My Medical Instruments Make Me Growl in Impotent Rage

[VenusinFurs]

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Of late, I have entered into the whirlwind known as MSII. I have purchased an opthalmoscope/ otoscope with switching heads and a sphygmomanodude at relatively low cost. My sphygmothingy leaks air out about half the time. For some reason, I find it incredibly hard to lock my opthalmo/oto heads onto the base. I have already kind of broken my opthalmosocope, though it actually still seems to work just fine.

In addition, I have the worst time finding pulses and I can't ever hear the carotid pulse through my stethoscope. I'm terrible at anatomy. I feel like the dumbest, clumsiest thing on earth, and I suspect that my instrument worries are mainly due to incompetence on my part. I do want to get better, but I find practicing these techniques to be so frustrating, and I know that my science classes are going to demand a lot of my time very soon.

In short, I am frustrated, and I need people to tell me it's okay to be the worst at everything.

 

[deuist]

In addition, I have the worst time finding pulses and I can't ever hear the carotid pulse through my stethoscope.

You won't always hear it. Do you hear the radial pulse whenever you put a stethoscope on someone's arm? Listening to the neck is more for finding bruits and radiating murmurs.

In short, I am frustrated, and I need people to tell me it's okay to be the worst at everything.

Sure, become a radiologist or pathologist.

 

[njbmd]

Make sure those instruments are in good repair and are of sufficient quality for diagnostic use. After that, you need practice. When I was an MS-II, my preceptor required that we examine the fundi of every patient. At first, I could only see a red reflex. Soon I learn to find a vessel; focus and follow that vessel to the disc. It doesn't happen overnight but facility with diagnostic instruments takes patience, receipt of good instruction and practice.

 

[ArcGurren]

Dude just practice it. This is pretty common and nothing to be ashamed of.

 

[Rendar5]

finding pulses on other people takes time and practice. For any pulse other than radial and carotid, use at least 3 fingers until you get used to finding them. I still need 3 fingers to find the PT pulse. And early on it took me 2 minutes to find some pulses, and impossible to find others.

As for auscultation, not hearing the pulse over an artery is a good thing. If you do hear it, there's something pathologic there.

Ophthalmoscopes take at least 50-100 eyes to get decent. Most residents (non-ophtho) still suck at eyes. Ears also takes tons and tons to get a good feel for them, although you'll at least be able to see the TM and think you have a feel for them early

 

[C5toC9]

one of my favorite pickup lines

 

[BigRedBeta]

As a pre-clinical student, it's more than okay to suck. It's expected really. Even as an M3 (and parts beyond) people will expect you to miss things, to not be able to decipher things, and to be clueless. The big thing is PRACTICE. When you're an M3, do not miss an opportunity to look in ears, eyes, throats, everything.

You will get better. Even as an intern, you're exam skills will skyrocket. Pediatric residents become deftly skilled at looking at TM's of wiggling, screaming kids. Medicine residents pick up on bruits and JVD when the patient walks in the door. Anesthesia residents walk through the mall assessing who would be an easy intubation and who wouldn't. All it comes from practice, practice, practice. I mean, you've seen what, a total of 100 patients in your career to this point? You'll do probably 50-70 (if not more...sometimes lots more) physical exams during an average week in residency.

I mean, there are so many things that you're going to suck at going forward. You'll suck at suturing, you'll suck at intubating, you'll suck at doing lumbar punctures, dressing wounds, applying splints, assessing rashes, doing arterial sticks...the list is immense. So don't worry about it. You'll learn the skills you need to eventually.

 

[MossPoh]

Sure, become a radiologist or pathologist.

Might want to ditch radiology unless you are strictly diagnostic. Have to find pulses....still have to train with some of that stuff regardless. 😛

 

[da8s0859q]

Thats probably your problem. Pakistani-made surgical instruments are not made to last forever, but there disposable. The highest grade medical equipment online is at this website I'm advertising like a little spam bunny in my signature.

Fixed. 🙄