links for 2010-12-28
December 28th, 2010 
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Archive for December, 2010
Drugs…We Don’t Need No Stinkin Drugs!
December 28th, 2010 Comments(0)
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Please check out my latest post on “The Ink Blot” at Medscape/WebMD to read my mini-rant about doling out psychotropic medications. Don’t forget to take the poll!
Snow Day!
December 27th, 2010 Comments(3)
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“The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.”
- Robert Frost, “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening”
I woke up this morning and started getting ready for work. And then I remembered that it had been snowing heavily when I was drifting away to sleep during the night. I peeked out my window to see what looked like 2-4 feet of snow!
I confirmed via the internets that New York City had in fact nearly shut down entirely. Almost every subway and bus line was out of service. Cabs were virtually non-existent. Even opening up my front door would have been a challenge.
So, I notified the hospital that I would not be making it in today (they didn’t seem too surprised to hear the news) and I went back to sleep.
It feels like it’s been forever since I had a snow day! I remember how much I enjoyed them as a child. Piles of snow meant no school, chicken soup, sledding, and hot chocolate. Today it means no work, wet doggies, and catching up on errands. 
Cheers to snow!
Check out this awesome time lapse video of the blizzard last night!
December 2010 Blizzard Timelapse from Michael Black on Vimeo.
T’was the Night Before Christmas
December 24th, 2010 Comments(5)
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An adaptation by me. I spent my Christmas Eve in the psychiatric emergency room…
Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the emergency room
Not a creature was stirring, not even a loon.
The Haldol and Ativan were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that Dr. Campbell soon would be there.The patients were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of discharges danced in their heads.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my furry cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.
It’s obviously been a long week for me….
I can’t help but feel even more empathy towards the patients I saw and treated today. I can’t even begin to comprehend what it would be like to be locked up in a psychiatric emergency room on Christmas eve…
To all of my patients, to all of my friends and family, to the world…I wish you all a very merry Christmas.
Happy holidays, and good night!
Photo: Dogsitting, “I’m a squirrel watcher..I’m a squirrel watcher…watching squirrels go by…”
How Bizarre
December 22nd, 2010 Comments(0)
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Please check out my latest post on “The Ink Blot” at Medscape/WebMD to read about the bizarre world, which I live in.
The Best Christmas Present, EVER!
December 19th, 2010 Comments(2)
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I just got home from a long day on call in the CPEP (psychiatric ER). I’m tired, hungry, and lacking in “holiday spirit.” I came home tonight to the best present a girl could ask for. I have to work on Christmas Eve, and am unable to visit my family for Christmas festivities.
Today, my partner Micah and my friend Chris provided me with a super-duper surprise.
I came home from the hospital to find a house decorated with Christmas lights and a brand new, fabulous, decorated, shiny Christmas tree!!
This was life altering. Really, this made my entire year!
Time for food and then beddy bye.
Thank you Micah and Chris! When you can’t bring Kendra to Christmas, I guess you have to bring Christmas to Kendra!
Ask the Right Questions
December 14th, 2010 Comments(0)
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Please check out my latest post on “The Ink Blot” at Medscape/WebMD to read my thoughts on asking patients questions.
Not Enough Hours in the Day
December 13th, 2010 Comments(1)
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Please excuse me while I verbally relieve myself for a moment. But, as always, this blog is various things, and although I probably shouldn’t use it for my personal soap box or venue to vent my emotions, I do. So there.
I truly enjoyed my vacation, but as I mentioned in my previous post, since I was so busy having fun, I neglected my “activities of daily living.”
I came home today and was immediately overwhelmed by the number of things I needed to do.
The most prominent item on my list was clearing out my email inbox. When did replying to emails become a task to dread? I’ve realized I spend (perhaps too much?) time replying to emails. While I do spend many hours at my computer, I think it is sometimes time well spent. But how to find a good balance?
I also have a problem saying no, and I have overextended myself a bit in the world of residency related items. I’m currently on a website upgrade committee, trying to write a journal article for one attending, working on a case write-up for another journal, and preparing a presentation for a national meeting, amongst other things…
In addition to all of the above items, I have a bunch of other items on my plate, which require my attention, such as fixing my slow draining bathtub, writing thank you notes, and obtaining a white coat for my upcoming medicine and neurology rotations.
Speaking of, if I am having this much difficulty keeping my head above water during my psychiatry rotation, how the heck am I going to survive beginning in January, when my hospital hours will likely double?
The question that I’ve been asking myself today is, since there are never enough hours in the day to complete all of my tasks, where should I skimp? Should I sacrifice my sleep? My runs? My sanity? Because those are the three items that I seem to have difficulty sacrificing…
I really need to start coming up with some solutions.
As I always say, life is about finding a balance. And right now I need to find mine. Time to eat. I’ve should really stop sacrificing that. And then time to check off a few more items from my infamous “to do” list…..
Addendum: Right before publishing this post I took a break and looked out the window. It’s snowing! That certainly helps bring some good perspective…
Photos: 1) The psychiatry residents’ “on call bed.” 2) Shoes hanging in Brooklyn. 3) A nice mural in Crown Heights, Brooklyn.
This is the End
December 12th, 2010 Comments(1)
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Today was the end of my one week vacation. I was on call today in the CPEP and it was sort of a rude awakening end to all of the fun. I really enjoyed visiting two sets of parents and family, as well as hanging out with my friends. However, one of the downsides to taking a traveling vacation versus a “staycation” is that I am currently dreadfully behind on my “to do” list.
I have one trillion emails to reply to, and a whole slew of other things to take care of. But I have to get up early tomorrow to go back to my inpatient psychiatry rotation. And it’s already late and past my bedtime. But I’m sure that I will eventually catch up on my errands. And although it did suck to go back to work today, I do love my job, and I absolutely love psychiatry.
If I owe you an email or card or phone call, please know that I will eventually catch up and respond! My apologies for my absence.
This is the end of my vacation. Back to reality!
Photo: Me, Emily, and Chris on Chris’s 30th birthday celebration night last Saturday.