Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Am I Really A Doctor?

I feel like I'm still a medical student. Not in the "I'm dumb" way (which, I'm sure I am), but in the way that I haven't actually taken on any patient care responsibilities yet. I'm on this Ultrasound month, which is great and all, but I just swing into a room, do a scan, and swing out. I'm not thinking differentials or diagnosis, I'm not thinking medications or dosage, and I'm certainly not doing any history & physicals. That coupled with only working about 45 hrs / wk definitely makes me feel like I'm not yet into my residency experience and am just ... still a medical student. sigh.

I did, however, get to do a Trans-Vag U/S on a woman who, by dates, was 6 wks preggers. Did you know that a 6 week fetus has fingers, spine, cranium, brain, & heart already developed? Yea, she was a solid 15+ wks pregnant. My first question was, of course, "When was your last period?" She still stuck with the early June response. So be it.