Endless consults and what's next!

Today was a busy busy day. Every year, about this (exact) time, the medical school interns graduate. This means we get a new batch...and they are all so excited and anxious and ready to change the world of medicine. But, this means that I'm getting consults for some rather interesting things. Such as a patient vomited after a feeding, when in reality, after speaking with parents, it was normal spit-up. Or that a patient had decreased intake a day before being admitted to the hospital, when in fact they had meningitis.


After looking back at the internship, if I could offer any advice to future interns and/or students...is to not lose sight of the basics of nutrition. Like serious basics. I'll take it back to the beginning. We have a new dietetic technician (DT) at the hospital who is new, younger, and has a good nutrition background. The DT's at the hospital are the ones responsible for inputting the calorie count information, computing the total calories and protein consumed, then relaying that information to the proper RD.


I got a page regarding one my 5 year old patient who is admitted for a bone marrow transplant, saying that she ate 320 calories and 90g of protein. Before you think that it's weird for a 5 year old girl to consume 90g of protein (which is a) true, b) more protein than I consume), what's the first thing that's wrong with this picture. It's so easy that it's difficult to see...


4 calories per 1 g protein. The most nutrition math out there. 90g protein = 360 calories. Not to mention the patient had only consumed 4 rolls with butter, 3 Andes mints, a handful of Goldfish crackers, and a candy necklace. I know, I know. I might just be ranting here. But it's the basic knowledge, but when it becomes a deciding factor if a patient needs to be put on TPN (which brings a wide variety of risks and possible complications), it makes a big difference. 


Whew! Off my soapbox.




So what's next in store for me? Well, since I ranted a bit above, I suppose I'll just make an easy list:

• Graduate on Friday!
• Celebrate my birthday with family and friends on July 4 (yes, that's really my birthday!)
• Start my new job on Monday, where I am now, filling in for RD's who go on vacation
• Summer bucket list
• Skydive
• Run/train this summer for the Chicago Half-Marathon
• Buy a new wardrobe (I still wear clothes from middle school!)
• ...more to come later J

Well, here it comes...1 full day left! Yayyyy!