Month almost over

So my first month as an intern is almost over and I finally have access to patient charts in the ER. But I cannot write anything or order anything. Fine. But I did get to spend some time in the ICU, which is where I will be tomorrow night, next saturday night and then for the entire month of August.

While I was there, it was great. But nothing was really going on at night so it was still no different from being a medical student. Until the nurse paged me. She told me that the patient's blood pressure was still high even after getting medication and wanted to know what I wanted to give him. Well, my heart DROPPED!!!!! Now I really have to make a decision. If I do not give the right medication then the patient can be in bigger problems. But if I give too much they could be in problems also. The nurse hinted that it may be a good idea to give the patient hydralazine. So I looked up the labs and called my resident, which he told me the same thing. And I wrote the order.

The nurses know that we are all brand new doctors and so they are there to have our backs. As long as you are not nasty or rude to them. Which I am not (something that gives non trads an advantage over our traditional counterparts due to our emotional intelligence). Since then, I have decided that I am going to be reviewing the treatment of each emergency for each organ system. So far, so good. The only issue is that I have not been able to put the information to good use, yet.

Since starting, I have seen common medical problems enter the ER. Things that I eventually will take care of either on the floors or in the ICU. I have been able to perform several pelvic exams (with a chaperone of course), put in a couple of nasalgastric tubes, and IVs. But I am looking forward to putting in central lines, intubation, and other stuff life that.

I am looking forward to my time in the ICU. I plan on reviewing my notes on the information I have been reading about. And wondering how I am going to feel when I put in 72 hours a week.