I am learning that primary care is a different world. Whereas I am used to the "exceptions to the rule" at work in the Peds Cardiac ICU at Duke where I take care of the sick-of-the-sick, it has been a very different experience to be in the community with so many healthy children. It has taken time to adjust to these vibrant and normal children while remembering that not every head ache is a brain tumor, not all children have a heart defect, and that irritable babies do not equate with meningitis.
My time in the clinic in Raleigh has shown me that although I'm running with a pack of horses, there are still zebras hidden within the group. It's my job to find them. Today brought an important lesson in that search, but thanks to my preceptor Gigi's high index of suspicion, we sent a zebra for an emergency surgery before any complications arose.
I've still got a lot to learn.
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