Yes, these opening words here above are just that relating to my first day and week on the clinical course at the University of Iceland. It was finally time to make a move to the departments to start my rotation in Internal Medicne.
My first stop for 2 weeks is Nephrology, which seemed ok. Honestly realizing that I didnt remember too to much about the physiological function of the kidneys, considerng that it was right up there in difficulty of the female hormonal cycle. Both costing me long hours of scratching my head and flipping back and fourth in a number of literatures....
The First Day,
It all began with an informatory meeting at 8:30 monday morning, all the big shots from the Internal Departsment where there talking about their aims and responsibilities and of course ours as well. That was a real treat, starting to get the feeling that I will be a real doctor one day. Then off to the dressing room and picking up my white coat. I arrive in the nephrology clinic at about 9:30, walk into the office and introduce myself. My supervising doctor looks at the clock and says "is this how its going to be this winter, showing up at this hour....".
I just start laughing and start explainging my case he could care less but lets it slide. Soon after we start the rounds and questions come pouring over me, kinde like the saying when it rains it pours. I cant answer too many of the ones set before me. A little startled to tell the truth. We come to the second patient and we are listening to the heart. So right there in front of all (Specialst, attending, nurse and patient) I got asked what I hear. I honestly disclose that I didnt hear anything abnormal. I get a suprised look and then asked to try it again. I come up with the same result after another round of spreading the stethoscope all over the patients chest and so does my college who had joined the round at this time, not much to the specialist delight.
"What year are you guys on ??? Have you not been reading anything, this is your main tool as medical doctors..."
I just start laughing, not much else to do in the situation.
"This my young students is an S4 (an extra heart sound), now who knows what that is ?" was the follow up question. I make an educated guess that it has something to do with the mitral valve. As I let these words slip I see yet another disgusted look on the specialists face.
"No gentlemen this is.... and he explained the whole shibang, (for those in the business its a rebound noise made from a stiff left ventricle).
So the round goes on much like this but we became more and more accustomed to the stabbing questions and responded mostly by right/wrong answers and laughter.
That day was really something, but as I walk back to my little apartment just around the corner from the hospital an subliminal feeling rushed over me. I finally felt that after this year ill be somewhat of a doctor. This had always been a dreamlike feeling but now it seemed so real.
So the rest of the week was better and better. Even though I collapesed into the couch everyday after comming home at 16:00. Just the mental stress of no task being effortless just took its toll on me.
To make things worse I had an final exam in OB n Gyn the following friday...
the rookie...
