medicine?

<({disclaimer: there are few pictures in this post due to the lack of feedback re: what sort of new camera i should purchase!? if i don't start getting constructive feedback all the pictures will go away because my phone camera is not up to par. and surely i'll soon run out of memory on it!})>

hey blog friends!

today for the first time i got to help with patient care {since receiving a fancy white coat} @ the med school's free health clinic. it was a pretty interesting experience - honestly i think it helped me and the other first year students more than it helped the patients. we were able to take vital signs and chief complaints, then present patient to a second year. then, the first year + second year see the patient again and present to a 3/4 year, then finally the 1st, 2nd, and 3/4 year see the patient yet again, then present to the real doc who sees the patient again and helps everyone decide on the treatment plan. so the patient answers the same questions like 4 times, and is usually there for hours before given a course of treatment. but, they get free treatment and we get experience, so i guess it's mutually beneficial. it is in stark contrast to the free health clinic in kansas city where we saw high volume of patients with few learning experiences. i did feel like i had an edge due to my experience working at kc free (love that place!) so that was nice.

finally, after seeing the patients, we got to practice giving shots by administering flu vaccines to each other. pretty neat. i won't say i'm an expert at giving shots now, but at least now i'm slightly more competent. next time i'll tackle phlebotomy. we'll see. don't forget to get your flu vaccine, everyone! flu season approaches :) 

oh, and ps: if you thought i got through an entire patient clinic without doing anything clumsy or stupid, you were wrong! i sliced my finger open on the height ruler on the old fashioned scale. and, as you can imagine, i'm super paranoid about open wounds and patient care. so there's that. if i drink enough wine, hopefully it'll purify my blood regardless of whatever pathogens might have crept in from the metal ruler. or at least dull my obsessive/compulsive tendencies . . . meh?

much love,

k, e, & and one sore, vaccinated shoulder

ps here is a flipping cute sleeping pup with her face smashed against the bird pillow: