Anyone else feel pummeled on wards?

[evade]

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Surely I'm not the only one, but dang, this whole 3rd year thing is kicking my butt from the ER to the OR and back. Yeah, I started on surgery (foolish, perhaps), but I just got home from a 15 hour day with no down time and I have to write an H&P tonight, and I'm supposed to find time to read? I didn't even have time to take out the trash this morning! I'm on call tomorrow night, too.

Does it stay this bad? Please tell me that it either gets better, or that my soul will die and I won't care anymore.

(sorry for the bitterness. It's been a long day.)

 

[Anka]

The first week of any rotation like surgery feels like you have the flu. It wears off after a few days, and you just have this feeling like you're tired all the time, but it doesn't wear on you as much. You've hit on the thing that makes third year hard, though -- not only are you spending extended periods on the wards, you're also trying to complete all the extra little assignments you get -- H&Ps, studying for your shelf, little topic presentations.

Also, as you get more efficient, you'll be able to write an H&P a lot faster, study for your shelf a lot faster, preround much faster... so the hours get "better". My advice is to focus on the mechanics of scut, learn to do scut well (i.e., fast and done well enough). Especially on surgery.

Best,
Anka

 

[TexasRose]

Surely I'm not the only one, but dang, this whole 3rd year thing is kicking my butt from the ER to the OR and back. Yeah, I started on surgery (foolish, perhaps), but I just got home from a 15 hour day with no down time and I have to write an H&P tonight, and I'm supposed to find time to read? I didn't even have time to take out the trash this morning! I'm on call tomorrow night, too.

Does it stay this bad? Please tell me that it either gets better, or that my soul will die and I won't care anymore.

(sorry for the bitterness. It's been a long day.)

I started with Surgery as well, in the EC on the trauma team, no less. It was a horribly painful first week. It gets better! Like Anka said, you'll get more efficient with your work and you'll get used to the routines. Everything is new right now and it's a bit overwhelming and intimidating.

A week from now you will probably feel much better. You'll have adjusted to the lack of sleep and the routines of the service.

Hang in there!

 

[yalla22]

Whats involved in an H&P and how long does it usually take to do in the beginning?

 

[MacGyver]

Whats involved in an H&P and how long does it usually take to do in the beginning?

First H&Ps are very painful, can take up to 2 hours. By the end of your 4th year, you should be able to bust out an internal medicine H&P in about 25 minutes max.

Surgeon H&P is about 10 mins

 

[hyperbaric]

Just started on IM. The first couple of days felt like I was stuck in slow motion, by I'm getting faster. Aside from on-call days, the hours have been ok.

 

[YouDontKnowJack]

do you want to go into surgery?

if not, just go with a I don't give a crap attitude.

disappear and hit the books whenver you can. it's step 2 that matters.

 

[Hard24Get]

do you want to go into surgery?

if not, just go with a I don't give a crap attitude.

disappear and hit the books whenver you can. it's step 2 that matters.

I disagree. Step 2 will likely not even be available by the time of interviews, etc, and 3rd year clerkships are used for rank, AOA, etc. Surgery and IM are weighted the heaviest in many schools. Doesn't seem too important until you are applying for residency and matching in your dream specialty means the world to you. Don't close doors.

Surgery can be rough but learn to do scut, tie knots and suture. Between surgical recall before cases and Surgery case files during downtime you will have studied enough. Surgery is fun, you'll get used to it and have a great time! 😀

 

[EM_Rebuilder]

Welcome to the club....


The best part is trying to explain things to your non-medical friends. The ones who think every doctor does not work and hangs out at the golf club, lives in a mansion, has a new ferrari, and goes on exotic vacation weekly.... I think most are 'floored' at the fact that you are limited to 80 hours per week, as if that is impossible and NOBODY works that much. I used to remind them that students are not limited and I did a few 100+ myself.

Hang in there and remember yourself and your family... medicine is much in your life, but there are people and things that should matter more. Embrace them!