6 Months

As I approach the six month mark of my intern year, I must reflect on the half year of my life. Intern year is all about getting it done. You are the lowest person on the totem pole who is actually responsible. I didn't know how easy I had it as a medical student. No matter what you did, it usually couldn't be your fault. Interns have it a much worse. Probably the most frustrating thing is getting the details right and finding all the wrong turns that come along the way. No asks how long it took or what hoops it took to get there, they just want results. But as you get better, you grow a little more confident after surmounting each obstacle.

I'm finally winding down my final week of heart failure. Some of the hype about the service has lived up to reality, but most of it has not. The one attending with the worst reputation has a bit of a shtick, but it's still a pain to deal with. Not sure I'm getting the learning I was looking for, but at least it is tolerable. Although I was lied to about the census. I was promised 2-3 patients and light afternoons. I have been disappointed. Thankfully, I have an awesome senior who takes care of business and always there to back me up. I couldn't ask for more.

Everyone month I complete, I wonder how a managed to finished the last. From what I've done, the more knowledge I gain, the more I learn that I don't know. It's a humbling process. Most of it is learning on the job, since it's a little tough to read while getting through 14-hour shifts. It's an exhausting process. Many times I feel like I'm going through the motions, but once in awhile, you'll make a connection and you'll help someone. That makes it worth it. Those victories are small and infrequent, but the battles help fight through the war.

Just have to get through two more shifts and I'll be ready to start my week off for Winter block. It couldn't come faster. I had a vacation three weeks ago and I'm ready for another one. Next up is a month of nights. Gotta get through a few more weeks and coast my way out of here.

And on a heart failure note. Take your meds and stop eating so much salt!