Night Float & Life Decision Updates...

So I wish I could brag about how that now, after four days on night float, I am a creature of the night. Not so much...but I am increasing my tolerance of staying up late. The fact that I am writing this blog post at 11PM when a month ago I was asleep by 7:30PM is a huge step for me ;-)

3 Years & Counting!

Overall, I have been able to see my family everyday. I get home in time to take Natey to school and talk to the hubby for a bit before he heads out to work. I am usually back at the hospital by the time they get home, so mornings have become precious for family time. Today was kind of a bummer because it is Nate and I's third wedding anniversary, but I only got to spend all of 30 minutes with him. WOMP. I'll just have to make it up this weekend... ;-)

Aside from that being a bummer, I am in LOOOOVE with OB. As soon as our orientation started last week I felt like I was surrounded by my people. My mom told me to at least give it a week LOL. My first day on nights I scrubbed into a C-section and then got to cut the umbilical cord! Maybe it's just me, but I felt like this was a huge deal haha. This was in addition to all the other medical student jobs like holding retractors and cutting suture ties...

I have gotten to triage a few patients coming in for induction and it's such a good feeling to be able to answer questions about labor and help to set some of the anxiety at ease. I think that school has definitely taught me a lot, but I can tell that my words carry a little more weight when I interject a personal note about my own experience with labor into my "Relax. This is totally normal..." talks.

Photo Credit

I am so excited to finally find something that I absolutely think I would be a great fit for. I've literally been waiting all year for this. OB gets a bad reputation for a number of reasons - one of which being hours worked because babies aren't born between the hours of 9am-5pm. My family and personal time is a huge priority to me, so even though all year OB has been in the back of my mind, I tried my hardest to see if there was anything else I could see myself being passionate about.

Nope. Nothing else.

Despite the hours, all of my attendings and residents seem really happy with their chosen field - which says a lot right?

I think there may be more room for flexibility than I initially thought. I just need to maximize my time on service by talking to everyone about how they find balance....