Internal Medicine

My internal medicine rotation was in at ICU.  This was unusual, as most internal med rotations were at an office or as a hospitalist.  This rotation gave me fascinating insight into a very complex world and patient population.  As a first rotation, it was terrifying, and I am sure would be equally terrifying now.
We aren't taught much critical care in PA school.  Bits and pieces here and there but the ability to put it all together and make sense of it is truly daunting.  Every detail matters in the ICU, something I loved, and something I hated.  Attention to detail is the PA student's default setting.  We may not know what it means, but we will asked about it!   I feel like I could spend an hour combing through the patients medical record and still not have full grasp of what was happening.
Happily, my paramedic training came in handy, as I could show off my only trick of EKG reading and knowledge of ACLS.  But that is merely a springboard.
This was also my first experience of seeing the same patients multiple days in a row.  I was surprised how much I enjoyed this part.  Seeing their progress, the outcome of procedures and medications.  This was something in EMS that I rarely got to see, apart from frequent flyers and overdoses.  This continuity of care does attract me to the inpatient setting.
I really, really enjoyed my time in the ICU and intend to go back there for my final preceptorship.  I don't think it's what I want to do, at least not at first as I would like a firm grasp on the basics before moving on.  But who knows!?  

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