Sunrise over Norfolk General

I find that at 7:30am after three 12 hour night shifts in a row - you get a little philosophical about the world. Things seem either much more clear, or much more fuzzy...I can't remember which but its definitely one of the two!

I've learned a lot about medicine, life, and the world in general over the past couple of nights. As I mentioned in my last post, I have learned that practicing on inanimate objects is perfectly acceptable. In fact - its a good thing I did because I have stitched up two fingers since then!
I learned that when ambulances come in with someone who is 'injured', even if it is 8pm on a week night, there was most likely a lot of alcohol involved.

That 1am trips to Tim Hortons are essential to making it straight through to 7am without a nap.

That internet games are even more addictive at 5am when you haven't seen a patient in over 4 hours.

That first time parents (especially when they look to be about 18) get a little extra slack for being scared when their baby won't stop crying.

I learned that some teachers are so excited and so patient that they will volunteer their own bodies for me to poke and prod at 2am while learning to put in IVs and draw blood. And yes, that is poor Dr. Xidos' blood all over the bed in front of him. From that lesson I also learnt that you need to have the IV ready when you start puncturing veins, cause the blood is not going to wait for you to hook up tubing!

That 'The Exorcist' is not nearly as far fetched as I had hoped it was...psychosis is a terrifying sight.

That nurses have the best stories, and they all come out after 6am. For example - a man comes into the ER one night and claims that three young guys broke into his tent, jumped him, and shoved a carrot up his butt. Yeah...ok.

That most people really just need you to tell them that its all going to be alright.

That some people have made it to a point in their lives where they can be happy and jovial about any situation, no matter how much blood is pouring out of them. And some will never ever get to that point.

That exam rooms with closed doors really just mean that the smell of body odour and cigarette smoke will actually reach toxic levels and you may pass out and die.

That blanket warmers are the world's greatest invention.

And mostly I learned that the people you work with are the ones who will make your day, lift your spirits, get you laughing so hard you have to leave the room, teach you the ins and outs of real life in the hospital, warn you about the 'frequent flyers', and in general make you feel as if you are really doing something worthwhile with your life.

Lots of love
Pamela

p.s. I bet you ten bucks I will read this tomorrow after some sleep and wonder what kind of fabulous drugs I was on to write something so sappy!