The first week of clinics felt like a game of dress-up. I wore a white coat, but I didn't actually know
anything. I can't believe it's been roughly 5 months since that week. I've learned so much in that time frame. It's amazing how much real-life situations aid in retaining information. I know what drugs to administer during heart failure because I had a patient with heart failure. All of a sudden words that were written on a Powerpoint slide make sense. Spironolactone was just the name of a random drug. Now I know that it's an aldosterone antagonist and reduces cardiac remodeling. Yes, it's also a diuretic, but we don't care so much about that bit; that's what furosemide is for.
I could get used to this "working with animals" thing. Despite originally saying I didn't want to work with people, both pets and owners tend to be intriguing. After all, dogs can't bring themselves into the clinic. I had a Rottweiler a few days ago that wanted to rip my face off and eat it for breakfast. Fortunately he did not succeed. Those animals are out there, but the vast majority are more cooperative.
I don't feel like I'm putting on a show any longer. I have real knowledge, and even if I can't answer every single question on VetPrep correctly, I think I'm on my way (albeit along a very extensive road) to being the vet I always hoped I'd be.
