How about them Maple Leafs, eh

I am not sure what I expected Toronto to be like. I have partaken of only a scant few forays into Canada and those were both on the West Coast. I can see why Toronto, not Vancouver, is called the "New York City" of Canada. It larger, dirtier, and more expensive than Vancouver. The trip was a pleasant diversion save the traffic on the way up (with which I deal with the aplomb of a mental patient) and the odd weather which was exceedingly gorgeous upon our arrival and fairly inhospitable (especially since I didn't pack to accommodate such a shift) upon our departure. In the middle, we got to see the sites from the CN tower (and had a delicious and expensive dinner), visit a thriving Chinatown, and window shop for days (since we couldn't actually afford anything there due to a combination of the weakening American dollar, the ridiculous prices than Canadians seem to pay for goods, and a tax rate on goods that seems to hover around 90% or so).


School is now back into full swing. The steady torpor of Psych has become the cranked up amphetamine rush of med surg. I am not really sure what to think of it. I feel about as comfortable as Britney Spears in underwear when performing adult care, but I fake it well enough. Largely, for me anyway, the problem is that we have little enough training to start with and that is compounded by an utter unfamiliarity with the unit. So, not only can i not help patients make their Alaris pump stop its constant beeping, but I also cannot find a way to get a patient a cup of hot water for tea without begging anyone for a pass card to get into the break room. On our new floor, even the clean linens room requires a pass card. Evidently pillow case theft is on the rise.

The above noted, it is at least a far more interesting unit. It is a step-down unit (where people go after surgery) for neurology. My patient had a Pterional craniotomy clinoidal meningioma which is the removal of a brain tumor in the meninges (the fluid surrounding the brain) that involves cutting open a flap on the skull. Needless to say, she didn't look great after the surgery, but she was doing well. The tumor had been sitting on her ocular nerve impairing her vision severely on the left side. She now has a shaved head with a curving row of staples along its left side and 6 weeks of radiation to follow. Hopefully things will turn out okay for her. It is a rough thing to have to go through in your mid 40s. A lot of the patients on the unit are even younger. We will be spending the next month on the neuro floor before relocating to an Oncology floor for the remainder of the term. Along the way, we will also visit the OR, spend a day with the visiting nurse service and spend two days shadowing a nurse on a unit that, hopefully, interests us. Should be much to write about on that side of things.

Classes are still kind of dull, though they will be busy. There are a slew of papers due and biweekly exams to contend with as well as write-ups covering every experience we partake of. It pains me the way that tests on books used to in high school. When you read a book, you read to enjoy it and discuss it with others who have similarly enjoyed the book. You immerse yourself in it. When you read a book for a test, you try to focus on the little things like the address of the main character, the colors the author uses to describe the rivers, and how frequently the author uses metaphors. What you don't do, however, is enjoy the experience of reading the book. Just occasionally, I wish we were afforded the opportunity to just be in the experiences and learn from them with the guidance of our instructors without then having to turn around and document everything. Sometimes it is useful I understand.......but often, it is just a pain in the ass.

Still no sale on the house and winter is coming. Looks like a long drive in the snow for me. Keep em crossed that global warming is real if only for this year and that little more than a dusting befalls us. I cannot imagine trying to wake up and make it to clinicals by 6:45 in the morning (to allow time to change from winter gear to scrubs) while trying to navigate 13 miles of snowy roads and freezing temps. I predict I will be openly weeping for a trip to Florida by mid February at the latest.