frustrated when you don't have a fast answer for them. I really try to be as nice as I can, but I get the sense that sometimes they read this the wrong way. they see you very nice and approachable, so you have to be more serious and more assertive. Its hard for me because I tend to have a temper if I'm pushed far enough. sO I try to not get angry and try to stay calm and patient. I think you get more out of people when you are nice to them. Pray for me to have patience.

On another note, it seems that everything has changed. the seniors that left are no longer weith us. Its seems like something is missing. the mood has changed. the climate is not what it is. I was trying to put my finger on what it was, and I realized that the third years were no longer with us. they were like family to us. A lot of them were dependable, and always their if you need it. It was a relaly great group.

but I guess thats part of life. No matter where you go and where you are times will change. the people that surround you will not always be their. I told myself that it would never be as good as it was last year simply because the people will be different.

Its sad part of life when you lose people you care about. I think that happiness sometimes is a measure of the people that surround you. Surround yourself with great and loving people, and it will have an influence you on your life. Granted people are not perfect and they have imperfections, but overall their presence brings brightness to the dullness of life.

I hope now to start dedicating more time to studying for my step 3 and hoping to start soon my elective that's coming up in palliative medicine.

I hope all of you are well. I hope and pray that you find individuals that will bring a bit of happiness to your life. And remember, don't go looking to far for something special in your life. the most special things in out lives are found by the people that surround you. It is found in spending a brief couple of moments with the people you love most in this worild. A son or daughter, a wife or husband , a mother or a father, or an old friend. This is the essence of happiness. It eludes us sometimes, bacause our minds are too fixed in our careers, but never forget this trasure that you might hvae in your home and Life.

God Bless

Dr.Mike