| << MEDICAL STUDENT >>
Someone who has received a bachelor's degree and entered a four-year
graduate program (medical school). Usually, the first two years of medical
school are spent in the classroom, and the final two years are spent in a
clinical setting where the student can experience more hands-on learning.
A medical student is a doctor in training. A license to practice medicine
requires graduating from medical school and serving an additional year as
an intern in a teaching hospital. John Carter was a third-year medical
student in the show's first season. He returned the second season as a
fourth-year medical student doing a surgical sub-internship (sub-I), which
is a more intensive training program that functions something like an
audition prior to entering an internship.
<< INTERN >> An intern
is someone who has received an M.D. and is continuing to study in the
hospital setting during his or her first year out of medical school. An
intern is licensed to practice medicine only within the hospital and can
write prescriptions. It is possible to leave the hospital after a year and
go into private practice, but most doctors choose to continue their
education as residents. Theoretically speaking, an intern fills the slot
that might otherwise be labeled "first-year resident." John
Carter became surgical intern Dr. John Carter in the third season of
"ER." In the fourth season, Dr. Carter was an emergency medicine
intern, having switched over from surgery. Dr. Corday stepped back to
become an intern once again in season five in order to remain at County
General.
<< RESIDENT >> The
hospital residency program begins with the rank of second-year resident
and involves specialized training in areas such as surgery, pediatrics,
internal medicine and psychiatry. Residencies last from two to six years,
depending on the specialty. The first season, Dr. Peter Benton was a
second-year surgical resident, and Dr. Mark Greene was a fourth-year
emergency medicine resident and chief resident of the emergency room. In
season two, Benton returned as a third-year resident; Greene was promoted
to attending physician. In season three, Benton continued as a fourth-year
resident. In season four, Benton was a fifth-year resident.
<< CHIEF RESIDENT >> A
doctor in his or her senior year of residency who assumes responsibility
for overseeing interns and junior residents. The chief resident is
selected by attendings, and the title is considered a prestigious honor.
Dr. Mark Greene was chief resident of the emergency room in season one;
Dr. Kerry Weaver was chief resident of the emergency room in season two.
<< FELLOWSHIP >>
Fellowships follow a residency, though many doctors choose not to do them.
Fellowships are sought by doctors who want to specialize in areas such as
endocrinology, gastroenterology or cardiology. Dr. Peter Benton was a
fellow in trauma surgery, which means that he spent six years in a surgery
residency, became a full-fledged surgeon and decided to go back for
further training in trauma surgery in order to work as a trauma surgeon in
an emergency room setting.
<< ATTENDING PHYSICIAN >>
Someone who has completed all medical training and received privileges
(that is, they are allowed to practice medicine) at a hospital. An
attending physician is also responsible for supervising residents and
medical students. The buck--professionally, legally and ethically--stops
here. Dr. Greene became an attending physician in the second season of
"ER"; Dr. Weaver became an attending in season three. They both
continue to hold those positions. Dr. Corday and Dr. Romano are surgery
attendings.
<< REGISTERED NURSE (RN) >>
Someone who has attended nursing school, typically for four years, and
received a degree in nursing. Registered nurses provide care to patients
based on orders written by doctors.
<< PARAMEDIC >>
ndividuals, often firefighters, trained in advanced life support, who
transport patients by ambulance to the emergency room. Paramedics may give
certain medications en route to the hospital with approval from a
physician. |
