Today was fairly slow so I had some time to talk with the residents about what it takes to be a doctor here in Nicaragua.
Step 1: Finish secondary school and then go to university where you will complete 1 year of general studies. After this year you take a test to see how smart you are. If you do well on this test, you can have your choice of career.
Step 2: Five years of medical school learning mostly basic science.
Step 3: Intern year. This is more like our clinical years in medical school. You spend 2.5 months in each of the core specialties like surgery, OB/GYN, internal medicine, pediatrics.
Step 4: After intern year everyone is required to do 2 years of social services where they work as general practitioners in rural communities throughout Nicaragua.
Step 5: Complete an exam to enter residency. Or stop. A lot of people are general practitioners. There aren't very many residency programs or teaching hospitals here so a lot of people will just stop at this point.
Step 6: If you're lucky enough to get a spot you can enter residency, which is 3 years for all specialties. While you are in residency you take call every 4th night... for all three years. Rotations are about 2 months long. Residents get three weeks of vacation per year in addition to multiple national holidays.
So... sounds pretty similar to what we go through. Speaking of national holidays, there is one tomorrow so no work for this girl :)
Below is a picture of my novio who was discharged today. Sad face.
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