Communications: The Elective

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I am taking a communications elective.  In this class we have learned about asking the right questions, reflective listening, nonverbal skills, expressing empathy, giving feedback, conflict, euthanasia, medical errors, and talking to clients about money. Needless to say, these are all really important skills to have as a veterinarian, no matter what type of vet you become.

The assignments and labs in this class have been plentiful.  They have ranged from role playing to writing up feedback after watching a video to being filmed taking a history from an actor and then having to critique that video with a professor.  Being filmed was incredibly nerve racking.  When I walked out of the room afterwards, I felt like it was a train wreck. I kept going over all the mistakes I felt like I had made in my head.

 I recently got my video back, and it wasn’t bad.  There is definitely a lot of room for improvement, but I don’t think a client would think it was a weird interaction walking out of the room… you’ll have to tell me what you think.

http://vimeo.com/23411264

I am believable as a veterinarian, right?  For the record, that is a stuffed dog.  I was really tempted to ascultate it with my stethoscope and then exclaim that it was in cardiopulmonary arrest and start CPR, but I resisted the urge.  I think not taking it seriously might have reflected poorly on my grade. J

Electives!

At my school we are now in the period known as electives.  It is truly a breath of fresh air. The elective peroid is 6 weeks at the end of each semester (except your very first semester) where you get some choice in the classes you take. Not every school does it this way. In general everyone at our school really likes the format.

I am currently taking International Veterinary Medicine, Public Health, Small Mammal and Aquatic Medicine, Communications, Animal Welfare, and Emergency and Critical Care.  All of which are much more interesting than any of my required courses.  There are a lot of assignments and papers and some tests, but I also get some non-class time everyday.

During electives, classes are not 8 – 5 straight all day, every day.  Don’t get me wrong, I still have classes and lots of work to do - but I also have a little time to breathe.  I have been to the gym and seen my husband, which were both much needed for my mental health. 

I currently have 7 full days of school left. I can't wait to be able to put year one under my belt.

9/11/01 - 5/1/11

We were all in different places in our lives when the Twin Towers were attacked almost 10 years ago.  It created different life experiences, different losses for each of us.  There is an entire generation who doesn't really even have a meaningful recollection of what life was like before 9/11 - the war on terror has been going on half their lives.  Most of my vet school classmates were in middle school. Today someone told me that they didn’t even know what the twin towers were until they got hit by a plane- which is completely understandable since he was 12.

I don't condone celebrating death, but Osama's removal as a threat to the US is a good thing.  There has been so much criticism between people about how others were handling it, who gets credit, and what the appropriate reaction is.  We are again focusing on what divides us instead of what unites us. We are using this as an excuse to hate each other instead of a reason to unite and celebrate together.  People who don’t really remember 9/11 are telling those that were there that they can’t be happy to have some closure.  Focus on yourself; focus on doing the right thing; lead by example. 

Show compassion for your fellow man that may not have had the same experience you did. Let's focus on what we can agree on as Americans, instead of what divides us.   This is not the time to throw stones at each other.