Growing up, I attempted to hide the fact I was bilingual. In fact, I was annoyed with how people kept asking me to ‘say something in Vietnamese’ because obviously they wanted to learn the Vietnamese language! I eventually told everyone that I only knew English and that was that. No one dared to ask me again!! (I guess I was mean back in middle school…oh the awkward years!)

However, ever since I became involved in medicine, I have the utmost appreciation for multi-linguals. I have been in situations where I assisted with translating for the provider or was the [BLS] provider during EMS talking in Vietnamese with patients.I was a bridge between the patient and provider.

Recently, I put on a holter monitor (holter monitor: personal cardiac monitor to record heart rhythms that one wears for 24-48 hours) for an eighty-something year Vietnamese patient. She had her son with her (who spoke fairly decent English) where they greeted me with warm smiles and started speaking to me in Vietnamese. (Side note: A good number of patients guesses my ethnicity wrong which doesn’t really bother me! I was surprised this duo knew I was Vietnamese or maybe my they saw my last name on my ID — that’s a dead giveaway). I never shy away from using Vietnamese and I think it benefits me since patients seem to be more open and trustworthy of me. I gave the patient and her son instructions about the holter and let them on their merry way. This story is so near and dear to my heart is because I have taken my grandmother to her physician’s visits countless times and translated for her. I like to make anyone’s time at a doctor’s visit as easy as possible.

This patient interaction (along with many others) was a friendly reminder of why I want to go into medicine. Not to only improve patient’s health but to be an advocate for the patient and invest in a kind of relationship where patients and their family knows you are wanting to help them!

I love the fact that I know Vietnamese (and English!) and thank my parents endlessly for teaching me to speak it! Even though I I try to connect myself with non-English speaking patients since they have a hard time comprehending providers that use complex medical terms rather than layman’s terms. I wished I knew more languages! Quiero aprender espanol!! Slowly but surely!

Thanks for stopping by!!

xoxo,

Nhung

 

image taken from Google. 

…and he’s just like everyone else!

The boyfriend and I are both nontraditional, premed students (technically, he was a nontraditional premed and now an M1 #proudgirlfriend 🙂  )that met during a post bacc program. We have been dating for two years (!) now and fortunately, everything thus far seems doable.

I work at the teaching hospital in town where he goes to medical school and his classes are literally right next door. We see each other daily; before class/work where I usually scoop him up from his apartment, during lunchtime and after work where he picks me up since his class ends at noon most of the time (for the first year) — which is such a timesaver!
Catching the bus to where my car is parked takes AT LEAST 30 minutes. Oy vey.

We have nothing but respect for each other. When he has a test coming up, I usually like to give him some space and time so he can focus on his test. I’d make lunches for us that week since we all know every minute counts during crunch time! I confess, sometimes I bother him with motivational texts and surprise hugs! + coffee! + dinner if I’m still on campus. I think he likes that? I hope he does. lol.

He does the same for me. He knows when I need to spend time studying for the MCAT. He’ll give me space and says ‘hi’ during my study breaks. Sometimes we’ll study together 🙂

People always talk about how difficult dating a medical student is, but honestly, it is up to the two people in the relationship. The boyfriend and I have an open communication and I believe that’s what works for us. Don’t be so demanding of someone’s time when they’re trying to work on their career! (My relationship advice: If something is bothering you about your significant other, talk about it! Don’t bottle your feelings up just to let it explode later on!

I am applying this coming cycle and would love to stay in town but I have to be realistic about the possibility not getting into the same medical school. Nothing is guaranteed. We talked about our future  (where I might go to medical school, residency, fellowship, travel plans, babies?!, etc). We are committed to each other and willing to make it work. You just have to build a strong foundation and believe in one another.

Not a lot of people are fortunate as us to have a relationship so close, and I admire those who have long distance relationships. Stay strong, the end is all worth it!! (positive vibes!) Who knows, I might have a long distance relationship when I start school/if he lands a residency elsewhere!

I’d love to answer any questions related to dating, being a nontraditional premed, medical school application…or if you just like to chat! Comment down below or send me an email! sequinsandstethoscopes@gmail.com

Sidenote: I meant to say that the open communication is 99% true, the boyfriend has no clue that I started a blog! Hehe. So if you have any questions on his end, I will ask him randomly. He’ll just think I am being me since I am forever asking him random questions!

xoxo,

Nhung

p.s. This list. lol.

Match day is right around the corner, and so is commencement!! Congrats class of 2017!!

Here are a few things I’ve gathered from the internet that I recommend giving to soon-to-be residents and incoming medical students:

 

Stethoscope

What is a physician or medical student without a stethoscope? Stethoscope-less. #badjoke. Besides wanting a white coat, I think a good, quality stethoscope is the second item physicians-to-be dream about! Am I right or am I right? You can either go with a Littmann ~ $180 — bought one for my boyfriend for med school and he has not used it because he’s afraid of losing it! 😐 –, a StethoHope ~ $80 (the company donates a stethoscope each time a purchase is made to practitioners with limited resources! isn’t that amazing?! StethoHope, you are awesome!) or an EKO stethoscope for all you tech savvy people out there ~$300. I use Littmann at work and I can vouch for their quality! From the reviews of StethoHope and EKO on Instagram, I have heard nothing but positive reviews!!

Discount for StethoHope: use #Hope2017 for $10 off your purchase. 

Surgical caps

For anyone you know that is going into surgery that needs a cute cap to cover their hair during surgery! You can help them start their surgical cap collection by getting their first one! (Monogram with their initials to make it extra, extra special:) I have this one that I love (boyfriend bought for me!! and trust me, it’s monogrammed!), and this store has awesome designs!

Reels

We all know physicians and students have to carry their badges around with them everywhere!! Why not add a cute reel (or pin) to spice up their badge! Especially if they are going into a specialty. Conversation starter for all those single males and females physicians and physicians-to-be? (‘Hey, nice band-aid!’ ‘why thank you, it’s for fixing broken hearts!’) Love this, THIS, and this one too 🙂 This is such an inexpensive gift and the recipient will most likely love it!

scrubs

This gift is questionable since most hospitals provide scrubs for their employees but for medical students, it’s a great gift (esp during anatomy class!). Scrubs can get expensive so gifting one will help medical students be in less debt! Everything counts! I like how soft FIGS scrub look, IguanaMed has really cute ones and Maevn uniforms are giving out free scrubs this month (check them out on Instagram)! There are other brands you can check out on allheart !!

Discounts: (FIGS) 15% off FIGS when you sign up on their mailing list! (Allheart) Free shipping with allheart!

watch

I really enjoy wearing a watch. Not only do you look professional with your scrubs (or white coat!), you look stylish with a classic watch! That way when patients ask you for the time, you don’t have to pull out your phone! One of my 2017 resolution: Look at my phone less! I love, LOVE my Daniel Wellington watch! I have had it for a couple of years and still can’t get enough of it 🙂 I can do a review on it later if you’re interested!

crossbody bag

A good ‘throw-everything-in’ bag is necessary for residents and medical students when they’re on the run! I recommend a timbuk2 crossbody bag! They are built to last. I have had one for about 5 years and it’s still going strong. I use it for everything and plan on using it for medical school (hopefully, soon!). A more feminine bag for females would be a Longchamp le pilage! I currently use the Longchamp (mine’s a large) as my work bag! So easy to clean! Confession: I have at least 3 Longchamps! Hehe.

Discount: 10% off timbuk2 bags when you sign up for their emails!

water bottle

Many times, we forget to hydrate ourselves (let alone EAT!) when we are super busy! I recommend carrying a small water bottle around with you as a friendly reminder to hydrate! And who wouldn’t want to show off their cute bottle!

These are just a couple cute ideas I feel the recipients would love and use! I know I would. (I hope my boyfriend uses his stethoscope soon, though!)

xoxo,

Nhung

all opinions are my own. images were taken from Google.