Hey :))) Thanks so much for sharing your med student journey and tips on your blog - really helps us all feel heard and not alone <3
I have my first day of clinical placement soon at a big hospital in emergency...any tips or tricks? I'm a little bit nervous being a little woman of colour in a busy department <33
Congrats on the placement! I haven't spent a lot of time in the ER, but based on my time in the OR, probably understanding that a raised voice is not always anger. With how fast people get Worse in the ER, a yell may not be anger but intensity. Interacting outside of stressful situations will help a lot in tempering that shock, so I encourage you also to chat with the nurses and staff.
For patients, I think having patience (heh) is key. They're stressed and have little clue if they're okay or not and often have been waiting forever. Unfortunately, with how the health system is a bureaucratic nightmare, the onus is on us to be calm. If you feel threatened or unsafe, get out for sure. But if someone is scared, try your best to keep your cool.
I look forward to hearing back from you <3
