This morning, I attended the general orientation that all the new interns (and fellow) go to. I liked that I had to wake up at 5:30, so I could sign in at 6:30 and watch the 7 a.m. lecture on preventing sleep deprivation. It wasn't easy, especially since I've been waking up at noon (or later) nearly every day for the past two months.
Most of the lectures actually had little to do with me. There was, of course, another HIPAA lecture, as well as the usual unintentionally hilarious sexual harassment video. There was a talk on how to handle emergency pages. Since I'm not even ACLS certified, I think my reaction to a code would be to stand back and let the other doctors handle things. I mean, if the effort fails, I'd be happy to take the body to the morgue ...
Infection control is something I need to keep in mind, but since I won't be seeing too many patients hacking up their TB-ridden lung, I don't feel bad about nodding off during the lecture. Same with risk management and quality control.
Don't get me wrong; pathologists have to think about all these things. We just have to approach it differently than most other physicians. I won't be performing wrong-site surgery any time soon, but I might mis-label a piece of tissue or do a poor job cutting through a tumor and miss a margin.
It's also comforting to know that even big-name institutions can't always get their acts together. We had to get parking passes for two separate hospitals. They ran out of passes early for one of the hospitals, so the people manning that table just up and left for the day. They knew how many people were going to be there today! I fortunately don't have to work at that hospital until August, but the folks who start there tomorrow aren't so lucky.
And tomorrow is July 1, the fabled "go to a hospital and die instantly" day. I have a pathology-specific orientation in the morning, and then I start work after lunch. Well, unless they let me slip out and take care of the aforementioned parking stuff. I think they will. It's not like I'm going to save anyone's life in the micro lab tomorrow. Heck, it will be a good day if I simply don't contaminate or break anything.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Thursday, June 26, 2008
First post
Might as well get things started. This blog is going to be about pathology residency and everything it entails. Most other path blogs I've seen focus on issues facing pathology and interesting cases. I want this one to be more of a window into what a pathology resident's life is like. Most laypeople, and even many physicians, are not entirely sure what all pathologists do, what they are capable of, and what they cannot do. I hope this blog gives a little insight into that.
I'm about to start my internship year as a pathology resident at a "name" program. At least for now, I'll use "PathRes" as my nickname, though hopefully I'll come up with a better one the next time I've had a few drinks.
Most of the other incoming interns (for surgery, medicine, etc.) at my institution have been doing orientation all week -- learning how things work at the program's multiple sites, getting ACLS/BLS certified, and all that good stuff. Me? I slept in all week, and I had a four-hour "mini-orientation" today, learning a bit about the microbiology lab (which is where I will spend my first three months). I met some of the other incoming interns, heard from all the chief residents, and, more importantly, learned that the cafeteria food is OK at best. I have a longer orientation day on Monday, and then I begin work Tuesday.
Micro is supposedly an easy rotation, compared to many of the others, so I'm hoping to start things out slow. This will also give me time to brush up on my histology and anatomy before I start surgical pathology (cutting up specimens and looking at tissue slides) in October. I am like most of my fellow path interns in that I'd planned to do a lot of reading before starting residency, but ended up just enjoying my final summer vacation instead. I also want to take Step 3 during this three-month block, since I have to take the same clinically oriented test as all other residents, and I assure you that the information isn't getting any clearer.
I'll post again Monday after orientation. Thanks for stopping by! I will be reading comments and only editing for content in cases of excessive language or personal attacks. Feel free to ask me questions, and I'll respond as able.
-PathRes
I'm about to start my internship year as a pathology resident at a "name" program. At least for now, I'll use "PathRes" as my nickname, though hopefully I'll come up with a better one the next time I've had a few drinks.
Most of the other incoming interns (for surgery, medicine, etc.) at my institution have been doing orientation all week -- learning how things work at the program's multiple sites, getting ACLS/BLS certified, and all that good stuff. Me? I slept in all week, and I had a four-hour "mini-orientation" today, learning a bit about the microbiology lab (which is where I will spend my first three months). I met some of the other incoming interns, heard from all the chief residents, and, more importantly, learned that the cafeteria food is OK at best. I have a longer orientation day on Monday, and then I begin work Tuesday.
Micro is supposedly an easy rotation, compared to many of the others, so I'm hoping to start things out slow. This will also give me time to brush up on my histology and anatomy before I start surgical pathology (cutting up specimens and looking at tissue slides) in October. I am like most of my fellow path interns in that I'd planned to do a lot of reading before starting residency, but ended up just enjoying my final summer vacation instead. I also want to take Step 3 during this three-month block, since I have to take the same clinically oriented test as all other residents, and I assure you that the information isn't getting any clearer.
I'll post again Monday after orientation. Thanks for stopping by! I will be reading comments and only editing for content in cases of excessive language or personal attacks. Feel free to ask me questions, and I'll respond as able.
-PathRes
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