-=-namaste-=-

friday, april 5

I couldn't start an IV today. The girl is 16 years old with great veins, but I just couldn't get it. I tried twice. The only thing that makes me feel better is that the doc who was on last night tried three times and couldn't get it either. She just has sneaky veins. I was poking her and digging around in her hand, and I could hear her breathing becoming faster, heavier, and when I looked up at her face big tears were rolling down. I don't know what it was about her that got to me when I stick tons of kids all the time. part of my job to make them well... I think that it is because she was so nice and cooperative, and I am used to the little babies who scream and flail or the toddlers who kick you in the boobs.

The medical world has a very large competitive undercurrent. 99% of medical students and residents and interns and nurses and doctors and everyone else are very competitive. Who knows the most? Who gets the most IV's in? Who tapes endotracheal tubes badly? I feel myself sometimes jumping into the competitive current but then i stop and consider why I am there. Not to impress my peers but to help people. Still, it sucks to admit that you couldn't get the damn iv...
5:03 PM 5 comments