Some define a good shift as one where you sit around on your ass. And while there are times that is nice, I honestly like shifts where I am not overwhelmed but where the majority of patients I see actually have an urgency or emergency!
The other day I had (in a row no less!):
a. a 40 year old lady with acute iritis (not a serious emergency but much better then the typical bogus conjunctivitis!)
b. Elderly lady with acute left femoral artery occlusion and a nearly dead foot.
c. 30 year old man with epidural bleed and mid-line shift.
d. 29 year old man with unknown type of OD and hyponatraemia-induced seizures who needed to be intubated for airway protection.
e. 38 year old lady with 3 months of SOB and cough who wound up having numerous b/l PE’s with right sided heart failure, probable previously undiagnosed thalassaemia with platelets of 70, and guiac + stool!
for me a good shift is one where i just sit and study for my entrance which never happens;)
For me a good day is where I get paid, without having to see patients. I’ll let you know if it ever happens.
I’d prefer to be just busy enough to make the shift fly by, without being overwhelmed. It’s a plus too if the patients actually need something legitimate. No matter the pace at Which they show up, seekers and fakers quickly get annoying.
A