Internship plans were confirmed in March, I arrived on site in June, and within a week I was scheduled to work 3 consecutive weeks of overnight ER. 6 PM to 10 AM. From March to June I was dreading the overnight ER shifts, so it was only proper that I begin my internship career with such. The universe always talks back. But hey, “rip the band-aid” off as they always say. The metaphor is being put to work in real-time.
So here we are at the kitchen table two hours before shift start time. Ready to learn and act and think and put the four years of veterinary education to work. I have my emergency medicine and procedures textbooks in one hand, a mug of supercharged coffee in the other, and a backpack full of snacks. The brand new, personally embroidered scrubs and quarter-zip sweater are bursting at the seams, barely able to contain the nervousness and anxiety radiating from every follicle on my body. Honestly, introducing myself as “doctor” and getting comfortable with decision making is going to be the most difficult part. They do not teach you that in veterinary school. And, at 3 AM? Geez.
But hey, the universe always talks back. It reciprocates initiative and a positive attitude with smooth sailing and success.
I hope.
It at least seems like it would. My internship director insinuated this during one of the onboarding talks he gave. So that is the plan. Initiative and positive attitude moving forward into this overnight ER shift, and really all other rotations in the other departments as well.
To those reading this right now with a pitting ache in their chest – Godspeed.
