Leaving my comfort zone

Today is my last day as a surgical intern. It's a scary thought.

For the last 10 weeks, I've learned the ropes of how to manage a surgical patient on the wards. I've become comfortable making decisions on my own. Now, I will be taken from the safety of the surgical ward and plunged into a world of shortness of breath and chest pain.

I will become a medical intern.

It's a scary thought. As a surgical intern, my responsibilities are limited:
1. Control pain
2. Stop the patient from vomiting
3. Make sure patients poo
4. Minimise infections

I can do those things. I know what to do. As a medical intern, I will have to deal with a myriad of diseases and drug interactions. Things will be less simple. Surgical patients come in, get whatever problem is causing them gried fixed, and go on home. Medical patients come to hospital because something complicated has happened to upset the balance of care.

Things will no longer be in black and white. But I'm ready. *gulp* I hope.