MY JOB
I love my job. period.
I originally applied for this job because I was (1) anxious that when I applied to residencies I would be less competitive because I didn't do research this summer (like many of my classmates. Now I can say I helped UNMC implement their EMR and EMRs help improve healthcare quality.. yada yada) and (2) jobs pay money. However, I didn't realize how much I would learn from spending > 60 hrs/week on a hospital floor and how appreciated and satisfied I would feel at the end of each day. I love being in a profession where I feel like I make a difference.. and surprisingly, I've found that same feeling in this tech support job as well.
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| Lied Transplant Center |
LESSONS
- EXPOSURE Being assigned to the transplant floor, we have patients with many, complex problems.. so I get to learn a lot about medicine. I find it is easier to memorize medical conditions when I have a patient face/scenario to relate it to.. so this should help me study in the future. I also get to follow around providers working in a field I've never observed.
- PATIENT CARE TEAMS Rounds on our floor can include up to 15 people (often including dieticians which I love since that was what I studied in undergrad). I've learned a lot from watching the different specialties interact. People feel super comfortable around me because I am just the young computer tech, so they open up about who they like/dislike to work with and I've learned lots of good lessons about how to be a good team player and what irritates other staff.
- WORK FLOW I am now very familiar with how many providers spend their time throughout the day. I was aware of the documentation involved in admissions/rounding/discharges, but I had not stepped through every aspect until now. (If you don't know, the majority of the day is spent writing notes & orders.. not working directly with patients. Welcome to a major downfall of our US health care system.)
- STUDENTS On the floor, there are also many students and residents who rotate through the service so I am able to observe what my rotations may be like in a year.
- SYSTEM I will have one less thing to learn and stress about next year when I start rotations because I will be using this same system. It will be really fun to be back in a year and see all the bells and whistles people have implemented. Right now, most providers are still mastering the basics of the system.
- JARGON I am constantly exposed to the terminology and abbreviations which should help for the future.
- COMPASSION I better understand the toll of a 12-hour nursing shift. I've always had tremendous respect for nurses.. but I'd never experienced being on your feet for 12 straight hours until this week.
I'm very thankful to have this job for all the reasons above.. and then some. I was blessed to work on a fascinating floor with awesome staff and another fantastic medical student. Everyone is very kind and appreciative of what we do. Even when people get extremely frustrated with the system (for example, one provider threw her stethoscope) they never direct their anger towards us. I honestly expected more people to take out their fear & anger on us. Finally, although my day begins early, I get home when T does.. have my weekends off.. and I have a lot more hours than many other students.
FAMILY
After a busy work week, we've had an awesome weekend- first with T's family and then with mine. (yes. I did still wake up at 3:15am on Saturday out of habit.. but don't worry.. I fell back asleep.)
SATURDAY we celebrated Gram's birthday at T's Aunt & Uncle's new home. I included the second picture because this may be the first time we've ever gotten together without doing a project. T helped carry a desk outside and that was it! We love spending time with our family. Plus.. they always cook delicious food :)
SUNDAY we headed to my family's after church. The boys power washed the deck (just like old times! If you don't know, T used to own a deck business and my brother worked with him for a few years). Now I am on my Mom's schmancy computer writing the blog while everyone plays ping pong. Next will be dinner together to celebrate Ryan leaving for college Tuesday!
Next week we expect much of the same except no Olympics to watch :( Have a good one!
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