It’s almost crazy to think that I only have one more quarter left of hospital rotations in the Health Science Clinical program. Even though I’ve been rotating through hospitals for about nine weeks, it feels like so much longer because of the amount of incredible experiences I’ve had.

I still have three more hospitals to rotate through, but I wanted to take a moment to reflect on how the last quarter has been.

So far, I’ve already been to three hospitals and are currently at our fourth. We’ve seen a variety of hospital sizes, from small community centers to large medical facilities. At first, I was most excited about the bigger hospitals because they tend to be busier, meaning more opportunities to see new things and gain hands-on experience. However, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the smaller hospitals. Since they weren’t always as busy as the larger hospitals, I had more chances to interact with patients and really get to know them.

As for the different sites and departments I visited, my favorites were the ones where I had the most patient interaction, like the Intensive Care Units (ICUs) and Post-Anesthesia Care Units (PACUs). A lot of people don’t enjoy these areas because they’re considered “slower” and less exciting, but I actually loved them. When I wasn’t actively helping with patient care, I used the time to make small talk with patients and chat with the nurses, which made the experience more meaningful.

I also really enjoyed my time at the fire station and going on emergency calls. The fast-paced, high-adrenaline environment was completely different from hospital rotations, and it gave me a non-hospital centered perspective on patient care.

Surprisingly, I didn’t enjoy the postpartum units as much as I expected. This is where mothers go to recover after giving birth, and while I thought it would be a heartwarming experience, I found it to be quieter and more somber. A lot of the families were still adjusting to the huge life change, and the atmosphere felt less lively than I anticipated.

I am so grateful for each experience I’ve had as they have given me so much more exposure to the medical field. With three more hospitals left to go, I’m excited to see what’s next and how these experiences will continue to shape my journey in the medical field.