Captain's Log: Day 2
Captain's log, day 2:
Today was a great day, despite the fact that my alarm went off, so rudely awakening me, at 4:30am. I'm not 100% sure I'll EVER get used to waking hours before the buttcrack of dawn, but this is life. I told George the ONE thing I really wanted when we moved to Dayton was a GOOD espresso maker. You see, I didn't really drink coffee in any form on a regular basis until med school. I managed 30 years on this earth before succumbing to this witchcraftery. We limped along the last 4 years with a Nespresso machine, which was actually pretty good....but the pods get expensive and the truth is that I really was NOT a coffee/espresso connoisseur. I mean, I liked it, but I didn't know bad from palatable from decent to good to amazing. Well, now we know amazing because we bought a Breville at the William Sonoma outlet a few weeks ago and it's turned me into a coffee snob.
So.....let's just say that this machine is what gets me out of bed in the morning and keeps me upright for the first half of the day. Well, that and a couple shots of s'mores syrup.
Intern year, day two: Infinitely better than day one. Every delivery was a happy one, every couple or laboring woman were pleasant, and all those happy thoughts and rainbows that go with L&D. Thankfully, I have a wonderful group of people teaching me the ropes and who have instilled confidence in me, even when I don't necessarily have it in myself. First thing this morning, I attempted my very first spinal anesthesia by myself. And I failed. I was back there trying to find the intrathecal space for a good 10-15 minutes before I looked back at my attending and must have looked forlorn enough that he took pity on me and gloved up to finish the job. Cue patient #2....and let's just put that on repeat. Seriously, I know that it was only two honest patients in, but I really just began to wonder if I'd ever get anything right.
AND THEN.......then it happened. Patient #3 was perfect. Everything clicked just right, and I got the spinal in on my very first try! Trying hard not to burst open at the seams, I played it cool the rest of the case (because I don't think any patient would care to know that she was the first time I succeeded at this procedure), but got a solid fistbump from my attending and the CRNA with me in recovery. And just for good measure, we had a final c-section added on before I left for the night. Another perfect patient, and another solo spinal done well.
Leaving the hospital this evening.....I seriously couldn't have felt more on cloud 9. I'm prepared for the ups and downs of residency, but days like this hopefully will hold me over when there's days like yesterday. And for good measure, I wore a pair of my favorite brand of snarky socks today....I'm convinced it made all the difference:
Today was a great day, despite the fact that my alarm went off, so rudely awakening me, at 4:30am. I'm not 100% sure I'll EVER get used to waking hours before the buttcrack of dawn, but this is life. I told George the ONE thing I really wanted when we moved to Dayton was a GOOD espresso maker. You see, I didn't really drink coffee in any form on a regular basis until med school. I managed 30 years on this earth before succumbing to this witchcraftery. We limped along the last 4 years with a Nespresso machine, which was actually pretty good....but the pods get expensive and the truth is that I really was NOT a coffee/espresso connoisseur. I mean, I liked it, but I didn't know bad from palatable from decent to good to amazing. Well, now we know amazing because we bought a Breville at the William Sonoma outlet a few weeks ago and it's turned me into a coffee snob.
So.....let's just say that this machine is what gets me out of bed in the morning and keeps me upright for the first half of the day. Well, that and a couple shots of s'mores syrup.
Intern year, day two: Infinitely better than day one. Every delivery was a happy one, every couple or laboring woman were pleasant, and all those happy thoughts and rainbows that go with L&D. Thankfully, I have a wonderful group of people teaching me the ropes and who have instilled confidence in me, even when I don't necessarily have it in myself. First thing this morning, I attempted my very first spinal anesthesia by myself. And I failed. I was back there trying to find the intrathecal space for a good 10-15 minutes before I looked back at my attending and must have looked forlorn enough that he took pity on me and gloved up to finish the job. Cue patient #2....and let's just put that on repeat. Seriously, I know that it was only two honest patients in, but I really just began to wonder if I'd ever get anything right.
AND THEN.......then it happened. Patient #3 was perfect. Everything clicked just right, and I got the spinal in on my very first try! Trying hard not to burst open at the seams, I played it cool the rest of the case (because I don't think any patient would care to know that she was the first time I succeeded at this procedure), but got a solid fistbump from my attending and the CRNA with me in recovery. And just for good measure, we had a final c-section added on before I left for the night. Another perfect patient, and another solo spinal done well.
Leaving the hospital this evening.....I seriously couldn't have felt more on cloud 9. I'm prepared for the ups and downs of residency, but days like this hopefully will hold me over when there's days like yesterday. And for good measure, I wore a pair of my favorite brand of snarky socks today....I'm convinced it made all the difference:
Who performed her first two solo spinals today? This doc:
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