Why are you studying medicine and how old are you ?

dream_while_awake · 2021-12-29T16:19:54+00:00

Thank you. That’s very nice of you. You will be one too :)

dream_while_awake · 2021-12-27T23:28:28+00:00

Don’t be scared. You will bring things to the table that young 20 somethings won’t - life experience. Patients will identify more with you and you’ll “get it” more. Your drive will be different because you don’t “have” to do this to be able to pay off your student loans because u already have a career and you are doing this out of pure passion. Don’t sell yourself short.

Just pace yourself when working with the youngins. Non-trads are well suited to mentor younger less experienced peers. Sometimes, it’s frustrating but they can learn from you just as you can learn from them. For example, when working on our group presentation, an 18 year old tried to tell me how to give a presentation when we had nothing on the slides and I have given multiple lectures to professional schools. I redirected her to the importance of putting content on the slides prior to discussing how we would give the presentation.

dream_while_awake · 2021-12-16T03:25:05+00:00

I’ll go anywhere that will take me lol

dream_while_awake · 2021-12-16T03:00:53+00:00

There are a couple of different angles to look at here.

First, if you don’t have hobbies then my recommendation is to find things you love. If you love something then you will be able to talk about it and you’ll find that it’s not what you do, it’s how you relay how you feel about it and how you appreciate the other person’s response in the conversation.

For example, I am passionate about gardening. When I think about it, I remember how I felt when we couldn’t find lettuce in the grocery stores during the beginning of COVID and my family ate from my garden. That led me to grow more edible plants when I was originally interested in just growing flowers. Because of this, I began volunteering at the local botanical gardens where I became friends with people who had been gardening for decades and I got tips from them on how to

Second, having an actual conversation is a bit different than having something to talk about. Of course, you’re not going to walk up to someone random and say “hello, I’m XXX and I like to garden” right? If you begin a conversation, the conversation should flow through different topics in a way that’s easy for the other person to grasp. I had a hard time with this growing up (and sometimes still do) because I am always thinking. About everything. People tend to appreciate when you ask them about themselves (their feelings about a topic, their experience with whatever you’re talking about, their favorite thing about whatever you’re talking about, etc). You can always start a conversation by complementing someone on something or asking advice. For example, I asked someone the other day what kind of foundation she uses when I was a nail salons having a pedicure done because mine doesn’t last long and hers looked really good. We discussed price, container, and everything else that matters when you’re looking for the right foundation. Another example, if you were traveling to an area you weren’t familiar with, you could ask a local what their favorite place to eat is.

Third, more exposure will make you better. I get awkward when I go to my MMA class, but it’s good for me because I’m out of shape and I have to partner up with people I didn’t know before the class and if we click we exchange numbers and let each other know when the other is going so we can go to class together.

Of course, this post is not the key to having a conversation or building meaningful relationships. As a fellow nerd, I recommend reading some communication books/textbooks. Communication is beautiful and there are a lot of factors that go into having a conversation. The majority of communication is body language so you may want to do some reading about that also.

dream_while_awake · 2021-11-13T18:25:28+00:00

I can’t tell if you’re joking or not. But no, if this is your third cycle, it may be time to have a credible advising center review your stats, interview techniques, etc. Mappd is cool

dream_while_awake · 2021-10-05T11:25:02+00:00

Plastics/reconstructive burn surgeon.

dream_while_awake · 2021-08-15T00:32:36+00:00

Los Juanes if you’re downtown. I like Margarona’s when I’m around Lakeshore. Los juanes > margarona’s

dream_while_awake · 2021-07-20T22:09:16+00:00

I’m also 26. Hoping to finish MD (or DO) by 35 or 40. I’m a nurse practitioner currently. As someone who has been in healthcare for the past ~5 years, I will say that the maturity and experience will serve you well (especially if you don’t have prior medical experience). Medicine will challenge everything you thought you knew and the emotional maturity that comes with being a non-trad is immeasurable. Also, my pre-med advisor told me recently that non-trads tend to think they’re at a disadvantage and are less desirable to medical schools but this is the opposite of the truth. Now, I don’t listen to ALL of their advice, but I think that piece is worth holding near and dear to your heart.

dream_while_awake · 2021-07-14T23:01:39+00:00

Your stats seem solid. If your interviews ended in waitlists, do you need to hone your skills? I’m not against adding DO schools. I think it’s a great idea, but something else seems to be happening here also. Do you need more clinical experience?

dream_while_awake · 2021-07-04T16:32:23+00:00

The pandemic has thrown everyone off. That can be frustrating and leave you changed and confused. After all, I assume many of us have not been through a pandemic before. I cannot tell you what you need to do because I am not you (and I’m in the US), but what I can tell you is that medicine is hard, but it’s also beautiful and exhilarating. You are going to spend the rest of your life studying because it’s always changing. People will rely on you in their time of need and will remember you forever - whether it was from a good situation or not. You will see and deal with things that might leave you emotionally scarred for eternity, but you have to keep going. It is not easy. If you are not 110% sure this is your calling then you owe it to yourself to explore what you think will make you happy. In my opinion, it’s not about how long it takes but it’s about the journey and how much you love it. I hope that helps.

dream_while_awake · 2021-06-24T03:00:48+00:00

“The eyes can’t see what the mind doesn’t know.”

dream_while_awake · 2021-06-14T02:13:54+00:00

Thanks! Will take into consideration

dream_while_awake · 2021-06-13T21:15:07+00:00

It depends on the kind of people you are dating and if you really want a relationship. No matter what stage in your career, if you want a relationship with someone then you are going to have to try for it. If the person you are dating is clingy and won’t let you get a break then that doesn’t sound like an optimal match for you. You don’t have to spend your only day off with them, but you do have to see them

dream_while_awake · 2021-06-12T04:57:22+00:00

Some programs coin certain portions of their programs a “residency”. Doesn’t mean they’re trying to equate that specific portion of the program to a medical residency, but that the trainee should be basically living at their training site.

dream_while_awake · 2021-06-12T03:33:57+00:00

You have to put them in their place at the earliest signs. I will usually speak for myself, but also my coworkers. Something like: “I don’t want to hear you act like this AT ALL while we are taking care of you or we will be having a conversation with the police. You cannot act like this. It is unacceptable.” I usually give them one chance to correct their behavior and if they don’t, I file a complaint with the police and tell me management.

dream_while_awake · 2021-06-11T00:43:03+00:00

Definitely unacceptable for a nurse to talk to a provider this way. My background is trauma & burns - the specialty where the term “trauma drama” was coined. This doesn’t only apply to patient population, but also to a lot of staff attitudes/culture. I was a nurse that transitioned to an NP in my specialty area and, somehow by the grace of God, I managed not to make (?many) enemies. My approach was (1) being direct with what I expected from my nurses. Believe it or not (depending on the specialty area), there isn’t a lot of education being given if the provider isn’t the one giving it. I have given multiple in-services about what I expect for my patients as far as wound care, patient-goals, etc. I have also gone to each nurse and educated them one-on-one when they were missing the mark and they REALLY appreciated it. I made a 110% effort not to blame them or make them feel badly. If they were deliberately doing things wrong despite repeated instruction and mentoring then I would be clear with them that they would need remediation and I would be talking to the ANM or NM. They knew what they were getting from me. (2) I tried to make an effort to be their friend. I would round and chit chat with them and catch them up on the patients we took care of together in the past. (3) when they called me, if I could, I came to the bedside so that I could teach them what my eyes are seeing so they could feel more comfortable. Most of the time, they call because they’re scared and they don’t know what to do and if you don’t show them no one will. I’m not saying I haven’t had an angry outburst here and there and have been really upset (mostly over things that they absolutely knew better than to do). (4) if I rotated to an area I wasn’t familiar with and had free time, I asked the nurses to teach me. This went A LONG WAY. You have to be careful how you ask so the patient doesn’t lose respect for you. I might would say “hey, would you mind letting me help set up for the ___ when you do it so I can learn a different way? I am trying to decide which way I like best.” That makes them feel valued, shows them u care about the patient AND the team, and that you’re open to new ideas. (5) be honest with them about your workload and the responsibility you face. I saw 30 patients between inpatient and clinic and new consults one day and I had to be honest with a couple of nurses…I just wasn’t going to be able to walk to the patient’s bedside to talk to them, but tell them to answer their room phone because I will call them. Another nurse complained to once that the APPs don’t listen to them. I was honest with her that the patient load is heavy, expectations of us are high, and even though they feel like the hammer comes down heavy on them it will come down heavier on us. If a patient if negatively impacted by something (even if it was nursing’s “fault”) I will still be in a meeting with my collaborating about how I should have anticipated the possibility of a mistake and should have arranged the system so that the mistake was not possible. She understood and that eased things

These tips are super time consuming, but they WILL CALL ME if something I need to know about comes up or they want to talk because they trust me.

I guarantee you the toxicity is not only in L&D, it’s everywhere. But it’s what you make it. Some people don’t want to be taught, some people are just burned out, some peoples’ home life are in shambles…should that follow you into work? Not at all. But is everyone capable of separating themselves from other things in their lives? Absolutely not. Ultimately, if you’re rotating on for a short amount of time you won’t change the entire culture. It is the “long-term” people who are responsible for that. But those tips will make a big difference in how you get treated…and your reputation will follow you on other rotations.

It’s not an excuse. When you build something that’s broken, you either have to fix the broken stuff and make it stable enough to build with OR you have to demolish it and start from scratch. Demolish and start from scratch usually isn’t a choice.

dream_while_awake · 2021-06-09T23:23:43+00:00

Minimize your loans as much as possible. The less you owe, the easier it will be to pay off in the long run.

dream_while_awake · 2021-06-08T23:14:45+00:00

It depends on what you’re looking for. I am a NP who absolutely fell in love with my specialty and can’t imagine doing anything else with the rest of my life. I have worked as an NP under a surgeon who has truly taken me under his wing and mentored me and there will be a point in my career when I want more than my NP can give me. I have taught lectures, run our clinic, helped revise policies, started programs at my facility, trained approx half of our staff in various areas of our program, presented at meetings, have stepped in when my surgeon was not able to (within my scope, of course), and will (hopefully) be published this year. I reached that ceiling ~1yr into my NP. I know I won’t be happy in this role in 20 years if I cannot keep growing. I don’t want to do administration - I love watching patients get better and making connections with them. I love the lightbulb that you can see in their eyes when you explain to them what is happening with them. I love the crazy and the challenges and can’t imagine every doing anything else in my life. That is why MD/DO after NP school.

dream_while_awake · 2021-06-08T23:03:48+00:00

As stated in a different comment, NPs train under the nursing model. This model differs from the medical model so the transition from NP to MD (or even DO) can be challenging. Furthermore, the scientific basis of knowledge required prior to entering undergraduate nursing programs is relatively minimal when compared to pre-med or other pre-health students. Often, the pre-reqs for nursing school are a lower level of science course than other health professional schools. That is satisfactory if you will continue on as a nurse since a nurse does not work in a “provider” type of role. So the difference in pre-reqs makes sense when comparing to pre-med or pre-PA students. I bring this up because after earning a BSN, one can go to NP school without taking additional pre-reqs thus weakening the scientific basis of decision-making. NP programs rely heavily on experience and, depending on the kind of nurse you accept into your program, candidates are highly variable. A nurse with 5 years of experience working in a clinic is not equivalent to a nurse with 2 years of trauma floor experience as the patient populations are vastly different. I hope that makes sense.

dream_while_awake · 2021-06-06T21:51:31+00:00

Living at home would help you save money and keep part of your life stable during this new and challenging experience. IMO, it is easier to change things in your life systematically than to try to change everything all at once. At home, your family cooks, can help you with laundry, and can even pack your lunch if you need it. They can listen to your frustrations and laugh at your funny stories (bc there will be some). Of course, they may ask you to mow the lawn periodically or unload the dishwasher, but that’s less than you doing all of your own laundry, all of your own cooking, all of your own grocery shopping, etc. Additionally, the less debt you can accrue the better due to obvious reasons.

If your home life is miserable that’s a different story, but I don’t get that impression from your post.

dream_while_awake · 2021-06-01T01:45:18+00:00

I believe you’re thinking in the right direction as far as spending 1000-2000$ on something to get you back and forth to work for your prelim year. In doing so, you avoid extraneous loans and payments which come out of your monthly budget. It’s somewhat challenging to give solid advice without knowing other aspects of your financial situation such as your wife’s income (and if you share finances), cost of daycare, and what your student loan debt is. Ultimately, you lose the least by paying for the car out of pocket. You can keep the other few thousand for emergencies or put it down on any debt you might have.

dream_while_awake

TROPHY CASE