jenniferhawke.com

i started Internal Medicine. everyone says they learn a lot on this rotation and, after only one day, i can see why. we saw 18 patients today and that gave me about 1800 things to look up tonight.

this is going to be a mind-numbing and grueling rotation, with long days and work straight through Thanksgiving and Christmas and New Year’s (oh boohoo, i know!). our (10? 11? hour) days start at 7am and i’m on a team with 4 residents and 3 other students. yes, that makes 8! i’ve suddenly become part of the white-coat pack that shuffles behind the doctor and moves from room to room in an albino herd-like fashion. it’s a little different than the solo flying and co-piloting i did on OB and at the Family Medicine outpatient clinic.

speaking of Family Medicine, it’s done!

after each rotation we get mini performance reviews from the supervising resident or attending. some of them are even nice enough to take the time to give you concrete feedback (you know, other than just “you did good”) with advice for how to fix things as you move forward.

during the the performance review i got from the Family Resident attending on Friday, he said something along the lines of: “i know students are told it’s okay to say ‘i don’t know’, but your — and i’m assuming it’s the Canadian in you — mild mannered and non-confrontational personality makes ‘i don’t know’ sort of a sucky answer for you.” he also said nice things like how i’m highly motivated, great with patients and staff, insightful, bright, articulate, and read more than any other student he’s had rotate through.

but even the most articulate “i don’t know” is worse than a theory or blind guess in the dark.

so, if you’ll excuse me, i’m off to read. i need to be able to come up with some big girl words if i’m put on the spot tomorrow.

previous rotations: Obstetrics & Gynecology

daily schedule:
Monday 7am – 1230pm
Tuesday 7am – 6pm
Wednesday 7am – 1230pm
Thursday 7am – 6pm
Friday 8am – 2pm

actual daily schedule:
pretty close to above. be sure to show up early. you never know who rotated through before you and how much of a good impression that might make.

what to wear:
white coat + nametag + whatever “business casual” means to you. the attending i work with doesn’t wear a shirt and tie, but i’m sure you could if you want. ladies, i’d recommend keeping necklines high-ish, skirts long-ish, and shoes non-stiletto-ish. but that’s just me. wash your hair. avoid perfumes & colognes. simple stuff like that.

what’s in my pockets:
- stethoscope
- small notebook with a list of things to look up later
- pen
- phone with Epocrates Drug Reference
- Maxwell’s Reference

patient notes you will be asked to write:
- prescriptions
- that’s about it. your attending may avoid having you write in the chart and you should welcome the challenge. you won’t always have a piece of paper with H&P questions in front of you. start working from scratch and the practice should come in handy later.

what to study:
each night i have a dozen or so things to look up. study whatever you don’t know. which, in my case, feels like a lot.

a few unforgettable things learned along the way:
- kids shouldn’t get the H1N1 vaccine because it’s definitely some sort of conspiracy.
- people only die of lung cancer after they quit smoking.

curious things other students do:
there aren’t any other students on this rotation with me. i’m the one doing all the screwing up for these 6 weeks. it’s fun.