The Moth - Danielle Ofri: It's All Relative

TL;DR

The author recounts their experience as a night float intern at Bellevue Hospital, where they faced challenges and dilemmas including declaring a patient dead.

Transcript

the most ominous day of the year if you're becoming a doctor is July first once you leave the civilian world behind the first day of the year is now July 1st so forget September with Labor Day and the first day of school forget January with New Year's Day and resolutions July 1st is now it on July 1st everything turns over in the medical world so m... Read More

Key Insights

• 😷 July 1st marks a significant turnover in the medical field, where medical students become doctors and interns progress in their roles.
• 😀 Night float interns face unique challenges, handling a larger patient load and focusing on damage control.
• 😀 Inexperienced interns often encounter dilemmas and uncertainties when faced with unfamiliar situations, such as declaring a patient dead.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the significance of July 1st in the medical world?

July 1st is when medical students become doctors, interns become residents, and fellows become attendings. It marks the turnover in the medical field.

Q: What does a night float intern's role entail?

A night float intern is responsible for addressing patient care issues during the night shift and taking over from the day teams. They handle a significant patient load and focus on damage control.

Q: How does the author handle a situation where the family wants to stay during a rectal exam?

The author is unsure of the protocol but allows the family to stay. They feel confused about the appropriate course of action.

Q: How does the author struggle with declaring a patient dead?

The author describes the lack of education or guidance on declaring a patient dead, leading to their uncertainty during the situation. They try various methods, such as checking for reflexes, respiration, and pulse.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The author begins their internship as a night float intern, handling the patient load of four other interns.

• During their second week, they are asked to do a rectal exam to check for a GI bleed in a patient who turns out to be deceased.

• The author struggles with the procedure and determining how to pronounce the patient dead, highlighting challenges faced by inexperienced interns.