My New Life

Well, I am almost done with my 3 rd week of residency, and so far I have a love/hate relationship with my new life. I love the fact that I am no longer a student!! I was soooooo sick of going to a rotation and seeing patients, writing progress notes and history and physicals on them and then have them not count for a damn thing. Now my H&Ps count, as do my progress notes and I actually get to write orders and they will be done!! However, I hate my hours. I will hit 82 hours this week. 82 hrs in 1 week - that is insane!! Actually, I do not hate my hours when I am at work. I am so busy and I love learning about medicine that my days actually fly by, but it is hard on On Call Days to leave my husband and dogs and know that I will not see them until the next day and even when I do get home I will be so tired that I will be grumpy and so out of it that I will just want to sit there and watch So You Think You Can Dance - which by the way is my favorite summertime show!! Daniel has been amazingly supportive. Today he told me that I was his idol - isn't that sooo sweet. He has been so wonderful. Just yesterday he drove to Ulta to pick up my favorite hairspray. He has even offered to start doing the laundry which is true love coming from Daniel. However, I told Daniel no to the laundry - it makes me feel normal to have to do house work. I mean we already have a cleaner come and do everything else and if I was to do nothing at home I would feel lazy. My dogs definetely miss me and I miss them. I really need to get into a habit of walking them regularly to burn off some of their pent up emotions. I think the hardest part is just the adjustment to my new life. I cannot wait until I can handle cross-cover calls without asking my senior resident for help!! I know this will just come with time, but I cannot wait to be a helpful part of our team. I have been so lucky to have really nice senior residents. I have also learned that even after 4 years of medical school I still know nothing when it comes to clinical medicine. It is amazing what a long road this is I have decided to take, but I love it and am so excited that I am finally Dr Whiting.

PS I am really tired so please excuse the run on sentences and incoherent thoughts

It is Official

I am now officially Dr Tonya Whiting!!
It seems kind of strange and it definitely has not sunk in yet but it is official!!

My Next 3 Years

Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center!!

COUNT DOWN

1 WEEK!!

COUNT DOWN

2 WEEKS AND COUNTING!!!!

The Next 3 Years of My Life

I am waiting with abated breath - where will I spend the vast majority of my time for the next 3 years. Where will I lay my head every 4th night? Maybe I should say attempt to lay my head. Oh, what I would give to know right now, but I will have to be patient and wait for March 20th!!

Mortality

I have had a recent profound realization of how mortal we all are, in my person and professional worlds. With this comes a new appreciation for life but also an even greater appreciation for the gift that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have given us - this is not the end. Working in the ICU has been a phenomenal experience. It has opened my eyes to how fragile life can be and has burned fear into my heart of what a great responsibility it is to be a physician. Every day I go to work motivated to be the best doctor I can possibly be - to give the best care to each patient I will care for in the future.