Emergency Medicine Rotation- my first night shift!

Hey everyone, so I am now in the first week of my Emergency Medicine rotation. I am in Circleville, OH and have really enjoyed the atmosphere here and the people I get to work with. At this particular rotation we have 2 PA students that are assigned the rotation at the same time. We split up the rotation alternating working 12 hour night and day shifts. So when one student is working night, the other is working day and vice versa. I get to start out with night shift and its the first time i've ever worked nights... lets just say its REALLY strange. I don't know if it is just a mixture of being in a new hospital with new people... but its really weird working through the night and sleeping during the day. 

 

 

The schedule also makes it hard to be in contact with my wife due to the time change and me working through the day... but like always, I tell myself (and her) that its only temporary. We have been sending video chat texts back and forth, its pretty fun! I can't believe how much being apart from eachother has actually helped us grow closer. We have learned to appreciate eachother so much. 

I have already been able to start IV's, suture and staple lacerations, insert foley catheters, and see a lot of different illnessess. I am really enjoying being able to see a bunch of different things. In one shift I could see skin rashes, lacerations, chest pain, shortness of breath, UTI symptoms, and a sore throat. That could be within only a few hours! I get to see a lot of patients and really enjoy being there to help patients when they are at their worst.

I will continue to keep you up to date on my first few weeks, and switch to the day shift. As always if anyone has questions, feel free to ask away.