Old Age
Armand was just commenting that his past month over at [Affiliated Hospital] was harder than last year's month there, and I replied that maybe it was because we're getting older. I've noticed that my intern year was hard but not as hard as I imagined. I always had that on-call adrenaline and even after a 30-hour shift, I was somewhat functional.
But now? Now, I can't even form sentences on rounds after being on-call. I think I'm getting old. Or maybe it's the sleep debt that's piled up!
Last night, I had my first 6p-4am ER shift in more than 6 months. Sure, I did night senior where I worked 7pm-7am, but there's usually some down time and maybe even an hour of lying horizontal in bed. But in the ER? No way. There's not even time to get a drink of water, most days. It's Go, Go, Go, for 10 hours straight. And man. I didn't really feel it last night as I was working, but I could NOT wake up today. I got home around 5am and set my alarm for 11:30am, figuring I wouldn't even be able to sleep that much... but I had to literally drag myself out of bed at 1:30pm! and I have to go back to the ER tonight. sigh.
Last night was hard because it was the first time where I had to use the computer system entirely... It took me an hour to see ONE patient. One simple patient with a cold. So painful to write notes and comments and everything on this horrible computer system that is NOT user-friendly at all. Who the hell built this thing?!? Seriously?!?
Also, I was supervising a medical student, which reallllllly slows things down. It's hard to have lots of teaching moments when 1) it's really busy in the ER, 2) i have no idea how to use the computer system, 3) there are a lot of the same type of patients in the ER this time of year. I felt bad for the other residents who probably had to work harder to make up for my lack of efficiency.
Onto happier thoughts... I'm dreaming of going to New Zealand in May for our "honeymoon." But I'm worried that it won't work out with all the competing trips that need to happen in the Spring, involving interviews, academic conferences, apartment-hunting, and visits that I've been promising friends for a long time...
But now? Now, I can't even form sentences on rounds after being on-call. I think I'm getting old. Or maybe it's the sleep debt that's piled up!
Last night, I had my first 6p-4am ER shift in more than 6 months. Sure, I did night senior where I worked 7pm-7am, but there's usually some down time and maybe even an hour of lying horizontal in bed. But in the ER? No way. There's not even time to get a drink of water, most days. It's Go, Go, Go, for 10 hours straight. And man. I didn't really feel it last night as I was working, but I could NOT wake up today. I got home around 5am and set my alarm for 11:30am, figuring I wouldn't even be able to sleep that much... but I had to literally drag myself out of bed at 1:30pm! and I have to go back to the ER tonight. sigh.
Last night was hard because it was the first time where I had to use the computer system entirely... It took me an hour to see ONE patient. One simple patient with a cold. So painful to write notes and comments and everything on this horrible computer system that is NOT user-friendly at all. Who the hell built this thing?!? Seriously?!?
Also, I was supervising a medical student, which reallllllly slows things down. It's hard to have lots of teaching moments when 1) it's really busy in the ER, 2) i have no idea how to use the computer system, 3) there are a lot of the same type of patients in the ER this time of year. I felt bad for the other residents who probably had to work harder to make up for my lack of efficiency.
Onto happier thoughts... I'm dreaming of going to New Zealand in May for our "honeymoon." But I'm worried that it won't work out with all the competing trips that need to happen in the Spring, involving interviews, academic conferences, apartment-hunting, and visits that I've been promising friends for a long time...
posted by Vivian | 2:11 PM
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