Psych: coming to an end

Sorry for my lack of updating! Honestly, not much has changed since I last wrote. I will admit that I don't hate psych as much as I did before! So that's progress. But it doesn't matter now because tomorrow is my last day and I must say that I am actually pumped to get back down to Pitt. Rotation #4, here I come! I will be down working in the Children's hospital emergency department, so it should be an interesting rotation for a couple reasons: 1) first emergency med rotation; 2) I'll be working with several other students; 3) I don't know much about peds; and 4) I don't like peds that much. Bet that last one surprised you, considering the family I come from :)

So yea. That's pretty much it. I'm only really writing because I'm putting off remediations, but I guess I should just finish them.  So wish me luck! Hopefully I'll have lots of funny stories to share!

Psych update #2

Well, I’m now 2 weeks into my psych rotation. Not a lot has really changed. I’ve been observing a lot of med checks/evals and writing and dictating my notes. I did, though, start my in-patient rounds at the hospital on Monday.  There is a guy there now who is schizo and thinks that there is bad stuff in his body. So, to deal with this, he’s been eating inedible objects like coins, lighters, paper, etc because he thinks by doing this the bad stuff will come out. There’s also a woman that has grandiose delusions and thinks that she used to be really rich but had all her money stolen, used to write plays, be really accomplished, sell insurance annuities, know famous people, etc. The sad thing is that she doesn’t think that anything is wrong with her. It’s amazing sometimes how the mind plays tricks. Other than these patients, I haven’t seen anything too crazy. Mostly because the patients I do see are already medicated and fairly stable.

I will say that even though things haven’t been too exciting, things have been pretty stressed at the office. There have been some serious things going on that I can’t talk about, and that has really changed the mood and tempo. Getting very backed up on some days, and a lot of people are cancelling or not showing up. Hopefully this slum doesn’t carry over into next week…

Only 3 more weeks to go! Then I’m off to Pitt for rotation #4. Originally I was supposed to be in Mount Vernon for my peds rotation, but it got cancelled. So now I will be at Children’s Hospital emergency department. It’ll be interesting how that goes. Even though I have a lot of kids in my family, I’m really not interested in working with them haha. We’ll see.

That’s pretty much it for now! Hopefully next time I’ll have more interesting things to talk about!

P.S. Still don't like psych that much.

ok, psych.

So on Monday I started my psych rotation in New Castle, PA. The first part of the day consisted of getting badges made and getting my drug screen. Then I observed my preceptor as she did her psych evals and med checks. Honestly, it was not a very interesting first day. Maybe because it really was just a boring day, or maybe because I really don't like psych that much right now. Time will tell, I guess.

On Tuesday I observed still some more. Although this day was more interesting than the first because we had a fellow referred over to crisis because he was having homicidal thoughts/plans. He ended up getting angry with the crisis guy and walked out of the office. Eventually the cops were involved and the fellow was taken over to the hospital. That was my first patient of the day. From there I observed and took notes, then wrote up my notes, and then dictated my notes. I was a bit nervous dictating on the phone for the first time, but it got easier each time I did it.

There is another student with me, so that means, for the first time, I have to share my preceptor. But anyway, she is very nice and we get along well so far. My preceptor is very nice and I like her a lot. Although I am a bit disappointed she has not asked more questions about psych conditions and medications. Maybe all that comes a little later.

The rest of the week I am off because my preceptor won't be in the office. Kind of nice because it's extra time I have to get homework/reading done. Except, I have done a very minimal amount of that, so it really hasn't been all to productive. I did, however, go to a Mumford & Sons concert last night! And let me tell you, it was absolutely phenomenal. It was at an outdoor venue, and completely packed. All kinds of different people showed up for this thing. And the band was amazing. They sound even better live than they do on their records, which says a lot. True talent.

Right now I'm in the library because I don't get wifi in my apartment. I absolutely hate the library for anyone who didn't know already. It's just a weird place and way to quiet for me. But it'll have to do for this rotation I guess. Oh, and I forgot to mention that I have two roommates. They are female PT students doing their rotations at the hospital. Both are very nice! But it's kind of an inconvenience because I'm currently sleeping on a pull out bed in our very tiny apartment. Again, it will do for now. At least it's free:)

That's pretty much all there is to say for now...Wish me luck as I try to conquer this psych stuff!

MUMFORD @ First Niagara Pavilion