let's see if i can put together a few sentences before i get bored with writing, find myself uninspiring, and leave this post trailing like so many others before.
i've been perusing the world wide web for first day surgical intern advice. so far i've come across a few pretty basic, but pretty much repeated across the board, lists of advice. they start with things like, be nice to support staff, and say you don't know or forgot to check instead of making things about exam findings/lab values/etc.
another site lists 101 tips
http://www.generalsurgerynews.com/ViewArticle.aspx?d=Opinions+%26+Letters&d_id=77&i=August2012&i_id=875&a_id=21432
this was a good thread from our good ol' urologymatch website
http://www.urologymatch.com/node/1104
to be perfectly honest, i have no idea what i am doing. i vaguely remember being a good student as a 3rd and 4th year medical student, good reports in the morning, enthusiastic about getting work done, always trying to help out. however, it has been over a year since i have been in the clinical setting and i feel like the only thing i know is that blood glucose should definitely not be over 1000. forget about drug names and interactions, managing medical problems, normal lab values, whatever.
so here is my list of to do's as i mentally prepare for my first day on urology
- ask questions, ask lots of questions.
i've always been a bit afraid to speak up, esp with attendings. it's just this thing i have with people in positions of authority. when i was growing up, my dad would give me lectures, hours and hours long lectures, and i would stand there nodding. if i asked any question, the lecture would just continue on for longer, because it generally meant that i had asked a stupid question or made an invalid argument that needed to be corrected. i learned not to say anything and just pretend like i was absorbing whatever was being taught. i don't know how well that worked, since i don't really live life how my dad would want me to these days, and i'm sure if he knew the details, i would be in for another 3 hour long lecture.
in my medical school years, i tried hard to correct this trait. i learned that when students asked questions, residents and attendings would get the idea that they were interested in learning. i was definitely interested in learning, and i had to get that idea across in order to be taught. slowly i started asking questions, giving answers, became more ok with asking questions that seemed stupid and giving answers that turned out wrong. it was a part of learning.
this is something i am still working on though, so asking questions and seeking answers is definitely still at the top of my list.
- fight to work hard.
i don't think i'll have to fight too hard, but i hope that i live up to the standards of hard work in this environment. i want to be proactive and i want to volunteer my time and efforts.
- be nice, be kind, smile.
just a reminder to myself that a smile and a hello can go a long way.
- be a team player.
i would like to act with the thought of, how can i make my resident's day easier.
- read.
this was not something that i was good at in medical school. definitely have to pick up the slack here.
well that's as inspired as i am for now. i have 5 more days until i start, 3 more days of orientation and 2 days filled of lake side fun. and then, it's trial by fire.
