Hello again. This is the first in a series of three blogs, each detailing events which happened in the last couple of weeks. I should have no problem filling this space over and over again with little tidbits of information. This particular blog pertains to my medicinal career.
That pesky little national board licensing exam is over, long over in fact, hence the title of this blog. U SMiLE is an often used slur of the acronym USMLE. I don't know if this particular slur is simple optimism or overt cynicism, but there is no smiling during said exam. Of course, a big smile spread across my face when I finished, but this wasn't due to answering 350 obscurely worded clinical vignettes with joy. Several people have asked me how I feel I did. These are people who, naturally, weren't taking the test themselves, because as anyone who takes the USMLE or its entourage of practice exams knows, how you feel you did is meaningless. I will say this: I didn't walk out of there wanting to pull my hair out due to frustration, like some of my less fortunate colleagues. I know of some who felt as though the test went horribly (even though these are good students who always do well on exams), and even one or two who left crying. There are even a few malingerers who have yet to take the exam (mostly those who keep pushing it back, a highly frowned upon practice), even though we start school next week. But, alas, it's all done for me. Scores will arrive sometime around July 18, and I anxiously await. Let's not discuss it between now and then, eh?
In other medical news, I have begun a collection of old medical things. While on our honeymoon (details to follow in the third of this series of blogs), we visited a few antique shops when the idea dawned upon me. Someday, I will have an office, or perhaps a patient waiting room. And what is a waiting room without cool, old, medical trinkets lying around on glass shelves behind glass doors which will require constant washing to remove the nose and finger prints of little children? So far, I have acquired three objects. The first is a book from the 70's called, The Encyclopedia of Common Diseases. The second item is an old mercury bichloride bottle for medicinal purposes. It even lists the antidote to poisoning: "Give milk or white of eggs beaten with water, then a tablespoonful of soap or baking soda in a glass of warm water and repeat until vomit fluid is clear. Then give milk or white of eggs beaten with water. Call a physician." So remember kids, before calling the doc or 911 or anything, scramble around the house looking for eggs, water, soap, and baking soda, with a source of heat for the water, an egg separator since Lord knows you don't want the yolk, and an egg beater, watch the victim vomit a few times, repeat, and then pick up the phone to call for help. We have drugs for this nowadays, it takes out a lot of the guess work I suppose. The third item found is a book from circa 1910 called "Hygiene and Sanitation." It appears to be like some sort of manual/textbook every 100 year old physician should have. I can't really say any more about either book since I haven't read them yet (if ever).
While my scores in northern Arkansan antique shops won't likely prepare me for the coming months, some emails have begun filtering through which likely will. We have started receiving various emails from course directors and fourth year students, many of which contain potentially useful attachments. All that said, I am beginning to get excited about this year. It's a complete turn around from the last two years, and it will take a lot of getting used to for all of us. I recently discovered I will be working under the notorious Dr. Andreoli as my first attending. Andreoli is a name dropper, a student pimper of boundless sorts (he charges his students and residents money if they get stuff wrong), and he hates corporate sponsorship (i.e. no drug rep pens and paper). He's like television's Dr. Gregory House, but with a better bedside manner, I should hope. He's even a nephrologist, though he's not a snarky Brit. I can handle this. I think I can match his sarcasm (have you met me?). Only time will tell. I have him for four weeks, and the remainder of my internal medicine rotation is yet to be decided. Many blogs will spew forth from this coming experience, and I hope you will read on. But this is all for now, and I will soon write about the wedding and honeymoon, blogs 2 and 3, respectively.
In other medical news, I have begun a collection of old medical things. While on our honeymoon (details to follow in the third of this series of blogs), we visited a few antique shops when the idea dawned upon me. Someday, I will have an office, or perhaps a patient waiting room. And what is a waiting room without cool, old, medical trinkets lying around on glass shelves behind glass doors which will require constant washing to remove the nose and finger prints of little children? So far, I have acquired three objects. The first is a book from the 70's called, The Encyclopedia of Common Diseases. The second item is an old mercury bichloride bottle for medicinal purposes. It even lists the antidote to poisoning: "Give milk or white of eggs beaten with water, then a tablespoonful of soap or baking soda in a glass of warm water and repeat until vomit fluid is clear. Then give milk or white of eggs beaten with water. Call a physician." So remember kids, before calling the doc or 911 or anything, scramble around the house looking for eggs, water, soap, and baking soda, with a source of heat for the water, an egg separator since Lord knows you don't want the yolk, and an egg beater, watch the victim vomit a few times, repeat, and then pick up the phone to call for help. We have drugs for this nowadays, it takes out a lot of the guess work I suppose. The third item found is a book from circa 1910 called "Hygiene and Sanitation." It appears to be like some sort of manual/textbook every 100 year old physician should have. I can't really say any more about either book since I haven't read them yet (if ever).
While my scores in northern Arkansan antique shops won't likely prepare me for the coming months, some emails have begun filtering through which likely will. We have started receiving various emails from course directors and fourth year students, many of which contain potentially useful attachments. All that said, I am beginning to get excited about this year. It's a complete turn around from the last two years, and it will take a lot of getting used to for all of us. I recently discovered I will be working under the notorious Dr. Andreoli as my first attending. Andreoli is a name dropper, a student pimper of boundless sorts (he charges his students and residents money if they get stuff wrong), and he hates corporate sponsorship (i.e. no drug rep pens and paper). He's like television's Dr. Gregory House, but with a better bedside manner, I should hope. He's even a nephrologist, though he's not a snarky Brit. I can handle this. I think I can match his sarcasm (have you met me?). Only time will tell. I have him for four weeks, and the remainder of my internal medicine rotation is yet to be decided. Many blogs will spew forth from this coming experience, and I hope you will read on. But this is all for now, and I will soon write about the wedding and honeymoon, blogs 2 and 3, respectively.
1 comment:
Well, technically Dr. House isn't a snarky Brit either, he's just played by one.
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