I’ve walked through the SICU on my core rotations, but it wasn’t until this week that I realized how ill some of the patients really are. Its been fun working with the new interns to create plans for challenging patients from a systems-based approach. Fortunately, our census has been low, so there has also been a great deal of teaching from the chief resident and fellow.
My favorite part about working in the SICU has to be all the procedures we do – dropping Dobhoff feeding tubes, changing wound-vacs, manipulating ventilator settings, breathing treatments, and portable imaging are all things I’ve done or assisted in in just two days – the nurses and respiratory therapists have been excellent teachers (as always) in teaching this medical student the finer points of critical care. This elective has proven to be less about coming up with a wide variety of differentials and more about addressing the acute concerns of patients methodically… similar to anesthesiology. 🙂
I hope everyone has a safe and happy July 4th! Today is an official Baylor Med holiday, but my team is admitting… so let’s try to make good decisions tonight, Houston!
