I don’t know how people who have to work long double (or longer) shifts do it. Doctors are up at all hours, round the clock, and on top of that they make important life or death decisions. I’m feeling much more awake now that I’ve had my cup of coffee and my first chocolate bar:
But I’m still not what you would call AWAKE. Certainly not to the point where I’d like to be making Dr. House-style diagnoses or anything.
Still, I’m hanging in there. How’s everyone else doing?
Also, I really appreciate those of you who are hanging out and chatting me up in the comments! It’s helping!
From what I understand, docs/interns on exceedingly long shifts (a) take a lot of unprescribed stimulants and (b) make a fair number of mistakes. Both of which are an unfortunate result of a system that seems pleased to abuse doctors-in-training for cheap labor.
Sorry, off my soap box now …
(this has been a random Blogathon drive-by commenting)
Time to turn on the dance music!
Hey Sherry! Just stopping by to say hello. Your kids are CUTE! I think they’re giving the JP kids some competition 😀 I want your chocolate. I haven’t seen one here in the U.S. before. I’m gonna look out for it now. I’ve had to pull all-nighters a couple of times (b/c that’s how I roll) but I do it with soda…about the only time I drink soda.
Yeah, the 36-hour shifts are just insane. I’ve heard they have tried to institute shorter shifts and better bedside manner training but who knows if it’s working. I’m an interpreter, and I’ve worked in hospitals a lot, and you still only get about 5 minutes with a doctor once a day. They are pushed so hard they just can’t give you any more than that. It wouldn’t surprise me if they were mixing up patients in their heads at times – one cardiac patient with another, for example. *shudders*