Suturing

Since we started med school last fall, we've had two opportunities to practice suturing, both pretty much optional. One was at the beginning of the year on patches of cadaver skin in the anatomy lab and the other is in surgical skills elective this winter, which gives us three practice sessions. Apparently this is it: the next time we suture, it's going to be on a real patient.

On that note, any of you happen to have any wounds you need stitched up, give me a call.

Paramedic Intern

There was a brief moment of excitement yesterday when I thought I'd finally found someone lower on the hospital totem pole than a first year med student: the Paramedic Intern.

This lasted right up until a sedation procedure, when he got to put the oxygen mask on the patient and hand the suction to the third year med student on surgery rotation.

I didn't even have to put my gloves on.