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Thursday, March 26, 2009

Hello from a MS2 Spouse!

My name is Tasha and my husband is finishing up his second year of med school and the University of Nebraska Med Center. I'm graduating this semester from BYU and am excited to be done (but think I'll have a hard time finding a job with the recession and all). I did get accepted to PA school, but am thinking about becoming a mom...

I am very excited to have found this blog--lately I've been getting so mad at the hubby for not spending time with me (my love language is quality time, which is hard to do when he doesn't have any time), so it's nice to not feel so alone. A big question I have is which year(s) are the worst for med students/residents? I'd like to know what to expect and brace/prepare myself for the demands placed on him in the future.

The hubby is wanting to do rural family medicine and I am NOT a fan. I grew up in a city of 250,000 and just don't know what I would do without more options for being social, taking hobby classes, going shopping (I don't want Walmart to be the only store), etc. He hasn't done his rotations yet and I hope he changes his mind, but his class rank isn't the best so I'm afraid that he may be forced into it because of that (please let me know if there are other specialties that aren't crazy hard to get into that he could do). Can't wait to hear your responses!

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5 Comments:

Alexandra said...: Glad to have you here!
For us the first year of med-school was the hardest, second year wasn't that much different, at least we knew what to expect then. He had so much fun 3rd and 4th year, the stress level was much lower.

Tommy isn't the best student either, but he decided he wanted to do OB/GYN so that's what we worked towards and that's what we ended up getting! I think it's important to remember that everyone doesn't test well, but might do great when it comes to rotations.

I too would not want to live/work in a rural area, but sometimes you have to let go and let them do what makes them happy. I wouldn't ever let class rank though push me into a field that I didn't want to be in, so hopefully once rotations start, something will change his mind, so you wont only get to shop at Wally World! ;0); March 26, 2009 at 4:33 PM
Mrs. Dawkter said...: Just because he doesn't have the best class rank doesn't mean he is going to get stuck doing rural family medicine! Family medicine actually has the most diverse grades and test scores - so don't think people go into it because they can't do anything else! But if he does want to do family medicine perhaps you can compromise and not necessarily do RURAL? And there is a good possibility his favorite will change. We knew my hubs was going to be a surgeon, but before 3rd year he was leaning towards ortho and he has since changed his mind... so don't feel locked into his preference right now. And when it comes to his choice it will most likely be a family decision (it was in our house) because really although he will be the one doing it you are the one who has to LIVE with it. I'm thinking about posting about third year tonight - so hopefully that will be beneficial to you! Glad to meet you!

Marissa
marriedtoamedicalstudent.blogspot.com; March 26, 2009 at 4:59 PM
Hi, I'm Ginny said...: Hi Tasha -
I think you will find that what he wants to do might change quite a few times over the next year. A lot of students go in wanting to do one thing and come out wanting to do something totally different. Encourage him to do a lot of different rotations. There are so many good areas out there and family is one of them! For us there hasn't been a particularly bad "year" but we have had bad "months". The month or two before boards is very stressful and anytime around big test blocks. Each rotation has been different. Sometimes he gets done a 3PM and others he doesn't make it home until after I am asleep. You just have to learn to adapt, but also make him aware of your needs and concerns. Compromise is the key! Good luck!; March 26, 2009 at 5:54 PM
Melisa said...: Brad wanted to do Rural Medicine his first 2 years. I like small towns, so I was cool with that. It wasn't until his got his MBA between 2nd and 3rd years that he got a taste of ENT and fell in love. I would say don't worry about what it is he wants to do right now. It will most likely change as he tries different specialties.

I would say that residency has been a lot tougher than med school. Sure, they had to study in med school, but it was more or less voluntary. It isn't like a pager calling them away from a birthday party or something. 3rd and 4th years they love because they finally get their hands dirty, but even then the call hours are nothing compared to residency. People keep telling me that residency gets easier each year, but I'm still waiting to see that. ;o)

Brad didn't have the best grades, or highest scores, but he works really hard. Not everyone is a "test-taker". Hard work, dedication, relationships with co-workers and patients is all huge. Rotations are the time to show them what you got. It can make a huge difference. Brad got into a competitive field, with a fair bit of divine intervention, I might add. Rank doesn't determine everything. But I will also say this, loving the specialty he chooses is VERY important. There was such a difference in Brad after putting in a 15 hour day in a specialty he didn't like versus one he loved. Obviously you have a say in the matter, but be very considerate of the specialty he chooses or you may regret your insistence. Just a thought!; March 26, 2009 at 6:05 PM
Trisha said...: Ahhh, rural ain't so bad! :)

Some of us choose to do rural, not get stuck with it. There is such a need for it. And there's just something about raising your kids in a small town... maybe because I was a small town girl.

My husband started out the same way, family medicine in a small town. A couple weeks before fourth year, he pulled the 'now or never card' and switched to surgery because he loved it so much. Your husband will most likely change his mind several times before it's said and done!

As far as the tough years, first and second of school were for us... the studying was never-ending and Kyle just wanted to be in the hospital learning. And then this first year of residency puts those first years of med school to shame. They say it gets better... I'll believe it when I see it! :); March 26, 2009 at 6:12 PM

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Thursday, March 26, 2009

Hello from a MS2 Spouse!

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