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First Year- Chapter 4
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I made my calls to the consultants I needed and set Jenny off to talk to the social worker about Reggie’s need. I thought Jenny was special but nothing could prepare me for the social worker assigned to our floor. Alice Pieszecki took special to an entirely different level. She was undaunted in her positive and cheery attitude. She dressed like a modern day interpretation fashions from the 60’s and 70’s. Her personality was like she had a pot of expresso, not a shot, but a pot. Alice and Jenny bounced in almost holding hands as if they were the best of friends. She shook my hand vigorously, “Hi, I’m Alice. I’ve been talking to your delightful student here. I have to say she’s good, she’s really good.”
I knew then she was insane but as long as she handled the social service needs of my patients she could be as crazy as she wanted to be. “Hi Alice it’s a pleasure meeting you. Yes, Jenny is very special. I’m sure she told you about Reggie.”
She gave me a little punch in the arm. “Yeppers, but I already know Reggie. He’s a frequent flier. I’m sure, over time, you’ll get to know him very well. Reggie insists on doing his own thing.”
“Well, I was wondering if we can do something to get him into a shelter or something. He came in looking and smelling as if he was pulled from the sewer.”
“Have you seen his old chart? He always comes in like that. I think Reggie has a fear of water, wicked witch of the west or something. He seems to think water might destroy him. Unless something has happened, he has his own house about 6 blocks from here. He has a military pension, a pension from Ford and is on disability. Money is usually not the issue for him. I’ll talk to him though. I haven’t spoken to him…probably since last summer, when the new set of interns started. It will be good to catch up with him. He’s quite the character. You should spend some time talking to him.”
I was embarrassed. I hadn’t looked at his chart. I didn’t really talk to him about his housing situation. I just assumed anyone looking and smelling like that had to be homeless. I couldn’t understand how anyone could have access to water and present themselves to the world like that. Perhaps Alice will come back and tell me he is now homeless or maybe his water was shut off. I realized, like Jodie, I’d not taken a full and thorough history. But how the hell was I supposed to do that with everything else I needed to do. I needed a system. I saw Jenny hanging around with Shane and Jay on a computer. I had to figure out a way to use my student to get through my nights and be ready for the day. My little on call team was only as strong as the weakest link. I had to strengthen my weak link somehow.
Later that morning, we rounded with Dr Kroll. I was already feeling pretty down over my patient that went to the ICU when Dr Kroll cut, with surgical precision, into about every aspect of the case that I mismanaged. I couldn’t argue with her points. She questioned me endlessly about various patient diagnosis and management. When it seemed like I was scoring points and getting the right answers, she moved on to another line of questioning to find my weakness. I stood up to her and refused to back down or show any signs of weakness. I may have wanted to quit before but this endless badgering made me change my mind. The rebel in me began to bring herself out. I refused to quit. I would show that I was a capable physician. I may have developed some scars on my back after my beatings but I would wear them with pride.
After crazy-Kroll, as I started calling her, rounds was over, I looked across the nursing station and saw Bette and Stan going over their plan of attack for their night on call. Bette was like a drill sergeant as she described how she wanted them to approach their admissions. She remained quiet and aloof during rounds that morning and never approached me about my night. She seemed so cold and machine like. I don’t know why I expected something different but I thought as interns we would stick together but she seemed like she was on an entirely different stratosphere from us. She seemed so confident in everything she did. She was the best student from the best medical school and was heading for the best practice when she was completed with her residency. She did not seem to want to be brought down to the lowly level of the common intern. Before long, I really started to loathe her.
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Helena’s first lesson – please read the chart and prior medical records, dear. Oh, I’m so bumbed that Bette is going to be a FLEA. Sheesh…maybe she will be the type of FLEA that turns into a RILF (LOL). I can hope anyway. Helena sounds as though she is gaining momentum with her confidence. I hope she finds her comfort zone soon. I love how you are incorporating all the characters – it’s a great read.
Ahhh…the wonders of residency. I feel like I lived through this personally as I’ve heard similar stories and been an ear for rants from a very stressed and very tired friend. I definitely appreciate what you all do and am convinced that you have to be made for it! Bette is starting to sound like neurologist…no offense, but they really can be FLEAS!! I’m definitely loving being able to view all of this from Helena’s vantage point…here is Alice! This is going to be good! PPS
Let me correct myself. A “transitional year” intern might rotate through varies specialties, sugery, IM, ER, OB, before going on to their specialty training…. The one year IM intern, will only rotate in IM areas, the floors, the ER, ICU, CCU, maybe some electives…. It’s been awhile for me. I’ll open the door for correction. But one things for certain the first year is called the internship year. (Unlike the 3 year interns who still don’t know shit on Grey’s anatomy)…One other point, I’ll have to fix and make more clear. They are not working in the ER. They are one the medical floors/wards. These are admitted patients coming through the ER or occasionally directly by their private docs office…. The “attending” is the ultimate supervisory physician. They teach and supervise care. Typically each rotation, floor, ICU, CCU,ER, is a month long and the team changes from month to month and everyone moves on to a different area. This will become more apparent as the story moves one…This group will break up after a month. A new team will form with new attending, new senior residents, new interns working together… There are so many potential characters and moving parts weaving in and out. So to keep it easy. I just kept it Helena’s POV otherwise…Whew!!! That’s why it took me months to figure out how to do this semi-realistically…Maybe that’s why the TV shows suck at it. It’s too complex. Too many moving parts and characters…Bette won’t begin to study Derm until the following year…For now she is a FLEA (What a transitional year intern in a book titled “The House of God” called the IM residents. FLEA=Fat little egotistical assholes. Tina and the other senior residents, to be introduced, are perfect exmaples FLEAs) Good questions. That book is a great read to understand the world of docs in training. It might be a bit eye opening for the lay person.
I’m nothing so lofty as a doctor, but having more to do than you reasonably can handle is problematic and stressful, especially knowing what can be at stake. Hopefully this Jodie will feel to weak to be a vengeful shrew like another Jodie we all know.
some good work, So Hels and Dylan are still as one, only time will tell if they come out of it together.
ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh… I get all sickie and stuff and you have to go and post post post… I feel like an ass for saying this but SLOW DOWN… sheesh… catches breath… hehe… love and hugs, JC (catching up has never been so much fun… and yeah I’ll be back :P)
This was fun to read. In fact I read it twice. More and more we are learning about these characters and the things that may happen in those who may pratice in a medical field. It can be hard always trying to get it right . Knowing that your mistake can lead to someone’s death. You have to have a strong mind set to do that kind of job, because it isn’t easy. But on to a brighter subject. Is this a H&T pairing or a H&B pairng? Or you haven’t made up your mind yet? Because I can see something happening with both these ladies.(B&T)
S so Helena now loathes Bette huh,,,lol..well I say it’s got to be about them as a couple? Or are you taking us a different route with them and it’s going to be a Tina,Dylan or Carmen pairing iwth Hels,,,I want to know,,,now,,,,HAHAHA!! Great chapter.
I haven’t read this chapter yet, but rest assured I will. I just have one question first, What happened to Chapter 3?
will loathe turn to love?? Enjoying the chapter, I felt like I was there!! Looking forward to the update!!!
Very good post! Wondering what that loathing Helena is doing will turn to with Bette. Keep up the good work Squirl, looking forward to the next chapter.
A lot of residency programs require a year of Internal Medicine before going off into their specialty. Derm, Neurology, I think even Psychiatry require a “transitional year”(That one year of IM). The first year of residency is called the internship. So an intern is just a first year resident. In this story Bette and Sean are both transitional year interns. I hope that clarifies things. A dermatologist my treat small burns but the bigger burns usually end up with surgeons.
Every Saturday is great but week days work great too. Loved Alice, always hate Jenny but I guess thats what were supposed to do. Bring on some more Squirl. Thank you, Md, aks Oma
This story is great. Bette is studying dermatology right. Why is she interning at Peabody clinic in the ER? I don’t understand I guess I’m a little naive regarding her field. Do dermatologist treat burn patients?
OMG, Alice is a social worker that is holding hands with Jenny, lol. Good chapter Squirl, I am looking forward to finding out just how Helena intends to get an efficient team up and running. A lot of potential attraction here… voluptuous Carmen, sexy Tina and loathsome Bette. I have to keep reminding myself that Bette is straight though… is Tina straight? BTW thanks for explaining all that IM/first year/intern stuff, it can be confusing.