On surgery, final year, and other matters.

I officially have less than a year to go until graduation. Of course, I need to pass all my rotations and final exams before that happens...but let's just say for the hell of it I pass.

Seriously.

Less than ONE YEAR.

Even typing that out makes me go into a mini-panic attack. Am I ready for this? Does anyone ever really feel ready for it?

It doesn't feel like I've been here for 3 years. It certainly doesn't feel like I'm knowledgeable enough to be a veterinarian in my own right making decisions. Except that I probably won't be a primary on any case because I'm planning on internships.

Which reminds me. Internships. God, those application deadlines are coming up fast.

Anyway, past two weeks have been fun. I've been on Small Animal Surgery in the QMH and, while smallies are not my thing, I've had a great time with the surgery department. The clinicians are laid back, the residents are laid back...and we've had a slew of new interns come in this July and they're (mostly) really great. I've scrubbed into a few surgeries and have managed not to pass out in the way-too-hot theatre.

Seriously, though. It's boiling in the UK right now. We've had hardly any rain in the past 4 weeks and it's been HOT. Unseasonably warm. It hit 90F the other day and I rebelled against the weather by wearing a skirt. Within about 2 hours of being at the QMH, a very friendly boxer slimed me all over my knee and the lower part of my skirt. Yum.

So...yeah. I'm gonna go back to reading about tarsal luxation in dogs and pray to the vet gods that someone is able to scribe for me tomorrow because I'm never going to be able to remember the steps to a distal fibular fracture (possibly avulsion) repair and a tarsal collateral ligament repair. With an external skeletal fixator placement.

On track, and internship talk.

Equine Orthopedics tracking week 1 is complete. Can't say that it was truly any different from my core rotation week, although I've got limited responsibilities. Which is weird.

Since tracking students don't take any patients on unless all the core students have at least one patient, there really isn't much else to do other than watch and listen. Hands on work is limited. To say that it's a bit frustrating is an understatement. But it's been a good week. I'm putting more effort into learning nerve and joint blocks in the horse, and the anatomy is getting easier to remember. So maybe that's the real purpose behind doing the tracking: it solidifies what you breezed over during your core rotation.

Also, I've started to consolidate my internship applications (which basically means I've come to a decision about what I'll be applying for). The plan is this: apply for the US internships I've set my eyes on. If none of those are successful or I change my mind about where I want to be, I'll apply to the UK and Australian internships.

In reality, I really have no idea where I'm going to end up. And that's a bit frightening.

So for now, I'm applying to the US internships with the hopes that I get into one of them. Two of the ones I'm going for are über competitive, which decreases my chances of getting in there (also, I've not gone there yet so I don't really know if I'll fit in). The other two I'm going for are comfortable and safe, which isn't bad, but there is no guarantee that I'll get those either.

I've spiffied up my CV to include all my experience thus far, which is much more than I thought at first. My next step is the letter of intent (should be interesting).

Oh yeah. And 3 letters of recommendation. Not easy. I've got some idea of which clinicians I should ask, but I've never been one to be very confident about selling myself or asking for favors. But then...this is my career. And if I can't ask for what I want, then what the hell am I doing with myself?