First Hospital Visit.

As I mentioned before, on Tuesday of this week I went for my first hospital rotation.  I am quite sure I will look back on this as a kindergarten-like-hospital-experience. But for now, it marks a milestone.  

We left the campus by 8am. Drive over an hour to the hospital. Get a quick introduction, and then assigned our rotations.  I was placed in Internal Medicine with 2 other colleagues and we were supposed to be shadowing the doctor for the morning.  This more or less happened.  She was coming off a night shift and was catching up on paper work, so she's all "okay I'm going to finish this... but you go talk to those patients, do a physical exam, and then we will discuss later."  So we just jumped right in there.  And it was awesome.  It was the first time I've truly felt like "omg. those things I've spent so much time studying are really in my brain, and I know how to apply them!"  Talking to real patients, getting their life stories, putting together the pieces of their puzzle and coming to the right diagnosis.  

While we were pretty much on our own, the doctor finally came over and I presented the patients to her.  We discussed differentials, diagnostic work ups, and appropriate treatment options.  

The afternoon was essentially the same, except instead I was placed on the men’s surgical ward. I was with a different doctor who was definitely more than intimidating.  Afterwards he made us debrief for a long time, present our patients to each other, and probe the more urgent/relevant questions.  He was incredibly harsh, but in the best sort of way. He had his own high level of expectation and he was going to get - it even if he almost made one guy cry (I'm pretty sure he cried when he got home though).  You just guard-your-nutsack and take it because it wasn't personal.  I walked out of that debriefing feeling like I learned more with that man in 30 mins than I could just studying for 100hours. 

I wish I could have pictures to show you all, because I am *not* going to do this justice... this hospital in and of itself is heartbreaking.  It's third-world. I walked into the ward and it was a definite "oh. my. gawd." moment.  It was basically an extra wide hallway. Very very sick patients crammed in there.  The beds are what we would consider 'cots'.  There are no complete walls.  It's all open to the outside and the fans and cross breeze are all you get.  

Randomly, all the nurses wear totally white outfits, white tights, complete with those stereotypical white nurse hats that you have to pin in.  

The only hospital I have seen so far worse than this one was during YWAM outreach in Vanuatu. 

I was told by several people (who know I am 99% sure I am staying in Dominica for 5^th semester) that as soon as I do my hospital days here I would change my mind.  Everyone typically comes back from PMH days and thank the Good Lord they are out of there and off this island in 60 days (as the countdown stands now).  However, I truly feel it is a unique and amazing opportunity to get experience in a hospital like this. I’ve always wanted to do medical missions, so why would I shut away being able to start here? Plus, I'll be able to have a lot more hands on experience during 5^th… seeing as they don’t care * quite * as much about, you know, laws and regulations, and such. 

Getting a bit off topic, but point being, I had an amazing experience on Tuesday.  It was incredibly hot and exhausting. My feet were swollen like a MoFo. I friggin had Charlie-horse-cramps in my calves the rest of the night, as I lay motionless in bed.  Turns out there was not a lot of time for eating and drinking all day. 

I am definitely still catching up on the week.  Having a mini exam takes A LOT out of you.  It really takes a couple days to recover from them. But there was no time for that this time with having hospital the next day.  But I think I finally made up for it – last night I was sleeping (non-drug induced!!) before 7pm. Yes. That is correct. 7pm.  And slept in till 740am this morning.  Grandma status: Check Check.