It's 1:22 AM. I'm gonna hate myself when my alarm clock goes off.
A fellow reader wants to know what's next on the clinical agenda. I'm hitting the road again. Next up is Emergency medicine in rural West Virginia. I am very excited. Psychiatry is all about the gift of gab, but I haven't given injections, read EKG's, or even done a physical exam. I look forward to using my clinical skills again.
Graduation is so close that I am considering options for employment. There are so many options to choose from, which is exciting. Because of the detective and our way of living, all options are pretty much wide open. I am in a wonderful place in my life right now! I'll be sure to keep you all posted.
Good night...er, good morning?
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Monday, October 24, 2011
Rotation 5: weeks 1 - 4, and a much needed facelift!
Hello Readers!
Today marks week number four in the world of inpatient Psychiatry. Yes, I entered the hospital for the first time with my eyes and ears wide open and my remaining senses heightened. It took no time at all for me to feel comfortable being on a lock-down unit with patients with diagnoses ranging from paranoid schizophrenia to suicide ideation.
Psychiatry is not for the faint of heart. Sure, there are no codes being called or MI's being diagnosed. The beauty of psychiatry is in the dialogue. It's amazing what people are willing to talk about with people they trust. Sometimes you win trust without even trying. Sometimes it takes days or weeks. My favorite patients have been the ones that scare the nursing staff the most: the antisocial personality disorder patient who is super aggressive, confrontational, and self-mutilates to escape his emotions, and the depressed/suicidal patient who feel larvae growing out of her hair, arms, and legs. These are precious, precious individuals, who are battling illnesses not much different than cancer or heart disease.
I love talking to patients. The gift of gab comes in handy in this specialty, and I think that's why I've enjoyed it so much. Does that mean I may have a future in psychiatry? Not likely. I like to talk, but love using my hands.
Today marks week number four in the world of inpatient Psychiatry. Yes, I entered the hospital for the first time with my eyes and ears wide open and my remaining senses heightened. It took no time at all for me to feel comfortable being on a lock-down unit with patients with diagnoses ranging from paranoid schizophrenia to suicide ideation.
Psychiatry is not for the faint of heart. Sure, there are no codes being called or MI's being diagnosed. The beauty of psychiatry is in the dialogue. It's amazing what people are willing to talk about with people they trust. Sometimes you win trust without even trying. Sometimes it takes days or weeks. My favorite patients have been the ones that scare the nursing staff the most: the antisocial personality disorder patient who is super aggressive, confrontational, and self-mutilates to escape his emotions, and the depressed/suicidal patient who feel larvae growing out of her hair, arms, and legs. These are precious, precious individuals, who are battling illnesses not much different than cancer or heart disease.
I love talking to patients. The gift of gab comes in handy in this specialty, and I think that's why I've enjoyed it so much. Does that mean I may have a future in psychiatry? Not likely. I like to talk, but love using my hands.
Saturday, October 15, 2011
The joys of Psychiatry
I am really enjoying my time on the Behavioral Health Unit. I wanted to really expose myself to the nitty gritty of psychiatric medicine. Boy, did I get it. I will share more detail soon.
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