ER: audition #3

So I am at yet another hospital in yet another state, living in a closet sized room in some abdandoned wing of the hospital.  At least they give us free, unlimited hospital food and the cafeteria is open 24/7. :)

This ER is similarly big and a trauma 1. The ER is organized into "pods" which are about 20 rooms in a circle around the nurses and doctors station. 1 pod is fast track, 1 pod is trauma/ life threatening and 1 pod is middle stuff.  This seems to be a very popular set up for newer ERs. There are no windows and each pod is a different color, this means working night shift or day shift there is no difference and this isolates us in our own little ER world.

This particular ER uses a medical records system called EPIC, one of the big ones that everyone seems to like.  It is a bit different to learn, but as a 4 year, I put in orders including dosages and knowing which medicine specifically to be approved by the attending.  It lots more pressure than simply just presenting.  I am hoping to learn alot.

I also had my very first interview for residency. I now have 5 interviews again from DO places, and now 1 MD here, a courtesy interview for rotating here. This is a typical ER residency practice. Since many people only get 2-3 places, they assume if you are rotating there that you really like the program. Since they get to see you in action for 30 days most places will give a courtesy interview- which counts as a real interview.

In my first interview, it was different and as i expected all at the same time and in the end I liked the program, and will include it in my rank list, if i should decide to go DO.   However, I met a girl from my med school there- also interviewing. I didn't know her well but we chatted in her car for about 1 hour afterward. It was helpful because we could compare notes of where we got interviews, where we applied, discussed board scores, etc.  It was nice to know I'm not behind yet.  She went to the ACEP conference this year. They had a bunch of program director there and they announced that ER is more competitive this year, on par with surgery.  And that they are getting so many applications they are running behind.  So most programs have not offered interviews yet.  I feel relieved at this. I will wait another week or two before deciding to apply to 10 more programs if i haven't heard back....

more after my first shift....