Hiatus

Sorry for the long Hiatus...I've been secluded away on OB/GYN away from my apartment. Between spotty interwebs access (leading to lost posts), sleep deprivation and about 30 other excuses, I haven't really had time or energy for writing much. But now the shelf exam is looming, so it's time to procrastinate.

Now when I say secluded, I mean I've been living a semi-monastic lifestyle for the past 5 weeks of the rotation. Considering that I quite litereally live in the hospital...I'm not at all suprised. But hey...it's free and I was able to sublet my apartment for a decent amount...can't complain too much. I also just got my first digtal camera (thank you Circuit City for closing), so it's time for a look inside of the monastic, semi-deprived life of the Bostonian in NY. Enjoy.

Here is the semi-anonymous hospital...if it weren't for the stupid banners touting how amazing the hospital is (and it is), you'd probably just think it was some ugly federal building.

Here is the tiny little dorm room that I've called home. Note the bottle of scotch sitting on the window sill, the lappy and general clutter everywhere. I'm in study mode...back off.

Here's the reverse view of the place...yeah I'm messy, so what. You try working my hours...;)

Anyway, I have a few posts in the chute and Psych coming up next so I'll have some decent content over the next 6 weeks or so...enjoy

Third year...

Being a third year is kind of like being a chameleon. You have to quickly adapt to your service and blend in seamlessly or risk being killed on your evals. You can never get too comfortable though; just as soon as you get used to catching babies, you have to go talk to crazy people in another hospital with a different group of people judging you on a completely different standard. Different ancillary services, different nurses, different charts, different abbreviations, different living conditions...very little carries over. But then again, you're a chameleon...you change your colors and fit in.

In the midst of this constant, whirlwind of change, you're forced to decide on where you'd like to direct your life and all you get is a short exposure to one service in one hospital. All it takes is a couple of miserable residents or a really bad day, and you've cut a career choice out of the picture permanently. Or maybe you have two options in front of you that you like equally in your experience, but you not enough information to choose between the two. Or maybe you liked nothing. Whatever the case, you have to make a career choice pretty soon.

I was fortunate. I had found my niche before third year began, and it still feels right after several months. I feel bad for all of those who have no idea at this point.