Interns 101

“Since I was a kid, I've been able to sleep through anything -- storms, sirens, you name it. Last night, I didn't sleep.  I guess I get a little goofy when I'm nervous. You see, today isn't just any other day. It's my first day. [proudly, to his reflection] I'm the man. And four years of pre-med, four years of med school, and tons of unpaid loans have made me realize one thing...' Nurse:'Good. Could you go drop an NG tube on the patient in 234, and call the attending if the lavage is positive?'... 'I don't know jack.”

These are the opening lines of the show Scrubs. Possibly the most accurate depiction of what it is like to be a medical intern of any television show that I've seen.

Last week I started out on the floor for my orientation of what it's like on inpatient medicine.  I had my first call shift, I wrote my first script, I admitted a few patients and discharged a few.  I may have even made one decision on my own.  It was terrifying.

This week I saw my first patient in the office, while being shadowed by my advisor Dr. Otsuji (36+ years in practice).  Carl said it best "They shouldn't call it shadowing, they should call it... scrutinizing."  After about five minutes of talking to the patient I looked at him with the thoughts in my head "Well, you're the doctor..what should she do?"

It is a big leap from fourth year of medical school where you are always under the guidance of others, and they make all the decisions, to intern year where the nurses call you doctor and ask you to write medicines for patients.  Now I'm expected to know things, and make decisions and all of that crazy sh*t.  It's been rough getting used to introducing myself as Dr. Gladstone.  It feels phony.

I have also learned that my work personality is shy.  I was told that by our orientation director, Dr. Zeltzer.  Interestingly enough, I've never been called shy in my life.  I guess you learn something new about yourself all the time.

Another line from the first episode of Scrubs goes like this: "So, what's it like being a young, hot-shot doctor?' 'It's like... Did you ever go see a movie that everyone told you was great, and then because of all those expectations, you ended up totally disappointed?' 'Movies nowadays have too many special effects.' 'Yeah, that was pretty much my point.'"  And I totally know what he means.  Well, if you don't hear from me for a long time that is because I am a medicine intern and I have no life outside of the hospital.  Wish me luck!