The 'Collective Positivity' thread

[typeB-md]

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Are others tired of the negativity here on SDN? Well, me too!

This thread is here so that people can talk about the abundance of positive things that happen throughout their lives each day. I'll start!

Well yesterday I had a patient touch me on my hand, smile and ask me to bring them another helping of apple juice. After I brought them their juice, they said I was the nicest person they had ever met and that I was really making their hospital stay a positive experience. As soon as I finished writing my progress note, I stole away to the stairwell and called my mom at work to let her know how other people were finally validating my existence. She was so proud of me that she even told her other co-workers how great of a daughter I was; one of her co-workers even picked up the other line and congratulated me!

I've been walking on clouds for almost 24 hours now after thinking about how much of a difference I'm making in people's lives. I seriously can't believe how good it feels to be wearing this white coats and to be helping others. Some of my colleagues think that it's pointless for us to be getting up at 5:45 and writing progress notes just so that the interns don't have to do them. I feel sorry for them that they just don't "get it" and that they've missed the obvious joy and privilege of being a medical student or physician.

You know, not many people are blessed with such a great gift to make a difference in other's lives. I think with all the negativity on SDN we sometimes lose sight of our goals. I just wanted to post something refreshing so that we can all remember why we chose to go to medical school. Maybe someday those negative posters will be able to achieve the same state of being that I and many others have been able to achieve wherein the pleasure of medicine and serving others far outweighs the negatives others percieve.

I love all of you guys so much!!!! 😍

 

[Abilene85]

I got the go-ahead to start a program at my school for interviewing students, so now I am working with a classmate and the admissions department to work out the details and get the ball rolling. It's really exciting to see an idea emerge from a random bar conversation and start to take shape. I just hope that a lot of my classmates get excited to participate and that interviewees find the program valuable.

 

[typeB-md]

I got the go-ahead to start a program at my school for interviewing students, so now I am working with a classmate and the admissions department to work out the details and get the ball rolling. It's really exciting to see an idea emerge from a random bar conversation and start to take shape. I just hope that a lot of my classmates get excited to participate and that interviewees find the program valuable.

That's awesome! I'm jealous that I'm not able to be part of it!

And I'm sure your classmates will be excited. Who wouldn't be excited to participate in a program that first started as a bar conversation before being realized into practice. Does your school allow externs to participate in the program? I would really like to get in on ground level for a big project like this!

 

[smq123]

Are others tired of the negativity here on SDN? Well, me too!

This thread is here so that people can talk about the abundance of positive things that happen throughout their lives each day. I'll start!

My resident said that she was too busy to manually disimpact the 87 year old lady on our service - but she said that I was obviously dependable enough and smart enough to figure out how to do it on my own! What a great educational opportunity! I'm so glad that I'm at a hospital that really preaches hands-on learning!!! And I was so proud of the fact that I was really instrumental to the team - helping out an otherwise busy resident!

Some of my colleagues think that it's pointless for us to be getting up at 5:45 and writing progress notes just so that the interns don't have to do them. I feel sorry for them that they just don't "get it" and that they've missed the obvious joy and privilege of being a medical student or physician.

Some of your colleagues are so silly! 😛 But don't worry - your positivity will be so contagious, that they'll come around and see things from YOUR sunny point of view! That will be a wonderful day!

I love all of you guys so much!!!! 😍

We love you too!!!!!! *MWAH!* 😍😍😍

 

[SomeDoc]

Uber-super-saccharine-ness and sarcasm aside, it was nice getting to hear from a standardized patient's feedback recently that she thought that I had good bedside manner.

 

[typeB-md]

My resident said that she was too busy to manually disimpact the 87 year old lady on our service - but she said that I was obviously dependable enough and smart enough to figure out how to do it on my own! What a great educational opportunity! I'm so glad that I'm at a hospital that really preaches hands-on learning!!! And I was so proud of the fact that I was really instrumental to the team - helping out an otherwise busy resident!

That's so cool! I almost got the opportunity once to do a disimpaction but as I went into the room to get started, the patient just started having a bowel movement. I was disappointed to say the least, but the fact that the patient asked me to hold his hand as he had his BM was somewhat redeeming. He even complimented my bedside manner and said I had very cute and soft hands! I went home and called my mom straight away and she sent me a box of chocolate-covered cherries over-night mail. I love my mom!

And thanks for complimenting my positivity. Most of my classmates don't like me because they say I'm too happy all the time. Too happy?! As if that's a bad thing!

 

[typeB-md]

Uber-super-saccharine-ness and sarcasm aside, it was nice getting to hear from a standardized patient's feedback recently that she thought that I had good bedside manner.

Yea, I get complimented on my bedside manner A LOT. I mean sometimes I feel a little silly when my comments are consistently much better than my classmates'.

When we practiced GYN exams on the standardized patients, I was told by our SP that I was the best student she'd ever worked with; she even went so far as to say that I was hands down the most sensitive and respectful student in the class. The only awkward parts was watching the other students practice their gyn exams while I was still in the room. My mom kept looking at me like "are they done yet?"

 

[Ashers]

I just had a patient thank me for the part I played in her getting better. I saw her in clinic, was in her surgery, helped get stuff ready for the attending and fellow to put lines in her in the SICU, then I saw her on the floor. I had told her that I was glad that she was feeling better and out of the ICU.

On my family med rotation, on my last day, I had a patient, who had told me she hated having paps, tell me that I'm "gifted at doing pap smears," and another patient's mom said I was super with her ADHD son, both compliments were in front of my attending, and with gyn stuff and peds stuff, both are things in which I have no interest. While I thought the pap smear comment was odd, it did make me feel good that I had done well, in the patient's eyes.

 

[CigarTragic]

🙂🙂 YAAAAAAAY. 🙂🙂🙂

Puppy dogs. Sunshine. Ice cream cones. Underdogs who come from behind and win. Snowflakes. Jesus loves you. Everyone's a winner. YAAAYYY!!!!!!!!!!11!!!!!!!!!!! 👍👍

👍👍👍

Ok. Kidding. Positivity ain't a bad thing, especially here on SDN. I tend to keep a middle-of-the-road approach lately as an MS1. Some good, some bad, some awesomeness, some not so-great days. Some great things in the future, some daunting challenges ahead. As is life.

Carry on.

 

[sendwich]

That's so cool! I almost got the opportunity once to do a disimpaction but as I went into the room to get started, the patient just started having a bowel movement. I was disappointed to say the least, but the fact that the patient asked me to hold his hand as he had his BM was somewhat redeeming. He even complimented my bedside manner and said I had very cute and soft hands! I went home and called my mom straight away and she sent me a box of chocolate-covered cherries over-night mail. I love my mom!

And thanks for complimenting my positivity. Most of my classmates don't like me because they say I'm too happy all the time. Too happy?! As if that's a bad thing!

gross.

 

[Green Chimneys]

That's so cool! I almost got the opportunity once to do a disimpaction but as I went into the room to get started, the patient just started having a bowel movement. I was disappointed to say the least, but the fact that the patient asked me to hold his hand as he had his BM was somewhat redeeming. He even complimented my bedside manner and said I had very cute and soft hands! I went home and called my mom straight away and she sent me a box of chocolate-covered cherries over-night mail. I love my mom!

And thanks for complimenting my positivity. Most of my classmates don't like me because they say I'm too happy all the time. Too happy?! As if that's a bad thing!

No one has noticed the sarcasm dripping from your posts in this thread yet, TypeB. You're going to have to up the ante. I for one can't wait.

 

[CigarTragic]

No one has noticed the sarcasm dripping from your posts in this thread yet, TypeB. You're going to have to up the ante. I for one can't wait.

I'll be honest... TypeB's posts were so long that I didn't bother to read them. Just figured by default they were the ramblings of a feel-good med-student.

Just read them now... awesome! TypeB, you should call your mom and let her know!

 

[typeB-md]

I just had a patient thank me for the part I played in her getting better. I saw her in clinic, was in her surgery, helped get stuff ready for the attending and fellow to put lines in her in the SICU, then I saw her on the floor. I had told her that I was glad that she was feeling better and out of the ICU.

On my family med rotation, on my last day, I had a patient, who had told me she hated having paps, tell me that I'm "gifted at doing pap smears," and another patient's mom said I was super with her ADHD son, both compliments were in front of my attending, and with gyn stuff and peds stuff, both are things in which I have no interest. While I thought the pap smear comment was odd, it did make me feel good that I had done well, in the patient's eyes.

Yea, it makes me feel really good when I know that I've gone out of my way to help someone and they genuinely appreciate it. When I did my medicine month, there was this one homeless guy that everyone always used to make fun of because he had poor hygeine and had a displeasing odor. It was really sad and the guy was my patient and once I got to know him, I felt like he was a really nice person that had just had bad luck. He was actually an ex-war vet who had gotten honorable discharge after he jumped on a grenade to save several children who would have otherwise surely been killed. When he returned to the states and after he got out of the hospital, he decided to start a non-profit organization to help those in need. He said that his friend, though, stole the idea, gave it a religious slant and re-named it the YMCA. I couldn't believe that this guy that everyone always made fun of was actually the one who started of this nation's greatest charitable organizations. I don't think anybody knew this, though, because everyone was so repulsed by his odor.

To make a long story short, when the patient was ready for discharge, I asked him where he was going to go. He said he had no place to stay and I offered to take him back to my place. He accepted my offer and I gave him a spare key to my condo. The guy ended up staying a few months at my place. Initially I had to help him shower and shave but after a few weeks he was going solo. This was actually a relief because I was getting tired of showering in my bathing suit so that we could shower together and save water. I ended up loaning him a few hundred dollars and he bought some business clothes. He would spend all day reading my books and basically just killing time learning about different types of jobs (I have a lot of DIY and 'for dummies' type books). Eventually he posted a resume on monster.com and ended up landing a job in NYC. I just got an email from him several months ago and he now works on wallstreet as a day trader. Apparently he read the Trading for Dummies book and embelished his resume a little, but he was saying that he landed a great job and is making great money. he told me that after he gets a little more saved up he's going to send me back the $1,500 I ended up loaning him.

Can you imagine how great I felt after getting that email? I mean here was this guy that everyone thought was just a regular old hobo, yet when someone actually talked to him and listened and gave him a chance, he ended up being a great human being. I mean how cool is it that I ended up helping a vet/founding father of the YMCA? Not everybody can say they've played such an important role in touching another peron's life. Sometimes all they need is a helping hand and guess what, maybe they too can be working on wallstreet. As I joked with him in my reply email "from the streets with broken walls to Wallstreet!"

I love being me and playing such an important role in this world!

 

[sprinkibrio]

You making fun of my tread typeB? So saaaaad.

What makes me happy though is that there actually are some people on here who don't get that you were being sarcastic!

 

[typeB-md]

On my family med rotation, on my last day, I had a patient, who had told me she hated having paps, tell me that I'm "gifted at doing pap smears," and another patient's mom said I was super with her ADHD son, both compliments were in front of my attending, and with gyn stuff and peds stuff, both are things in which I have no interest. While I thought the pap smear comment was odd, it did make me feel good that I had done well, in the patient's eyes.

You know I've never had the opportunity to excel with an ADHD child, but I can definitely relate to teh pap thing.

For me the thing with the pap was that even though I've had my routine exams with my gyn I never felt like I could fully relate to what the patients go through when an otherwise inexperienced person performs the exam. I actually ended up stealing a disposable speculum and some sterile swabs (sorry Dr. Barry but it was for a good cause 😳 ) from one of the clinics I worked in so that I could experiment on myself and get a better feeling of how sensitive the exam was and how things might feel under not-so-optimal circumstances . I actually had my brother help me.

I laid down on my bed and had him insert the speculum. I didn't give him any instructions because like I said I wanted to really get a good feel for what a patient experiences when a lay person (read: medical student) performs the exam. After he finally got the insertion correct, I gave him the swabs and briefly showed him how to position them and use them and then had himb swab in and around my cervix. What I learned was really invaluable. There were so things that I had never thought about that could potentially go wrong. The pinching of skin, the insertion of the swab into the urethra rather than the cervical os, the list goes on.

After having been through that, I was able to physically relate to the pain, discomfort, and awkwardness of having a relative novice (no pun intended) perform the exam. In fact, many times I'll tell the patient about this story and it puts them at ease for the rest of the exam. Most women really take comfort knowing that I can totally empathize with them; in fact, I've had women cry because they're so touched by my dedication to patient care. Because of this I really try and go above and beyond in terms of making things the most comfortable as they can possibly be.

 

[CigarTragic]

He was actually an ex-war vet who had gotten honorable discharge after he jumped on a grenade to save several children who would have otherwise surely been killed. When he returned to the states and after he got out of the hospital, he decided to start a non-profit organization to help those in need. He said that his friend, though, stole the idea, gave it a religious slant and re-named it the YMCA.

 

[typeB-md]

You making fun of my tread typeB? So saaaaad.

What makes me happy though is that there actually are some people on here who don't get that you were being sarcastic!

Not at all, hon. The problem with your thread was that it was filled with negativities. I totally agreed with your basic idea but I wanted to expand it so that we could all focuse on positive experiences rather than "vent" out our negative frustrations.

Please don't feel like I'm trying to steal your thunder. I was just trying to be to take a different angle. The credit is totally yours, I just borrowed the idea and put a different focus. I'm so sorry if you thought I was trying to underwrite your idea.

😍 😍 <-- that's me give you a great big hug

 

[rgarrig]

... When I did my medicine month, there was this one homeless guy that everyone always used to make fun of because he had poor hygeine and had a displeasing odor. It was really sad and the guy was my patient and once I got to know him, I felt like he was a really nice person that had just had bad luck. He was actually an ex-war vet who had gotten honorable discharge after he jumped on a grenade to save several children who would have otherwise surely been killed. When he returned to the states and after he got out of the hospital, he decided to start a non-profit organization to help those in need. He said that his friend, though, stole the idea, gave it a religious slant and re-named it the YMCA. I couldn't believe that this guy that everyone always made fun of was actually the one who started of this nation's greatest charitable organizations. I don't think anybody knew this, though, because everyone was so repulsed by his odor.

To make a long story short, when the patient was ready for discharge, I asked him where he was going to go. He said he had no place to stay and I offered to take him back to my place. He accepted my offer and I gave him a spare key to my condo. The guy ended up staying a few months at my place. Initially I had to help him shower and shave but after a few weeks he was going solo. This was actually a relief because I was getting tired of showering in my bathing suit so that we could shower together and save water. I ended up loaning him a few hundred dollars and he bought some business clothes. He would spend all day reading my books and basically just killing time learning about different types of jobs (I have a lot of DIY and 'for dummies' type books). Eventually he posted a resume on monster.com and ended up landing a job in NYC. I just got an email from him several months ago and he now works on wallstreet as a day trader. Apparently he read the Trading for Dummies book and embelished his resume a little, but he was saying that he landed a great job and is making great money. he told me that after he gets a little more saved up he's going to send me back the $1,500 I ended up loaning him.

Can you imagine how great I felt after getting that email? I mean here was this guy that everyone thought was just a regular old hobo, yet when someone actually talked to him and listened and gave him a chance, he ended up being a great human being. I mean how cool is it that I ended up helping a vet/founding father of the YMCA? Not everybody can say they've played such an important role in touching another peron's life. Sometimes all they need is a helping hand and guess what, maybe they too can be working on wallstreet. As I joked with him in my reply email "from the streets with broken walls to Wallstreet!"

I love being me and playing such an important role in this world!

I assume you are joking. If not, then you are either lying, or were manic at the time. Or just really, really, ridiculously naive. I'm about 95% sure you were joking, so here, have some free laughs: .

 

[typeB-md]

I assume you are joking. If not, then you are either lying, or were manic at the time. Or just really, really, ridiculously naive. I'm about 95% sure you were joking, so here, have some free laughs: .

Why is it that one is preferentially assumed to be deceptive, inexperienced or suffering from a psychiatric illness rather than a genuinely a good person when it comes to generous acts of kindness? Haven't you been in a situation where you needed some help? Maybe it was even as insignificant as having someone give you a few pennies so that you didn't have to walk around with excess change in your purse.

You are free to live however you like and judge me however you prefer, but I know in my heart that I'm doing the right thing. Nothing you will ever say can break my positive spirit. Now please take your negativity out of this positive thread.

 

[nazdar]

For me the thing with the pap was that even though I've had my routine exams with my gyn I never felt like I could fully relate to what the patients go through when an otherwise inexperienced person performs the exam. I actually ended up stealing a disposable speculum and some sterile swabs (sorry Dr. Barry but it was for a good cause 😳 ) from one of the clinics I worked in so that I could experiment on myself and get a better feeling of how sensitive the exam was and how things might feel under not-so-optimal circumstances . I actually had my brother help me.

 

[OncoCaP]

It was my turn to sit with other classmates in front of the class and answer path questions and analyze slides. I got the few questions I just happened to know and the other 99 questions I had no clue about went to others on the panel who answered them perfectly. Our prof makes the material easy to remember and BRINGS US COOKIES for sitting on the panel (we can sit there and eat them while we ponder). Yes, it's true; I don't make stuff like this up.

 

[Reimat]

Our prof makes the material easy to remember and BRINGS US COOKIES for sitting on the panel (we can sit there and eat them while we ponder)

Speaking of food, nothing makes me happier than when a prof brings in granola bars / fruit / cookies for 2-3 hour group conference. It makes life so much better 😀

 

[smq123]

That's so cool! I almost got the opportunity once to do a disimpaction but as I went into the room to get started, the patient just started having a bowel movement. I was disappointed to say the least, but the fact that the patient asked me to hold his hand as he had his BM was somewhat redeeming.

Hey! Where did your positivity go??? 🙁

There's always a silver lining!! Sure, maybe you didn't get a chance to disimpact that particular patient - but just think of ALL the constipated patients in your future! There are tons and tons of people out there who have a frown on their faces, and impacted stool in their colons....just waiting for YOUR skilled hands to get in there and turn those frowns upside down! 😍😍😍

Yea, I get complimented on my bedside manner A LOT. I mean sometimes I feel a little silly when my comments are consistently much better than my classmates'.

Don't feel silly. It's a great opportunity to let your natural sunshiny personality flow through the room! Remind them that being a skilled and competent clinician isn't everything - that the world also needs sunny, happy people who aren't talented at physical diagnosis, but can make their patients feel unconditionally accepted and loved!!! 🙂

The only awkward parts was watching the other students practice their gyn exams while I was still in the room. My mom kept looking at me like "are they done yet?"

Wow - your mom's a trooper!

 

[sendwich]

Yea, it makes me feel really good when I know that I've gone out of my way to help someone and they genuinely appreciate it. When I did my medicine month, there was this one homeless guy that everyone always used to make fun of because he had poor hygeine and had a displeasing odor. It was really sad and the guy was my patient and once I got to know him, I felt like he was a really nice person that had just had bad luck. He was actually an ex-war vet who had gotten honorable discharge after he jumped on a grenade to save several children who would have otherwise surely been killed. When he returned to the states and after he got out of the hospital, he decided to start a non-profit organization to help those in need. He said that his friend, though, stole the idea, gave it a religious slant and re-named it the YMCA. I couldn't believe that this guy that everyone always made fun of was actually the one who started of this nation's greatest charitable organizations. I don't think anybody knew this, though, because everyone was so repulsed by his odor.

To make a long story short, when the patient was ready for discharge, I asked him where he was going to go. He said he had no place to stay and I offered to take him back to my place. He accepted my offer and I gave him a spare key to my condo. The guy ended up staying a few months at my place. Initially I had to help him shower and shave but after a few weeks he was going solo. This was actually a relief because I was getting tired of showering in my bathing suit so that we could shower together and save water. I ended up loaning him a few hundred dollars and he bought some business clothes. He would spend all day reading my books and basically just killing time learning about different types of jobs (I have a lot of DIY and 'for dummies' type books). Eventually he posted a resume on monster.com and ended up landing a job in NYC. I just got an email from him several months ago and he now works on wallstreet as a day trader. Apparently he read the Trading for Dummies book and embelished his resume a little, but he was saying that he landed a great job and is making great money. he told me that after he gets a little more saved up he's going to send me back the $1,500 I ended up loaning him.

Can you imagine how great I felt after getting that email? I mean here was this guy that everyone thought was just a regular old hobo, yet when someone actually talked to him and listened and gave him a chance, he ended up being a great human being. I mean how cool is it that I ended up helping a vet/founding father of the YMCA? Not everybody can say they've played such an important role in touching another peron's life. Sometimes all they need is a helping hand and guess what, maybe they too can be working on wallstreet. As I joked with him in my reply email "from the streets with broken walls to Wallstreet!"

I love being me and playing such an important role in this world!

LOL

 

[rgarrig]

Why is it that one is preferentially assumed to be deceptive, inexperienced or suffering from a psychiatric illness rather than a genuinely a good person when it comes to generous acts of kindness?

I don't consider what you've described doing as a good thing. However, I don't actually believe you did it, so it doesn't matter.

Haven't you been in a situation where you needed some help? Maybe it was even as insignificant as having someone give you a few pennies so that you didn't have to walk around with excess change in your purse.

You are free to live however you like and judge me however you prefer, but I know in my heart that I'm doing the right thing. Nothing you will ever say can break my positive spirit. Now please take your negativity out of this positive thread.

Here, have some positivity:

🙂😀👍😍😀🙂👍

 

[AK_MD2BE]

I am digging the positive aspect of this thread. One thing to be positive about: medical school is only four years, but then you get to be a doctor for thirty plus years. 🙂

 

[durfen]

med school rules, having the time of my life e.g. now going to nurse's partay with 5 course dinner. Given that i was studying all the time to get to this point, that isn't saying much.