Week 5: Internal med recap & the start of Exotics!

So internal medicine was a whirlwind. Most days were incredibly busy but it was really enjoyable, albeit time consuming and labor intensive. I learned a ton! I actually kind of miss it, but I've got to say I'm thoroughly enjoying myself on my exotics rotation. I just finished my first week, which was incredible! I have the amazing opportunity to work with THE Dr. James Carpenter (author of the exotics formulary and many other books and publications used by zoo veterinarians). We see client owned exotics (rabbits, guinea pigs, bearded dragons, birds, etc) and we work with the Sunset Zoo. I wish I could give all the details, but all I can say is that this one short week has reconfirmed over and over that this is what I want to do. I basically love everything about zoological medicine. I enjoy the team work between veterinarians, curators, keepers, etc, the organizational aspect of things, the excitement of learning about new species (sometimes even endangered or very rare), and the fact that there is still so much to explore through research. I JUST LOVE IT!

I have been debating whether or not I wanted to go the internship route, but I've officially decided that I will. So I'm planning to apply for not only exotic/zoo internships, but also small animal rotating internships. I believe that God will lead me to where I'm supposed to be, so whatever I get (if anything) will be what is meant for me! After that, I hope to go into a residency program and become board certified in zoological medicine. It would be fantastic to get lucky and land a job in a zoo immediately, but I'm willing to put in the effort and go through all of these steps to get where I want to be :) The great thing though is no matter what I'm still going to be a veterinarian in less than a year, and I'm going to be happy regardless of what I end up doing (with the exception of being a food animal vet...that's a nope)! I'm so excited to be where I am. I'm so LUCKY to be where I am. God is good :)

Oh, and did I mention the veterinarian I work with has a CLINIC NAMED AFTER HIM?! Kind of amazing!

Week One of Fourth Year - Internal Med

I've officially completed my first week of internal medicine! I can't give any details about any of the cases I've had, but I can tell you how the rotation is going :)

It has been pretty busy overall. I generally work a 12 hour day (7 or 8AM to 8PM), and there isn't much time to take breaks. We've actually gotten lucky on a few days and were able to use the afternoon to review cases and study, and then leave at 5. Our appointments are pretty packed in the morning, and depending on how soon we discharge patients, we may be working on the same case into the afternoon or we can tag along on a classmate's case. We get our cases assigned the day before they're scheduled, so if we know it's a patient with renal disease for example, we can go back and review our renal notes to refresh our memory and prepare for the next day. If our patients stay overnight in ICU, we are required to present the case in rounds the next morning. I did this for the first time yesterday! At first I was nervous, but then I reminded myself that we're still in school. We aren't expected to have ALL of the answers, but we are expected to at least have prepared for the questions that they may ask. It also really helps to review the disease process/diagnostics/treatment options in the evening, because that sort of solidifies it in your mind. I know I have a ton of learning to do still, but even just this week of hands-on experience and talking with clients has really boosted my confidence and I actually look forward to school/work every day, even though I'm not getting paid. That's how I know this is the right field for me :) I still want to go the zoo/aquarium route if possible, but I know I'd be happy being a small animal vet. I actually have my exotics rotation in 3 weeks - cannot wait!

On top of our 12 hour plus work days, we're assigned ICU/ER primary or backup shifts. These run from either 330 or 5pm until midnight. So far I've only been backup, but I got called in for my first emergency this week. I was so disoriented when my pager went off! I had only been sleeping for about 3 hours and by the time I got to school it was midnight. I stayed until about 1AM and got another 5 hours of sleep. A little whacky, but it wasn't too bad. I tend to get really nervous in the face of an emergency - literally my mouth went COMPLETELY DRY while I was driving to school, and I felt my heart pounding and racing hahah. Hopefully with time I'll become more confident in emergency situations.

I have this weekend off pretty much, I'm just on call for ICU tomorrow. It's really nice to be able to take care of things I need to do (laundry, errands, etc) and not feel like I have to study for 12 hours a day like I was doing most weekends for the past 3 years! It's a breath of fresh air. I'd rather go in and take care of patients ANY DAY than to study for exams! I do have to start reviewing anesthesia (because that rotation is apparently horrible) and start studying for the NAVLE. But it's not the same as studying for an upcoming exam. I've finally made to the good stuff!

Lastly, got my professional photos from white coat!

love my classmates :)

This is serious...

I have spent my entire life in school. Never took a break between high school and college, or between college and vet school. So my 26 years of life have consisted mostly of sitting in lectures, and I know quite a few of my classmates are in the same boat. But tomorrow is THE LAST DAY OF FORMAL CLASS...EVER. It's the end of an era! I feel like something big is supposed to happen...like once class ends, confetti and balloons should fall from the ceiling, and a disco ball should drop down and "Celebration" by Kool and the Gang should start blasting.

If I feel this much excitement now, I can't imagine how graduation will feel! The only thing that stands between 4th year and me are 4 finals. BRING IT ON.

White Coat Ceremony!

White coat weekend was...eventful to say the least! My parents got into town on last Thursday and we decided to go out to dinner. All was well until about midnight, when I woke up feeling extremely sick and with my heart racing. I'll spare you the rest of the details, but yep, I got food poisoning. I was so scared I wasn't going to be able to make the ceremony! Luckily I was feeling a well enough (just really tired) and made it all the way through the ceremony. I didn't get sick again until that evening when I tried to eat, and ended up taking a trip to the ER the next day because I couldn't even keep water down. I was vomiting at least every 30 minutes (sorry for the graphic)! They gave me fluids, ondansetron and phenergan (which completely knocked me out) and I slept for pretty much the rest of the day. They also ran a CBC, which showed mild dehydration, a leukocytosis, and I basically had NO lymphocytes. Needless to say, I don't think I'll be dining out again anytime soon...I hate that I was sick all weekend while my parents were here, but I'm so glad I had them here to take care of me. My dad got new brakes put on my car, bought me groceries and fixed my curtain on my balcony that got destroyed by the wind. And my mom nursed me back to health (literally, she's a nurse haha). I'm so thankful for them!

But enough with the gross stuff, back to what this whole post is really about - the white coat ceremony!

It was pretty surreal! I loved seeing all my classmates dressed up and having their white coats put on. It reminded me how united we all are and how far we've come since August of 2011! Dr. Davis put on my white coat, and I think at that point I was in a daze. Apparently my parents were hollering and I didn't even hear them, heh. After we all got our coats, we recited the pledge of professionalism (which you can watch below!) I gotta admit...I got a little teary eyed at one point. It has been such a long journey to get to this point, and while I still have a year left, I think it's going to be the one in which I will grow the most. In a mere 2 weeks I'll be starting my internal medicine rotation - seeing clients, caring for my own patients, having to put together all of the information I've learned over the years. There is a mixture of fear and excitement, but mostly I'm just ready to start doing what I love - helping animals!

  

Before the white coats!

 

Lab partners from first and second year :)

 

 

Rhyley helping me to break in the new coat :)

 

Momma got me the Littmann Cardiology III stethoscope. I love it!! 

 Silly class photo :)

Post by Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

These next two weeks are going to be jam packed with "fun" - 5 exams in a matter of 10 days, 4th year orientation, my last clinical skills lab, shopping for "professional" clothing and comfortable shoes, and trying to throw in a little relaxation during my last 5 days of freedom!

Number Crunching

Just for fun.....

2800 days as a college student
407 days until graduation
354 days until Sea World
252 total credit hours
39 days until clinics
16 semesters of college
15 days until our white coat ceremony
8 exams remaining

UM ONLY EIGHT EXAMS?!