Hey everyone! The last (and only) one I did was back in May; I had to miss the last two coffee dates due to boards studying, but…I passed, so it was all worth it!
Coffee is rampant everywhere I go. (Luckily, hospitals/clinics/pretty much every place we go to understands that we’re all chronically sleep-deprived individuals.) I actually haven’t had any yet, but I’ve only just finished my first week of clinical rotations, so there’s definitely still time!
If we were having coffee/tea this morning, I’d just like to say that I really, really love being out in the real world and getting to interact with living human beings once more. It’s a wonderful feeling, especially after the last 2 years of somewhat-solitude from my various study hibernations. That is not to say that it’s no longer an uphill battle anymore. Life in terms of constant-book-studying is over…in a way. In its place is learning “on the job.” This is good news to me because I’m very much a kinesthetic learner; I retain information much more easily if it’s something that I can actually do (hence, why the last two years were such a struggle). My preceptor’s really great about explaining things to me, the nurses are super helpful, and the patients are really sweet. They bring in fresh vegetables and home-canned foods for the staff. :] Our break room looks like a cafe, and drug reps come in and feed us 2-3x/week!
If we were having coffee/tea this morning, I’d tell you that even though it’s difficult, I really love this. My preceptor started sending me in to do H&P’s for patients on Wednesday, so I’ve been getting a lot of practice in and learning a lot. Not knowing the answers motivates me to look things up so I’ll never get it wrong again. I’m getting better at asking questions (something I never used to do). Even though I feel like I don’t know anything, her patients seem to really like me, so I’d like to think I’m doing something right. :] Yesterday, one of the ladies told me I would make a great doctor and also told me that I was really pretty, haha.
If we were having coffee/tea this morning, I’d tell you that I’m getting really fed up with GoogleMaps. While it’s never failed me in the past, I guess there has to be a first for everything. Whilst trying to get to the hospital, I was led to the middle of two train tracks and it told me I’d arrived. There was a car dealership on the other side of one set of tracks, and a row of very small, fairly run-down houses on the other. (I wish I were kidding about this.) I’m going to a psych clinic in a little over a week, so I figured I’d prevent myself from getting into such a predicament again. (I wasn’t late, but that was not a fun experience.)
After sending me on a narrow and frighteningly pothole-ridden road through a cemetery…
…this is where Google sent me. At a population of 12k, this town is 4x the size of the one I came from. No, Google, I am not about to believe that I’ve arrived at the medical clinic.
If we were having coffee/tea this morning, I’d tell you that…I’m famous again! (This is what I meant about #6.) Hooray hooray!
(Seriously, this is my life.)
So there we have it! I hope everyone’s been doing well! Things that I’ve been wondering lately:
- What’s an absolute dealbreaker for you when you’re choosing your doctor? (Or something you absolutely would not tolerate with an established doctor?)
- What’s something your doctor has done or said to you that made you feel much more comfortable with them, and that s/he was really just there to do whatever s/he could to help you get better?
- What’s something you think your doctor could improve upon?
This linkup is hosted by fellow GGS ambassadors–Nikki, Jill & Lynda!
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I think everyone is nervous and doubts themselves sometimes. That makes you human and caring and I think you will be great with your patients. Nice meeting you for coffee
Thanks! :] I’m trying to remind myself that it’s only my first week, so there’s no way I can already know everything, It’s hard to remember that sometimes! :[
Being nervous and having doubts is not uncommon when starting. Fortunately it passes! It was great getting together and catching up.
I hope it does soon! I need to improve, haha. :P
Thank you for hosting! :]
When doctors aren’t rushing from patient to patient and answer all questions you have. I hate feeling like they’re in a hurry and don’t really have time to listen. I know, of course, they’re busy, but I need that it a doctor. Thanks for joining the coffee date!
Ah, that’s the one I’m constantly trying to avoid doing because I’d hate feeling like that with my doctor too. (I think my preceptor thinks I spend way too much time with our patients right now, haha. ._.)
Thank you for hosting! :]
The idea that you are thinking about your patients is good! You will be great! I ran urgent care clinics for a few years- patients want to think you are listening and that you care- listening is huge! Good luck!
Sweet! There may be hope for me then, haha. :D I’m told that one of my best traits = being a good listener, so I will continue to work on developing/cultivating that! :]
Thank you for stopping by! :]
Yay! Congrats on being famous- I love your quote about never knowing what you’re capable of until you try, it’s so true! OH and sweat pants RULE!
Thanks! :] I used to be not go for things because I wasn’t a fan of failure, but somewhere along the way, I stopped caring about that and it’s definitely given me many more opportunities + positive experiences. :D!
Agreed on the sweatpants! :P