Today I had clinical skills. This means I go into clinic and actually interact with patients. Sometimes it's hard to believe that someday I will really be a doctor and get to spend time with patients everyday! My clinical skills is set up in a family practice clinic - I go in before the doctor, take a history, perform what I can of the physical exam, and then report back to the doctor. We'll discuss the case, etc and then we'll go in together and the doctor will examine the patient and decide on the treatment.
It is on these days that even after only 4 hours in clinic - I am exhausted. I'm not quite sure yet how I will survive when I have to work even a full day! But these are the days that remind me and refresh me of why I have given up my life for the past 2 years and buried my head in a book. I love the patient interactions. All of it from the well-child checkups to the older patients and everything in between. Today made me really think that I ultimately need to end up practicing some sort of medicine that will allow me to work with children. I don't think I'll be a pediatrician - I don't want all kids. Just some. They are so wonderful - their smiles and laughter just warm the heart. Their like a breath of fresh air, representing love, life, and probably most importantly - hope.
Variety - ultimately I think that's what I need whenever I decide what I'm going to be when I grow up. I want to work with a variety of people (in terms of age and demographic) and with a variety of different ailments. I'm not studying all of this for nothing! :)
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