The Top Ten Things I've Learned In my First Week as an Intern

A List of the Top Ten Things I've Learned In My First Week as an Intern

10. An entirely new vocabulary of words, acronyms, abbreviations for all things ob and gyn

9. I no longer need a gym membership. I walked eight miles yesterday around the hospital. On that thought, it would be genius for someone to invent a pager/pedometer. It would let doctors know how far they've walked AND save space around the waist.

8. In reference to #9, I never fully appreciated just how many things could be clipped to the waistband of your pants. Cell phone, multiple pagers, wallet, pencil holder, etc. Better tie the drawstring of those scrub pants nice and tight.

7. I can now think in military time.

6. Keep extra underwear and socks in the call room at all times. I'm sure all ob residents have learned this the hard way. That amniotic fluid can really spray.

5. 3:30 to 4:30 am is the "witching hour", as my upper level resident says. Not night, not morning yet, it is the hardest time to be awake. It is physically so difficult, bringing intense nausea, faintness if I stand too long in the OR or a delivery, and achy joints. The older residents tell me this is normal, and why working overnight is so hard. They say you never get used to it, but learn things that make it easier on you.

4. My name is now Kennard. Not Anne. Not Dr. Kennard. Just Kennard. The nurse will say, "Did you page Kennard?" I call back. "This is Kennard, I was paged." I'm glad I like my last name.

3. My life is now indoors and fully climate-controlled. The only way I know the weather outside is by touching the inside of the windows in the call room. It was 118 degrees yesterday. Who would know?

2. The sound of my pager induces an acute stress response. I can't sleep when I'm working overnight even if I have a little down time, because I am just waiting for that thing to go off. And for God's sake (or at least my husband's), leave it in the car when I get home. Otherwise it will beep all night.

1. How big ten centimeters is. I know it seems obvious...ten centimeters is ten centimeters! But I am learning how to do accurate exams to know when someone is ready to have a baby. To facilitate this, I've taped a 10 cm measuring tape onto my mealcard. The cafeteria workers think this is hilarious and now recognize me and laugh every time I come in.

More to come...

Love,
Kennard