Barbarian Comparison and Blood Rounds

Ancient tribes used to take souvenirs from their conquered enemies, like scalps, teeth, bones and all that. Doctors and medical students are similar. Given, we don't take them from our victims, but they still mince around with countless artifacts draped off their person that signify their abilities. The stethoscope around the neck, demonstrating at least a basic ability to listen to the lungs and heart. The tourniquet around the belt or mini-bag, to signify an ability to tease blood out of someone's arm. The tape (to tape gauze to puncture wounds) around the arms of the stethoscope to labour the point. The bleep on the belt, to signify being needed on occasion for an opinion (hence I don't have one). X-ray request forms in a clasp of the bleep to signify busyness and an ability to request special tests. The ID badge around the neck, the finishing touch, which on closer inspection could read anything from "consultant", to "medical student". The final product is a professional who resembles too much a Christmas tree of paraphernalia to possibility save any lives. You don't half look cool though.
God knows how I did it but I got up earlier than I could have this morning, at 7am. I had to get in to the hospital for 8.15am, for an interview with a researcher about the possibility of me working with him next year for my fourth year project. As it turned out, he quickly put me off by insisting that the research had no implications for treatment and no patient contact, like it was a good thing. And then he made me feel extra guilty for not choosing to take an extra year to intercalate (do a BSc in one year, next year). I don't see the point, and it doesn't fit with my career path at all, but I still left feeling like a naughty schoolboy. I decided that I want a clinical project, where I get to meet people who aren't total nerds and might even do some good. Personally, I think the whole fourth year project is a bit of a strange idea, a waste of a good 6 months in some respects.
As soon as I made it back to the ward after the interview, I was lumbered with a stack of blood request forms and a tray of needles. I christened it "blood rounds", and set off with one of my mates to conquer the ward. We took it in turns, and on my turns, I generally took my time, but got the goods in the end. Towards the end I missed a lot, and once I even mistook a tendon for a vein, and felt like a moron, but hey, it's the kind of mistake that only happens once.
After lunch I went to another interview, but there turned out to be a whole room of people hoping for the same research spot. And guess what, the doctor gave massive preference to those with a BSc. I hate the fact that just because I want to actually get onto a ward and see patients, and not waste another year of my life in a lab measuring some tiny fractions of meaningless factors, I'm treated as a second class student.
Did some other menial jobs for the first time, like requesting an echo, and bleeping the fast-collect specimen guys.
I'm onto the JD already this evening, waiting for my girlfriend to get here on the train from France, for the weekend. Then we'll be off to the Poker Nite at the student union, the first event since my tenure as president ran out in December. Let's gamble!