Hi I’m Lacey, medical student,
student doctor?
Just Lacey.
Can I ask you some questions
before the doctor comes in?
I ask some questions.
The doctor comes in.
Does she have nausea?
I didn’t ask that.
Does she have headaches?
I didn’t ask that.
Does she have chest pain?
I didn’t ask that, I didn’t ask that,
I didn’t ask
that.
Hi I’m Lacey,
the med student watching
your case today.
How are you feeling?
You’re scared?
So am I, sir,
so am I.
For the first time in my life
I wash the hairs on my elbows.
(Who knew there
were hairs there?)
I suck the smoke, I almost poke
a hole in my hand.
Hi I’m Lacey,
part of the team taking care of you.
Third string, backup reserve,
hardly know how to play
this game,
but part of the team, nonetheless,
I guess.
We’re going to run some tests,
based on what you told me.
(So I hope I asked the right
questions.)
How many tests?
I don’t know.
Will it hurt?
I don’t know.
Can I eat at least?
I don’t know,
I can ask.
Hi I’m Lacey,
just the student.
Sorry to bother you.
What brings you in?
You hate yourself?
Sometimes
I do too, ma’am,
I do too.
Underprepared,
over your head,
over the feeling
of feeling
like shit?
Oh sorry,
I guess
that’s countertransference.
At least I know what
that is.
Hi I’m Lacey,
the MS3 in
OR 12 today.
Sure, I can grab a gown.
Scrub, suction, suture, stand
out of the way.
Hemostasis achieved,
relieved,
Steri strip
don’t trip
on the bovie cord.
The monitors beep and
I start to
catch the rhythm.
Hi I’m Lacey,
May I come in?
I’m sorry to
hear you’re not
feeling well.
Can I ask you
some questions?
Are you nauseous?
Little bit.
Having headaches?
Here and there.
Any chest pain?
Not today.
Okay thanks
for your time.
We’ll start with labs,
just routine,
and yes, I’ll bring
some saltines.
Anything else before I go?
Who am I again?
Sure,
I’m Lacey, medical student,
student doctor,
Doctor Serletti,
someday,
soon.
Lacey Serletti is an MS3 at the Perelman School of Medicine.
Image by Tracy Du, an MS1 at the Perelman School of Medicine.
