clinicals

So we're into clinicals now. I'm assigned to the VA, or rather the hospital complex formerly known as the VA. It's now the Lovell Federal Health Care Center, named after the famed Apollo 13 astronaut (and Navy captain!). He was actually in town to dedicate it a month or so ago, but sadly I could not catch a glimpse of the legend as I was in class. Anyway, right now I'm working on the general med ward, which isn't so bad. The Nurses are great and keep us busy, and they call us Corpsman which is awesome. Most of our work is pretty routine, such as linen changing, patient transport, hygiene etc., but sometimes we get to do cool things like draw blood samples. We muster at 0545 and don't get back to the barracks until around 1630, so the days are long, but it's good to finally be doing some hands on health care. It's going to be a short week of clinicals due to Thanksgiving break, and then next week we should only have 3 days at the most before graduation/dental begins.

Despite the Terps football heartbreak on Saturday night, I still would have given anything to be back at the game with my friends. It sounds like they had a good time though, which is great. Still not sure what I'll be doing for Thanksgiving or the rest of break, but rest assured it will include watching an entire game of football (which I haven't done since before joining) and purchasing Colonel Roosevelt, the final book in the TR trilogy. Talks of Milwaukee are also abound, so we'll see.

Looking forward to more time in the hospital and the upcoming break. And of course still missing everyone terribly! December 17th is less than a month away