Saturday, January 15, 2011

Small Animal Med Take 2: Better and more tiring than ever!

Confession: I love small animal medicine. Despite the intense work that a critical patient requires, so far every case I have seen continues improving. This is quite a change from the usual depressing outcomes I have experienced this year. It has also made this a very rewarding and exhausting 2 weeks.

Confession: I need a work-life balance; I need to exercise, I need to get 8 hours of sleep, and I need to have some time with my family and friends. All of these things make me a much better vet student and person. What is amazing to me is that I have found the right career. In finance, I couldn't wait to leave to have "a life." Now despite being tired, run down and wanting "a life" I willingly sacrifice these things to my detriment for the benefit of my patient and I don't mind. It does make me cranky without the other aspects of life trickled in.

I have learned a lot this block. I have learned new material, more about patient care and decision making for critical patients. I have continued to confirm that I heart critical care, the challenges, the heartache and the reward. The cherry on top was passing the NAVLE!

Becoming a vet has never felt more real. It will become more real in a few weeks when I find out if I got into a match internship program that will confirm where I will be working as a doctor. While I am looking forward to some less intense blocks, I couldn't have asked for more out of my second small animal medicine block. 1 week left then onto cardiology!