Originally posted by dumbest premed
I normally work 24-40 hours per week, but for almost 2 months last summer I was putting in 110 hour weeks. Working longer hours didn't change my perception of the patients I treated. The fact that I'm tired doesn't change the situation for the patient.
And yes, I do have experience taking care of patients after I "give them a ride to the hospital." I spent almost 6 months working as an er tech. I was called in to cover the night shift on very short notice many times. Just because I had a long week and was tired didn't cause me to view my patients any differently. Most of these "anonymous drugged up low-lives at 3:00am " didn't choose to be in the situation they are in. Not everyone has ideal circumstances and therefore not everyone is perfect. Face it, in surgery or emergency medicine, the majority of your pts aren't going to be chearleaders with appy's and little old ladies with lap choles. If you are unable to realize the fact that EVERYONE needs high quality care at all hours of the day and night, general surgery isn't for you. There are many other fields that would fit you much better and compenstate you just as well or better. From my work experience and from the surgeons who I've worked with, it takes more dedication to your patients than you are demonstrating. By describing a patient as a "low-life," you clearly exhibited that surgery does not fit you.
Hydrocarbon boy,
you don't need to defend yourself or your skills to some ignorant tool on an anonymous forum.
I'd love to see AS walk 3 flights of stairs and assess some unconscious 300 lb woman, with no history. No lab. No X Ray, and no attending holding his hand.
Then make a presumptive diagnosis, formulate a plan of treatment, and more importantly, carry her down 3 flights of stairs, load her into the rig and navigate the mean streets to get her to the hospital.
Most real physicians respect the very tough job that EMT's and paramedics do.
I disagree that AS should do path or rads.
With his attitude, I think he should pick a nonmedical career.
Postal worker sounds about right to me.
I can just hear this whiner getting called at 3 AM for various complaints : "I NEED MY SLEEP. I'm not going to see that patient, I worked 79 hours already this week, and if I go put in that line, I'll be over the limit."
Dumbest premed, keep up the good work. Your experience in the real world will be invaluable. I think AS lost the point of your post. The fact that you see and treat as many patients as you do, in all sorts of circumstances, and still have compassion ( even for the dregs of humanity ) says a lot. I know a lot of guys get burned out and jaded and bitter.
What does it say, when an MS4 that's never actually done anything is already bitter and a prick. God, I'd hate to be that guy's upper level, provided he can con his way into a resdency