How to...

I've recently become convinced that youtube can teach me how to do pretty much anything.

Last fall, my preceptor* offered to let me give a flu shot to a patient. I had never done this before or been taught how to do it. Apparently I asked too many questions, because he was the one who ended up giving the shot (probably much to the relief of the patient). Naturally, I went and looked up how to administer a flu shot on youtube. I watched a few videos and learned a lot not only about flu vaccinations but injections in general. The next week my preceptor sort of laughed when I reported that I was now ready to give a shot. He found the idea of getting your medical training on youtube humorous. I thought, "not a bad idea, ...cheaper too."

The NAPA employee who sold me a headlight bulb a few months ago also didn't seem to believe in my youtube strategy. As he was installing if for me (out of the goodness of his heart, and for which I am very grateful), I told him that my alternative plan was to look it up on youtube. He laughed- which actually was the response I was going for this time. (Might as well make a few jokes while playing the damsel in distress card.) But then I started considering... maybe youtube does hold the answer. Curiosity got the best of me, and I looked it up later that week. I found the perfect "how to change a headlight" for my make and model. Although I think it would have taken me two hours instead of the 5 minutes it took the NAPA guy, I am pretty confident I could have replaced my own headlight bulb.

And I kid you not, just yesterday, we watched how to auscultate the heart and more youtube videos in our Intro to Clinical Medicine class. YES! I am not the only one being swayed. Others are discovering that youtube is not only a source of fun, but also a powerful educational tool!

As always, tools are most helpful when you know how to use them. Here's some practices I plan to adhere to, especially in regards to my "youtube medical education." (This is mostly to reassure you medical students aren't running rampant these days doing risky procedures on their own.)

1) Look at more than one video! Individual videos leave out information. You'll have to put the pieces together and expect even then it's possible you don't have all the details.

2) Going along with the first one, know your limits. Some "how to's" need to be supervised by an expert. I won't be practicing my first central line on my friend in my apartment. If you want to let me listen to your heart though, come on over- PLEASE! I need the practice. (I can also look in your ears, nose, eyeballs, mouth, palpate for organs in your abdomen, etc...)

3) Don't let the search for the perfect video take up too much time. Take what you can get and remember there are other sources out there- you may have to read them. I'm also paying the big bucks for access to the experts.

4) Have fun!

Here's some other "how to's" I've youtubed lately (and their disclaimers).

- how to put in a central line (was really fun to watch as I was learning the anatomy of the neck; I am terrified that I will be doing this procedure on a live human someday)

- how to dougie (unfortunately, while you do learn a new move, it does not improve your innate dancing ability- I tried. Found this gem when I was looking for the central line video and it made for a nice study break.)

- how to deliver a baby (classic- a midwife giving the instructions from a taxi cab; the most useful one was potentially too graphic for some viewers- you are welcome to look it up).

So the next time it seems like you should be able to do something yourself and you just need a quick "how to," give youtube a try. Don't be ashamed of the holes in you personal knowledge. I've learned people are looking up quite the variety these days. When I type in "how to" these are the top ten items on the scroll down menu.

how to kiss

how to dougie (and how I discovered what "doug-ie-ing" was)

how to get a sixpack in three minutes

how to make a paper gun than shoots

how to be ninja

how to tie a tie

how to be gangster

how to save a life (of course I clicked on this one... it's really just The Fray song)

how to make money on the web

how to be emo

Like I said, just about anything.

*preceptor = another word that medicine uses to confuse people. Here's what I've gathered about it: medical mentor, teacher, master. Every week I go to my preceptorship, like an internship, a more formal job shadow, a time of supervised learning.

Charmed

Last week a friend asked me how I liked living in Spokane with that sort of snark that indicated he doesn’t think so highly of the city. To be honest, I also was not very impressed when my brother moved here three years ago. Since then, I’ve warmed up to it though. Chalk it up to looking on the bright side, being highly adaptable or just being easily pleased, but somehow I end up appreciating the town or city where I live. I think home just has a way of charming me. So Spokane, here’s some things I’ve grown to love about you.

• I love your river and my proximity to it. Whether it is a quick study break to gaze at the water from the bridge by school, running along Centennial trail on Upriver Dr., or enjoying Riverfront Park, you’re my little “get-away.”
• Locally-owned coffee shops: the Rocket, Madeline’s, Rockwood Bakery, Sharpe Coffee House :)
• Jimmy John's sandwiches- yum yum
• Laying in Manito Park in the sunshine
• There's refugees here [more on this later]
• The view of the city from the 5th floor conference room where I had my original UW interview and where I sneak up to to study (only after 5 though- it really is a sneak)

(My little sitting spot- a five-minute walk from my house. Usually at some point during my thinking time, I dream up what this building is, what it was, or what it could be...any ideas?)

And just for fun... here's a little taste of what I've appreciated about my previous hometowns too. Chances are we've lived together in at least one of these three places.

Cheney

• I lived so close to Safeway and Starbucks, it was quicker to walk than drive. AND I felt so green walking my groceries home in my reusable bags
• For some reason, I always liked going to the post office
• Spring concerts on campus in the sunshine
• Sitting in my chair in front of the low window in our apartment with a view of the "wetlands"
• Bobby Ulrich's PERFECT lawn ...but mostly the two little boys who would play on it with me
• The out-skirts-of-town running trails I didn't discover until spring

Pullman

• Ferdinand's, Ferdinand's ice cream, the 2-foot by 3-foot story book about Ferdinand the cow in the viewing room, Ferdinand's grabbers... you get the idea
• Indoor running track at the REC
• Sella's calzones
• Creme de Menthe mocha cremice by Hillside (thanks Allyssa for the introduction freshmen year)
• Lookout points: top of the library, hill with the Planetarium on Olympia Ave., 12th floor of Webster (one of the plus sides to all those hills!)
• The Daily Grind

The Latest Greatest

Lately my ipod has been stuck on "Forgiven and Loved" by Jimmy Needham.

It's on repeat mostly out of necessity.

For most of the new year I've been in a funk- life being easily sucked out of me, thinking things like "I'm just not good enough, smart enough, disciplined enough, loving enough" (you get the idea), and in general just not feeling fully like myself. Somehow hearing a little Gospel truth embedded in music helps it infiltrate into my life on a little deeper level. This one helps breath a little life into me with lyrics like this:

"Oh, he died, he died to rectify my hopeless situation

and his blood commands my guilt to leave

Now on Calvary I stand, empty pockets open hands

Oh, there is no condemnation for me"

And the song ends simply repeating the words "child, you're forgiven and loved."

Hmm, good for the soul. For the full effect, I hope you'll take a listen.

And just for fun, here's a few of "the latest greatests" that have run their course at some point in the last 6 months or so. Some like "Forgiven and Loved" provided a refreshing dose of Gospel truth that hit me at the time, some expressed the emotion of my heart, and some just have a catchy beat.

John Meyer - Half of My Heart

Tyrone Wells - Happy As The Sun

Dave Barnes - Carry Me Through

Smokie Norfil - I Understand

Train - If It's Love

Shawn McDonald - Free

Bing Crosby - A Marshmallow World

(a little Christmas indulgence)

What's on repeat in your life... on your ipod, or in your head? Is it bringing you life?

Here Goes Nothing

Almost a year ago I had this crazy idea that I wanted to start a blog.

Time went on... this idea became less crazy... I had a start date... I missed the start date... I opened a word document called "blog practice"... I wrote down ideas in the document and even some full posts... I didn't post them. You see, writing has never been a strength of mine, or even a joy for that matter. Along with the typical proKAStinating, I wondered if my writing could be worth posting online. Yet, it seems as though blogs are increasingly a way to stay connected- a way that I no longer want to miss out on. So here it is. I'm getting over my aspirations to have the perfect blog with eloquent writing and frequent posts to simply have a blog. Why this unnatural endeavor to publically document my life experiences? I hope it will help me continue relationships with people who have lived life with me- those who have supported me, worked alongside me, cried with me, laughed with me, led me, followed me, loved me. Chances are you are one of these people. This is my attempt to give you a window into my world. I hope you will peer in from time to time and also share a glimpse of yours.

ps. snapshot of the day- I held a brain... cool, huh?