Do what we gotta do.

Day 3 of my inpatient rotation at Really Huge University Hospital - DONE.  Today consisted of working on a journal club assignment and almost falling asleep in our freezing cold dungeon-like office, then almost passing out from hunger while on rounds in the SICU where I couldn't hear a damn thing, then listening to a painfully long lecture on the history, evolution, and definition of death.  I suppose it's only 5 and a half more weeks.  But I still can't believe that it's almost time for me to go home.  The summer went wayyyyy too fast.

The highlight of my day was at lunch.  I was sitting with my classmate, minding my own business, when suddenly, in my peripheral vision, something looked, well, different.  After a double take and a (subtle) closer look, I noticed what I can only describe as odd - a balding, 60s-ish man, wearing a burgundy cap sleeve ballet leotard with womens' low rise jeans and a cowboy belt (one of those belts with a ginormous buckle).  I mean, whatever, but it was awkward to see in a crowded cafeteria at RHUH.

Tonight, I am spending the night at my friend's apartment.  We're having an America's Next Top Model sleepover.  Don't judge - us hardcore pharmacy chicks have guilty pleasures, too.  It was makeover day!  Of course, some girls were crying and bitching about their makeovers, and one of the whiners got sent home.  Come on, now, ladies.  It's cycle 15...you should know by now the judges HATE whiny little divas.

I hate whiny little bitches...but I love myself!

 
LOL.  Anyway, until next time.

Tell me, tell me...

...yes, I realize it's been 3409582038947 years since I've updated.  Life on rotations got a bit crazy, plus we recently welcomed a niece into the family!  She's a doll...I love her to pieces.

Anyway, I should probably update you on what I've failed to tell you all in the past, oh, three months.

I finished up APPE 1, but wasn't overly happy with how things ended.  My preceptor, who I saw maybe 2 weeks total out of 6 weeks,  didn't evaluate me fairly.  I mean, I got a decent grade, but not the grade I felt I worked for.  In his evaluation of me, he said we (my classmate and I) "procrastinated" because we waited until the last minute to finish going over our assignments with him.  WTF?  Let me explain something to you.  My preceptor was on vacation for the entire first week of my rotation.  Then, they decided since our new store was so slow, we would split time between a busier store and our actual site.  So the days he floated to the busier store, we were TOO BUSY to actually go over anything, and the other days we were at the slower store, he wasn't always there...he said he wanted to keep up his clinical skills (which is understandable), so he floated to other stores a lot.  All of that left us with the last day to go over anything.  I'm not saying I don't wait, but how can he say we procrastinate when we never see him?  Ugh.

My second rotation was at Rural Community Hospital (RCH, as I will call it).  It was pretty good.  My preceptor was the head of five, yes five departments - Pharmacy, Cardiopulm, the sleep center, Respiratory Therapy, and Cardiac Rehab.  Needless to say, I went to A LOTTTTT of borrrrring meetings.  I spent lots of time playing on my iTouch (yay for free wireless internet).  I had an awesome classmate with me.  At least it helped the time pass quickly.  I did medication reconciliation for new admissions and renal dosing.  I really think it helped me develop confidence in my clinical judgment.

RCH also has a long-term care facility.  One of the highlights was when I was on one of these particular floors with my classmate, we'll call him Jake.  We were going to do a review on a patient who had a history of falls.  Out of nowhere, this little old lady (let's call her Olive) comes up to him and starts to poke him in the side.  Under her breath, she says, "tickle tickle tickle," and proceeds to yodel at Jake.  Jake looks from me to Olive, plays along with her tickling for a few seconds, and backs away slowly.

Anywho, I just finished my amb care rotation at an inner city medical practice.  They have approximately 18,000 patients, and about 80% of the patients are Medicaid patients.  Lots of them are refugees or immigrants from other countries. 

So, we had to go to a diabetes ed class for patients who have been diagnosed with DM 2.  We were talking about losing weight.  Guy raises his hand and says, "My girlfriend lost 22 pounds...I mean, I like it but I don't.  She started sagging...she looks old."  WTF??

Right now, I'm on my inpatient rotation...today was my second day.  I'm at Really Huge University Hospital, and they tell me it's 1/4 mile from end to end.  My preceptor rounds in the SICU...lots of complicated patients.  Nothing crazy has happened yet...I promise I'll update more regularly.

I'm moving home in 6 weeks to start my electives!  I'm really excited, but I can't believe I'm moving back home, pretty much for good.  It's sort of bittersweet; I'm excited to get back to my fiance and my family, but I've made some pretty amazing friends here (you all know who you are) that I'll miss like crazy.  I kind of don't even want to think about it.  Favorite memories include school Christmas parties (LOL) and Mexican food (mooooh kaaaay??).


I'm going to be a pharmacist in less than a year!  And married!  HOLY SHIT.  Summer 2011 = stress to the max. 

Here's to taking it one step at a time.