Archive for May, 2008

If you don’t have a handheld device, you should get the following: 1 general pocket reference, 1 on-call pocket reference, and 1 drug pocket reference. Avoid having too many sources. That type-A, lay all the books out on the table when your studying move doesn’t work in internship or residency. So, don’t do it. It’s way too distracting.

Money Saver Tip – If you don’t have a handheld device (Palm, Pocket PC, Blackberry, etc), you should probably wait until your stipend kicks in from your internship or residency program. (Make sure they cover it)

Until I bought my PDA, I had…

Mass General Pocket Medicine – I scrapped the Washington Manual after about a week. I like Ferri’s better. But nowadays, I’d recommend this one… The full title is Pocket Medicine: The Massachusetts General Hospital Handbook of Internal Medicine

Tarascon Pocket Pharmacopoeia – I kept this one in my pocket even after getting a PDA.

The Sanford Guide – I pretty much only used 6 pages (the charts in the middle), but I used them almost everyday.

This is also available on the Rookie Doc Squidoo Lens. I’ll update that, since it is more like an article, whereas, this is a timestamped blog post.

OK. It’s official. I’m tired of this phrase. (Just heard this from a ward secretary in a normally vibrant, happy-go-lucky hospital.)

• Not in my job description
• They don’t pay me enough to do that
• If they want me to do that, they’ll have to pay me more
• Blah, blah, I, blah, me, blah, Me, me, me, I, I

“Not in my job description”, in all of its forms, is destructive. Don’t use it. It doesn’t help anyone, and, in fact, it hurts you.

Simple analogy… A ship is in a horrible storm, tossing and turning in mountainous waves. Rain pouring in. The ship can’t be controlled. What’s the next step? Get rid of the least important cargo. Start throwing stuff overboard. Are you that piece of cargo? If the ship starts sinking, are you the one they’ll get rid of?

If you are the cargo that’s thrown overboard, it’s not some conspiracy against you. It’s not your gender, your ethnicity, your haircut, your political stance, or your job title. It’s much more simple than a plot. It’s just a matter of – to get this ship sailing in the right direction, we have to get rid of the least valuable cargo. And that least valuable cargo is the stuff that only fits into a single purpose, a single task, or a single job description. If we can use the cargo for multiple things, even outside of it’s normal uses, then let’s keep it. It may come in handy.

Sure, there are times when something is outside of your power, your influence, your knowledge, etc. And sure, there are times where you are working on something more important than what you are being asked to do. But there are better ways to say it.

• “Actually, I don’t know the answer to that, but So-and-So might be able to help. Try extension 2345. They should be able to help.”
• “You know what? I’m sorry. As a secretary, I can’t take verbal orders. But let me get his nurse for you.”
• “Normally, I’d help you and send off that fax, but I have heavy patients right now. Sorry.”
• “Aw. I wish I could help. But I don’t even know where to begin finding an answer to that.”

You can say “No” without saying “It’s not in my job description.”

Similar to a blog and similar to a regular website – but it is neither. I recently started a Rookie Doctor Squidoo “lens” to add to all of the stuff RookieDoctor.com already provides. If you have a Squidoo lens already, then tag me as a friend (lensmaster name RookieDoc).

This excerpt comes (with permission) from GiggleMed.com’s Book of Lists

Whether you’re a patient, a surgeon, or any hospital staff member working in the OR, there’s enough stress as it is. It can certainly become a lot scarier if you hear any of these “Things You Never Want to Hear During Surgery.”

1. I’m kind of excited, the last time I performed one of these I was a resident.
2. What the heck is that?!
3. Ooops!
4. We have to hurry, my flight leaves at 3.
5. Has anyone here used one of these before?
6. Wait a minute! That’s not her gallbladder!
7. Now which side did we say? Left or right?
8. I’m starting to think that this whole thing is just a waste of time.
9. In about 2 minutes, we might need to charge up those paddles.
10. Is this lady a full code?
11. It’s alright… Go ahead… He’s asleep.
12. What a minute! Did I even scrub for this case?
13. I had a bad feeling about this case, but that tarot card reader made me feel much better.
14. We’re technically not supposed to smoke in here.
15. I’m gonna need one of you guys to start whispering in her ear. Tell her to “Move away from the light“.
16. Welp, I guess there’s a first time for everything.
17. Hi, I’m Bill, one of the OR techs, are you the new surgeon?
18. I don’t understand … This didn’t happen in the video.
19. Would someone please swat those flies!
20. Righty tighty, Lefty loosey.
21. Why do I feel like this patient is surrounded by a bunch of assassins?
22. Of course this is ethical!
23. I see dead people.

Copyright, GiggleMed.com, LLC. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

For other cool medical humor sites, check out the links section in the sidebar. If you want to view/download a pretty PDF version (although with only 21 items) go here.