2.2.2.2.2.2.2.2.2.2.2.2.2.2.2.2.2.2.2.2.2.2.2.2

This has been my second year as a “first year resident” because of my intern year that I completed last year. It is strange to think that in a few more days I will finally be a second year (for the first time). It is strange that our new first year residents are here, eager and probably a little nervous to begin. Suddenly, after two years, I’m not the lowest one on the rung. That will be a very strange change.

This next year will probably prove to be my most challenging. Starting on Friday I will begin my first of four months on General Surgery. My schedule in July already looks a little daunting. I may not have the cleanest house or be in the best shape, but I think I overall manage to find a decent level of balance. Come Friday, I am seriously concerned about my ability to do anything besides work and sleep as I will be on call (days only due to new medical resident duty hour rules) 14-16 hours per day every other day (alternated with probably 10 hour days), with only 8 or 10 hours in between shifts. As that is about the amount of sleep I need each night, I am taking volunteers for bathroom duty and meals! Abraham will also be busy on his General Surgery rotation during this time so we really will be running ragged.

Once I finish in General Surgery, I will head back to my own team for a few months until I do Neurosurgery in March. That will be another busy time with 4 am morning start times. Yawn. I am feeling more sleepy by the minute.

It should be an exciting year. I am excited to increase my surgical skills and to see some new things (I’m actually hoping I get to do an amputation—see how warped my world is becoming?). I have also turned over a new leaf and am studying much more. I only have three more years to learn everything (not really, but it feels that way) so I better get to it. I did finally teach myself the one-handed surgical knot. Just in time.

I better get going! I feel like I have a lot of sleep, cooking, cleaning, etc to catch up on before the end of the week!