Medical Melodrama: March 2011

In my whole four years in med school, I’ve never worked this hard before. Not to mention how consistent I’ve been compared to the honeymoon phase in the pre clinical years.

I’ve always known that medical school would be tough. It was a pleasant surprise in the first few years at how easy everything was, not having to push myself to any extent to obtain decent (though not brilliant) results.

Next week will be my last rotation in medicine and surgery, which has been full of memories, both pleasant and not too pleasant.

Hopefully the pressure doesn’t get the better of me, as the impending surgical OSCEs with 9 stations will definitely be a test of nerves.

Knowing just isn’t enough. It’s about performing under intense pressure. A skill I've yet to master.

So, hoping for the best!

After the ‘holiday’ in Wexford, the busy corridors of St Vincents was indeed a welcomed change. With the finals only three weeks away, one can only hope that through the process of osmosis, ie picking up the medical lingo on the wards; it will be possible to at least scrape a pass for the dreaded OSCEs.

The final stint in medicine comprises of radiology, anaesthesiology, and emergency medicine, with particular focus in the acute management of a critically ill patient.

Radiology

This is would probably be at the bottom of my list in preferred specialties. While the common stereotype of sitting in a dark room looking at X-rays the whole day isn’t entirely true, the lack of patient contact remains the primary reason why I wouldn’t be inclined to choose radiology.

The study dilemma

I usually opt to study at the James Joyce(JJ) library, which is a ten minute cycle from the hospital library.

I hate studying around medical students. They annoy me. They study too hard. They’re sub-human sub-machines.

The JJ library on the other hand is populated by students from different faculties. This means that I don’t get freaked out by people who can continuously keep their head buried in books for five, maybe six hours straight.

Hospital library = INFERIORITY COMPLEX

JJ library = SUPERIORITY COMPLEX

Intruder alert

For the past few months, it’s been a joy studying amongst mere mortals in the secluded corridors of JJ. However, last week, an intruder arrived.

She was tall, blond, and had a bag that was too big for her. The minute she took out her notes, there was no mistaking who she was. On her table lay three huge files; colour coded, containing hand written notes.

A medical student.

This had been going on for a week. It annoyed me as hell that she outlasted me each and every day.

Challenge accepted!!!

Outlast. Outplay. Who will survive?

She arrived at the same time I did, right after lectures. We exchanged cordial smiles as she sat right behind my table.

My mission was simple. I was going to outlast her. Just for the hell of it. It was 4pm.

5.30pm

I was still going strong. So was she.

6.00pm

She left for a break. I was hungry too. I grabbed a prawn sandwich and some tea. Half an hour later and she was already in her seat before I even arrived.

6.30pm

I was getting sleepy. I decided to do some light studying. Flipped through some old notes. Concentration levels were dropping.

I waited for the screen saver on my laptop so that the screen would turn black. Hence I could see her reflection and what she was doing.

She was still hard at work.

7.15pm

She yawned a few times. This might be the moment.

She got up.

Bathroom break, sigh.

8.30pm

I had given up on studying. But I wasn’t going to move until she left!

So I started checking my emails.

8.45pm