Don't act like you're too good for scut work!

"Scut" doesn't even exist in my vocabulary and it's kind of dumb when med students are get all uppity about having to do things for their superiors. 


First thing:
Yes, I go do EKGs, I go run specimens to the lab, and I don't complain, but I enjoy it.  I enjoy it because it means someone's getting their care and that we're getting closer to a diagnosis, a treatment, or a discharge even.  It means having the chance to learn a little more about a procedure or test, it means having the chance to go say hi to a patient and check up on them.  


I'm trying to be better about volunteering to do things since I'm pretty introverted, but the environment I'm in is pretty conducive to putting yourself out there.  It's also just something you're supposed to do in medicine.


Also, the interns and residents and upper levels and attendings have so much to do, and if a patient doesn't get seen or a decision isn't made by them, people are harmed.  If you, as a med student don't see a patient, it's no big deal.  See the difference?


I think if I were told to like go scrub a floor or arrange a bunch of research articles in alphabetical order I feel like I wouldn't be helping a lot, but doing little things for your team like getting that study or making that page/call really helps the team.


And if you think it doesn't help: imagine what would happen if that study hadn't been done, if the patient didn't get the consult they needed: things would fall apart and people really would notice!


It's likely to gain you privileges too, like going to go see more procedures maybe even do some yourself!  It will let your team trust you more and you'll get to help them in some really palpable ways.  


Anyway, good luck!