MCW Class of 2012

[Ashers]

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dear lord

Exactly. 🙄

 

[DoctorFunk]

dear lord

*wink*

 

[45408]

That will only work out if you design your calendar complete with soundbytes of ridiculously immature tantrums and sexual innuendo. Girls are only attracted to surgeons because they're the grown-up version of the jerk boyfriend in high school with the Harley, leather jacket, and rumored history of domestic violence.

Now, if we talk about women? They're all about a man with a little stability who can take care of a family. That's why my calendar (Men of the NICU) is going to make bank.

Nice. I think you should swap out Harley though, because a high school boyfriend is more likely to drive a Camaro.

 

[penguin18]

so.. off topic... but i'm coming to visit the weekend of the 17th... are there good hotels (cheap) hotels nearby? last time i stayed downtown milwaukee... don't really want to do that again...

or any nice free basements/floors/couches anybody willing to give up for 2 nights? 😀

i'm cheap, what can i say.

 

[b533211]

so.. off topic... but i'm coming to visit the weekend of the 17th... are there good hotels (cheap) hotels nearby? last time i stayed downtown milwaukee... don't really want to do that again...

or any nice free basements/floors/couches anybody willing to give up for 2 nights? 😀

i'm cheap, what can i say.

Hello. On May 15, I am planning on moving into the place which I leased. It is duplex two and a half blocks from the school.

I probably will not have a couch yet, but you are welcome to the floor. You can send me a private message if interested.

 

[b533211]

We got the orientation information email this morning.

It suggests that we should study ahead for biochemistry. Is this really necesary and worthwhile?

 

[DoctorFunk]

Is this really necesary and worthwhile?

Nope and nope. People do fine in the class for the most part (probably even better since I took it now that there is no cumulative final) and they would fly through any topics you studied over the summer within the first week anyhow.

 

[45408]

We got the orientation information email this morning.

It suggests that we should study ahead for biochemistry. Is this really necesary and worthwhile?

Heck no. You'd spend a fair amount of time and then think you were fairly familiar with the topics, only for them to then blaze through them all at ten times the speed.

 

[samenewme]

We got the orientation information email this morning.

It suggests that we should study ahead for biochemistry. Is this really necesary and worthwhile?

It gives you a feeling of comfort if you are the anxious type. It is possibly useful if you have never really seen the citric acid cycle before. Otherwise, nah.

 

[Kernal83]

Yay for orientation email. Although I think it would have been more exciting to get hard copies mailed to us (which I think they will)

 

[Ashers]

Yay for orientation email. Although I think it would have been more exciting to get hard copies mailed to us (which I think they will)

I'm sad I'm not going to be here during orientation. Last year I went and helped give tours, and I got free food at the picnic thing because I helped out with the raffle.

 

[ecca58]

😀 Yay for the orientation email!!! 😀

So, one question. We need to submit our white coat size by June 27th. I was just planning to do it now since I have the tendency to forget about my deadline. Anyway, for the ladies, how big is the difference between XS (4-6) and S (8-10)? Does each size tend to be a little bigger than you expected? Thanks!

 

[akpete]

😀 Yay for the orientation email!!! 😀

So, one question. We need to submit our white coat size by June 27th. I was just planning to do it now since I have the tendency to forget about my deadline. Anyway, for the ladies, how big is the difference between XS (4-6) and S (8-10)? Does each size tend to be a little bigger than you expected? Thanks!

I had put down a large and ended up switching to a medium. For reference, in clothes I'm about 50/50 medium vs large.

But don't worry, they'll let you try on the coat and switch your size before the white coat ceremony.

 

[Xandie]

I'd get the bigger size, because a big white coat looks better than one that's too small, especially if you're wearing a sweater or something in the winter.

Edit: Damnit akpete! Anyway. My coat is far too big... very attractive. Then again, I haven't worn it since March 30 and I never have to again.

 

[akpete]

I should probably wash mine ...

 

[samenewme]

😀 Yay for the orientation email!!! 😀

So, one question. We need to submit our white coat size by June 27th. I was just planning to do it now since I have the tendency to forget about my deadline. Anyway, for the ladies, how big is the difference between XS (4-6) and S (8-10)? Does each size tend to be a little bigger than you expected? Thanks!

I wear a 6 or 8 and got the S and just hemmed the sleeves and went on with life. I figure if I'd gone smaller, then when I fill the pockets with all kinds of crap I wouldn't be able to button it. It works fine.

 

[Ashers]

You can put more stuff in the pockets of the bigger size without looking like a total idiot. (You look like an idiot by default with the white coat -- I say that while I'm sitting my my team room wearing my white coat because it's cold).

 

[Kernal83]

I was wondering... they always talk about dressing professional while at school. Are people really dressed in professional attire during lectures or can you get away with a shirt and jeans?

 

[Gimlet]

I was wondering... they always talk about dressing professional while at school. Are people really dressed in professional attire during lectures or can you get away with a shirt and jeans?

Shirt and jeans are fine most days, unless you have clinical activities where you will be in contact with patients. I think last year they also requested that people dress up a little more for the first day of orientation or something like that. Somebody else will have to confirm.

 

[samenewme]

Shirt and jeans are fine most days, unless you have clinical activities where you will be in contact with patients. I think last year they also requested that people dress up a little more for the first day of orientation or something like that. Somebody else will have to confirm.

Wear something decent for the first day of orientation, because they take your ID picture that day. Dress professionally when you meet real patients or fake standardized patients, and I advise doing the same when you go to a professor to argue over points for a test question, though this is not required. Otherwise, I see plenty of T-shirts, shorts, and flip-flops. As long as they're clean, no one cares.

 

[akpete]

it's just like undergrad. wear whatever. we're not stuffy.

 

[Ashers]

Wear something decent for the first day of orientation, because they take your ID picture that day. Dress professionally when you meet real patients or fake standardized patients, and I advise doing the same when you go to a professor to argue over points for a test question, though this is not required. Otherwise, I see plenty of T-shirts, shorts, and flip-flops. As long as they're clean, no one cares.

I thought pictures were like day 2, since first day there's 5 million tiny lectures. Then day 2 they have those break out rooms like TB testing, IDs, financial aid appt sign up, picture, etc.

Anyway, the room you'll be in most of the time is chilly, though they've made it warmer sometimes. If the library weren't so cold, I would've worn shorts a lot more than I did.

 

[samenewme]

I thought pictures were like day 2, since first day there's 5 million tiny lectures. Then day 2 they have those break out rooms like TB testing, IDs, financial aid appt sign up, picture, etc.

Anyway, the room you'll be in most of the time is chilly, though they've made it warmer sometimes. If the library weren't so cold, I would've worn shorts a lot more than I did.

True. I'm not saying anyone ever saw ME in shorts. I always wear layers and those layers often include a sweatshirt. Temperatures vary, and the Kerrigan lecture hall is usually cold, and the Central MUTS classroom area is usually FREEZING.

You'll get a letter telling you which day to dress up.

 

[Ashers]

True. I'm not saying anyone ever saw ME in shorts. I always wear layers and those layers often include a sweatshirt. Temperatures vary, and the Kerrigan lecture hall is usually cold, and the Central MUTS classroom area is usually FREEZING.

You'll get a letter telling you which day to dress up.

I think I was just commenting cuz of the pictures. I didn't even see your part about shorts. =) That being said... 1st day wearing shorts this year! whoo hoo! white legs!

Anyway, I dressed up the first day because, c'mon, first day of med school orientation, and basically everyone else was.

The day of the white coat ceremony... DO NOT dress up in the morning. You'll have time off before the ceremony, so you can go change. I wore my suit, and I was miserable.

 

[45408]

Anyway, I dressed up the first day because, c'mon, first day of med school orientation, and basically everyone else was.

Yeah, I didn't. I had a polo and blue jeans, I think, and almost everyone else was dressed up nicely. I saw a few other guys who didn't think it would be necessary to dress up...

 

[Gimlet]

Yeah, I didn't. I had a polo and blue jeans, I think, and almost everyone else was dressed up nicely. I saw a few other guys who didn't think it would be necessary to dress up...

I wore shorts, button down short sleeved shirt, and sandals. Definitely didn't feel out of place.

 

[akpete]

I don't remember being dressed up at all. But I can't really remember what I wore.

 

[Agent Splat]

I remember Xandie advising us....(man, like 3 years ago?) that we can dress casual, but there would undoubtedly be at least a couple clueless people on orientation day 1 that showed up in suits or shirts and ties.

I was very disappointed that she was wrong and nobody did.

 

[Ashers]

I remember Xandie advising us....(man, like 3 years ago?) that we can dress casual, but there would undoubtedly be at least a couple clueless people on orientation day 1 that showed up in suits or shirts and ties.

I was very disappointed that she was wrong and nobody did.

That's pry cuz no one in our class likes to dress up since most people want to end up wearing scrubs.

I think I wore nicer pants than jeans and a polo shirt. Basically similar to what I wear in the clinics.

 

[penguin18]

dressing up? sounds like i'll be having to make some additions to my wardrobe...🙂

also, a question about the health insurance coverage provided by the school? is it good? or should i be encouraging my fiance to find a new job in the area with awesome health care benefits?

 

[samenewme]

Some people think it sucks, but the HMO is actually pretty good, as HMO's go. I don't know about the PPO (you'll want that if you plan to travel.)

 

[Allerian1004]

Don't worry about dressing up. The only time my classmates are dressed up is when they go to see their mentor. (6 times a year). I have the school's PPO health insurance and have a chronic illness. It's not too bad. I was a little annoyed with the deductible. But it's not bad. I can see all of my physicians back in MN and here in Milwaukee. It works great for me. If you are mostly staying here in Milwaukee I would choose the HMO. And, if you are rarely sick I would choose their other option. I can't remember what it is, but you have a lower premium and higher deductible. It's not necessary for your spouse to go job hunting just for health insurance because ours is decent.

 

[45408]

anyone know what the cost is for the school's insurance for the PPO for a married couple? I'm wondering if my wife's work coverage is saving us money or not.

 

[DoctorFunk]

anyone know what the cost is for the school's insurance for the PPO for a married couple? I'm wondering if my wife's work coverage is saving us money or not.

If I remember correctly our insurance premiums (and globally throughout Milwaukee as compared to MN) are pretty high. Adding a spouse adds double the amount the student is paying too (at least for the HMO). My wife has her own private policy for something like $190 a month because her work doesn't chip in for insurance. Good thing she's heading back to graduate school soon...

 

[Gimlet]

If I remember correctly our insurance premiums (and globally throughout Milwaukee as compared to MN) are pretty high. Adding a spouse adds double the amount the student is paying too (at least for the HMO). My wife has her own private policy for something like $190 a month because her work doesn't chip in for insurance. Good thing she's heading back to graduate school soon...

What's she gonna study?

I had the same thoughts last year, Prowler. Insuring us both through the school was nearly double what we pay through my wife's insurance. If your wife's work pays any significant portion of her health insurance it will be a better deal.

 

[DoctorFunk]

What's she gonna study?

Later this month she'll be starting Marquette's 3 year program for people with non-nursing Bachelor's to get her NP. Then she plans on doing a 1-2 yr program to get her Doctorate of Nursing Practice (or whatever DNP stands for).

So yeah, I guess we'll both be training forever. 😴

(No, but seriously, aside from being shackled to Milwaukee for the foreseeable future, I'm really happy for her.)

 

[Gimlet]

Later this month she'll be starting Marquette's 3 year program for people with non-nursing Bachelor's to get her NP. Then she plans on doing a 1-2 yr program to get her Doctorate of Nursing Practice (or whatever DNP stands for).

So yeah, I guess we'll both be training forever. 😴

(No, but seriously, aside from being shackled to Milwaukee for the foreseeable future, I'm really happy for her.)

Good for her!

I hope she doesn't wind up being one of those militant NPs who campaigns to take over practice rights from doctors. (not by any means saying that she will, or that all NPs do, but I had a couple of enlightening conversations with one such NP on the Blue team at CHW...it would be scary to be married to that!)

 

[45408]

What's she gonna study?

I had the same thoughts last year, Prowler. Insuring us both through the school was nearly double what we pay through my wife's insurance. If your wife's work pays any significant portion of her health insurance it will be a better deal.

Yeah, they pay $391 per pay period (every other week!), and even if she weren't to get the health insurance, she wouldn't get a raise. At her previous job, you could just opt for the cash value of your benefits if you wanted, which was great, because she was still in school full time and covered by her parents insurance, so she got an extra $5/hr.

 

[45408]

Later this month she'll be starting Marquette's 3 year program for people with non-nursing Bachelor's to get her NP. Then she plans on doing a 1-2 yr program to get her Doctorate of Nursing Practice (or whatever DNP stands for).

So yeah, I guess we'll both be training forever. 😴

(No, but seriously, aside from being shackled to Milwaukee for the foreseeable future, I'm really happy for her.)

what's her bachelor's in? how'd she decide she wanted to go NP? push her towards nurse anesthetist for the fat cash 😉

 

[akpete]

i have single coverage from MCW under the HMO plan. I don't remember offhand how much it is cuz it's added to the neverending loans.

But i can go see the doc (in milwaukee, since it is an HMO) whenever I want and have whatever done and only pay $10 out of pocket for the visit. No pay for a nurse visit for a simple shot or something. NO DEDUCTIBLE. And i figure, when am i gonna see a doc at home unless its an emergency (which would be covered). fyi, i do not have a chronic disease in which i would be seeing other docs at home.

compared to when I had a $2500 deductible and NEVER went to the doc, even when my feet swelled to the size of elephants and would see WI public health for basic care, paid for by the state, i'll take the school's insurance.

 

[Kernal83]

One of my friends that goes to NYMC stole a box of gloves from our hospital and said he needed it for anatomy lab. Is there anything I should pilfer from my hospital before I quit working?

 

[DoctorFunk]

what's her bachelor's in? how'd she decide she wanted to go NP? push her towards nurse anesthetist for the fat cash 😉

Her bachelor's is in Evolution, Ecology and Animal Behavior, which was almost exactly like my biology degree at the same undergrad +/- just a few classes. She decided to go back to school because of some really fantastic hospice nurses that took care of her 96 year-old grandmother for a week while she was dying of renal failure. Pushed her to think about nursing, and after that it was all about finding a role that worked best for her and she really liked the added independence of an NP (although I tell her to make sure her arse is covered by practicing under a physician).

Right now she's thinking either hospice or acute care. Either way, she feels compelled to work with dying patients. I told her as far as I was concerned, she could have them. This guy isn't going into peds cause he likes to watch his patients slowly circle the drain (i.e. almost any form of adult medicine).

 

[suPAR]

Does anyone know how strict the "only 2 guests" for the white coat ceremony is? Is anyone going to notice/care if I have three?

 

[Gimlet]

Does anyone know how strict the "only 2 guests" for the white coat ceremony is? Is anyone going to notice/care if I have three?

I think the 2 guest rule is in place because there is limited space on the buses that take you to the ceremony (which is right near MCW, a short drive or even within walking distance unless the third is a grandparent, probably). The actual ceremony is held in a big gym with bleachers, so there's no reason why you can't have more than two there.

 

[suPAR]

I thought I would share the information that I received on the white coat ceremony. It turns out that the location for this years ceremony is different from previous years and so we are limited to the two guests. They are going to hand out two tickets to eveyone during orientation. If someone doesn't have two guests then you can try and get tickets from them. Otherwise, two guests it is.

 

[Agent Splat]

One of my friends that goes to NYMC stole a box of gloves from our hospital and said he needed it for anatomy lab. Is there anything I should pilfer from my hospital before I quit working?

Wait...doesn't pilfer mean steal? Pretty sure that's illegal.

 

[45408]

Wait...doesn't pilfer mean steal? Pretty sure that's illegal.

Even more sure it's unprofessional.

 

[DoctorFunk]

Even more sure it's unprofessional.

Just like failing to push chairs back into the table in the MUTS when you're done with them.

Or having sex with patients.

 

[penguin18]

Her bachelor's is in Evolution, Ecology and Animal Behavior, .

If that doesn't sound like a University of Minnesota degree, I don't know what does!

Boo for only 2 guests. I was going to bring my posse. 😀

Thanks for all the info on the health insurance thing. The HMO doesn't sound too bad. Better than my 2800 deductible plan right now...

 

[DoctorFunk]

If that doesn't sound like a University of Minnesota degree, I don't know what does!

You know how we do. Gotta represent CBS!