bombastic side eye

i'm a nurse and one of the best parts is the relationship formed with interns! it feels great to be able to teach someone so accomplished, but also watch them blossom and become attendings as they impart their own knowledge onto me. it's wonderful :-)

As the daughter of a retired wound care nurse, I'm always happy to hear a doctor shout out the nurses! My mom has dealt with both positive and negative attitudes in the past with certain doctors, and she was always quick to praise the ones who didn't talk down to her or were cooperative and kind to her and the other nurses.

Don't worry about your life going by and being stuck in a hospital, because that's not true. I come from a family of doctors, and have a lot of family friends who are doctors, and yes, residency is hard, but they all said that once you get past it, you're free. They all go on vacation and spend tons of time with friends and family. As long as you love helping people, you'll survive. My grandpa told me that if he didn't love treating people, he wouldn't have survived med school.

I had a stalker once who cornered me in a parking lot and tried to choke me out because I refused to go out with him, thank god someone walked by and he stopped and I got away. I went to the cops and they said I have to have it on video or he needs to be on my property. Seriously ! I have to do the leg work and there's nothing they can do until he actually does something or is on my property? I'd be long dead if it was left up to the cops. I ended up taking matters into my own hands and sent a few certain motorcycle members to show up at his door and advise him it would be in his best interest to leave me alone. He stopped after that and I moved away where he wouldn't find me. I know this is extreme and I don't want to frighten you any more than you already are but always be aware of your surroundings and carry something to protect yourself. Keep living your best life and have faith that those hard days at work are just a reminder that everything worthwhile is never easy. Focus on how wonderful the really good days are and they will keep you moving forward into the next day, week and month. Before you know it residency will be over and you'll wonder where the time went. Sending much love and support.

Thank you for shouting out the nurses! I was a nurse and now I’m a second year medical student. I think my journey will make me appreciate my nurses so much more when I’m a resident because I was once one of them. Great video as usual!

you’re so strong for making it through med school with a stalker

Rachel I had the same OB/gyn for all 5 of my pregnancies and she literally became my best friend. I trusted her immensely and I loved the personal touch she gave me and I’m sure everyone felt that they were her favorite patient. I know your patients are going to feel the same way about you!!! Stay strong -you can do this!

I can't believe how many lifeless people there are for stalkers to be this many. Hope nothing crazy, and you could deal with it.😢

You’re such a beautiful soul, that stalker person is absolutely awful… You are incredibly strong for living through that horrible experience while in med school and still continue vlogging - that takes courage! Have a great day Rachel🤍

rooting for you! Remember, residency is just temporary, so was med school and undergrad, and it will pass. It will be worth it though eventually!

You and I started medical school in the same year and I just wanted to say that every once in a while I come across your videos and they make me feel a bit more seen. This process is awful, and sometimes (infrequently) amazing, and your videos help bring light to it. You feel and show all the emotions that I cycle through on a daily basis and although I could never put my life out there like you do, I appreciate you for doing it

Please take care of yourself. Take steps to ensure your physical safety.. learn self-defense and arm yourself with whatever you feel comfortable carrying. You inspire so many of us and your videos make a huge difference, but it's not worth risking your life.

Love the authenticity of your video

Such a great watch! We're rooting for you!

Rachel, thanks for the update and the time you put into editing. Special with the film in the background. greetings from the Netherlands

Yeeee! Very excited for Q and A. Also love all your sit down videos, being able to hear ur thought processes and see other side of you:) 😙😙😚😊

I so admire you on so many different levels!!! Another bang up video!!!

I love watching your videos so much, and you are doing great! Keep up the great work! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

I have so much respect for you, Rachel! Just know that all of your followers are rooting for you through this residence journey❤ you got this!

I'm proud of you, Rachel!

Keep up the good work, and try to enjoy the little bit of time you get to yourself. Sometimes those little moments of peace are just enough to get you through the next day. Take care, we’re all rooting for you! You’re a good egg!

I really appreciate your honesty when it comes to the challenges of being a doctor.

I’m in my sencond semester of nursing school and will be starting my OB clinicals soon… it’s so nice to hear you talk about nurses like that and getting an insight of how the floor is ran. You’re awesome, keep doing what you’re doing! 🎉😊

you are so amazing and i'm only a teenager but you really do inspire me to go into the medical field (specifically ob/gyn) because that's honestly what i've always wanted to do. you're transparency is so appreciated and your content is so helpful to so many people. keep doing what you're doing, you got this

Thank you for being so raw on your channel. I’m a resident too whose mental health is struggling and it’s nice to know I’m not the only one because a lot of other med resident KZfaq channels make everything seem so glamorous and perfect. Also ur so prettyyy

I love the way you speak about the nurses 🥰 we are all a team!! As a Peds ER nurse at a large teaching hospital… I’ve learned so much from our residents and I can only hope they’ve learned from me too :) keep killing it!!

I'm an OBGYN resident in Canada and can relate to the rollercoaster of emotions you described. I have had periods of seriously feeling like quitting lol but it gets so much better as your skills develop. Thanks for posting!

U are the best Rachel ! These kind of hard specialities are made for u💟👍🏻⭐

I just found your channel this evening and have binged. I was a sick teenager and am still dealing with a chronic brain disease at age 26. I've always been interested in medicine specifically after my rare diagnosis (Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension). I recently gave birth to my daughter via C-section and became so interested in OBGYN during my pregnancy. I am a sponge by nature when I'm interested in something. I previously looked into CNA schooling but am currently interested in OB sonography. Thanks for putting yourself out there like this. I'm glad I found your videos.

Love your channel!!💕💕

I know that I can't relate to the rigors of residency, but 11:46-12:12 I FELT THAT!!! Using time to groom yourself and clean and just ground yourself in the moment is SO important. I feel weird most times that I'm 25 years old and clipping my cuticles is a stress reliever. But it's the little things! Keep going

Totally with u on the nurse thing. A smart resident builds good working/learning relationships. And the overestimate factor is true. I went to nursing school and loved my job. But people pushed me to keep going. First year med school was educational in u get an overview and understand quickly who really spends time with the patients. So I stuck with the ER and had a wonderful 37 years. Although virology will forever etched into my brain.

I can relate to how you're feeling so much! I'm an intern in Mexico and all the time we spend at the hospital (over 80 hours a week) is insane! 🥺 Sometimes I just feel exhausted and sadly, I don't enjoy my rotations so much because of that.

Seriously love you so much!

Awh rachel it hurts to hear you’re still struggling. Your life is not going to fly by though. You can go part time, start your own practice, go on contract, etc, you have so many options. These next four years are going to be tough but humans are adaptable! Before you know it you’re not going to feel this huge change anymore. Sending you warm hugs 💗🫶

Thank you for sharing your experiences! Those of us that have been following you for awhile want so much for you to be safe and happy as we cheer you from a far!! A FAR!! Wayyyy A FAR! If you cannot handle that everyone, go elsewhere. Virtual hugs from Florida, Dr. Southard!

You are the best! Sending hugs.

Take care of yourself and stay safe!! Stalkers are really crazy scary. For a while, I worked at a very small college where a stalker transferred to that school because the young woman he was stalking had transferred there the semester before. It got bad enough that staff members and security escorted her from class to class or class to car. She had an escort of trusted people whenever she had to visit the library or attend a required campus function. I hate to say it: take care and watch your back!!

It will get better !! Thanks for including us in your life by sharing this video! Stalkers are weak, powerless individuals hiding behind the mask. 💝have a great week💝

We owe so much to the MD's who take on this load every day and do a great job of it.........

Great video!!! Love you! ❤

Love your Q&A videos! Can you do a quick what's in my bag for your next vlog? I would love to see what you consider to be your residency essentials!

Feeling so much of this recently, it was really nice to hear that its more normal than I thought. It's so funny how before med school I really thought that I was the one who would never regret it. I thought I loved medicine so much that it would sustain me. Now 3.5 years in I'm not so sure sometimes. Sometimes it's just the mountain of crippling debt hurling towards me at 100mph that is what's keeping me going to be honest. But at some point, life will get better. It's an immense sacrifice, but it's also, at least for the time being, a safe one. There is a light at the end of the tunnel eventually

as a girlie with ptsd, thank you for sharing (even though you are definitely not obligated to share!!). it gives me hope that i am still capable of doing hard things like medicine when I see that you are as well

Again, really enjoyed your video

Hi Rachel, Just wanted to say I stumbled across your channel a few years ago.. I am terrible at science would never be a doctor but feel so privileged to watch your journey. Even tho it is though right now I know you are going to make the most incredible attending and one day you will look back at these videos and be so proud of yourself for sticking to it and I would be so grateful to have you as a doctor, even though I live in australia so you will never be my doctor which is sad

I'm a PA who did my OB/GYN rotation through the VA. Let me tell you, the physicians there had it soooo nice! 80 minute new pt and 40 minute f/u appointments, dedicated time to chart in the afternoons, excessive time allotted for scheduled surgeries, crazy PTO, great pay, all the perks of working for the government (e.g. pension, insurance), etc. It sounds like your current program will be extremely valuable in helping you develop as a provider, but know there are more pleasant options out there for you once you finish residency. Stay strong!

I saw the 80/20 computer time to pt care time while doing an internship when I was premed in college, prepping for my MCAT, and it 100% changed my career path.

Residency is an incredible experience but a slog too. You’re doing great and will be a terrific OBGyn. 😊

Same to me as a nursing student, one day you're on a high because the residents from the nursing home did something nice and all went well, the other day I hate this job (now). I feel ya. Think it's really brave you can even talk about creepy people like that, I could never.

SO BEAUTIFUL!!!

Love your sit down videos like others have said, thanks for all your hard work keeping up this channel while you have so little time for yourself, it means a lot to all of us! 🩷

I remember the stalker story. I was so afraid for you when that happened at the time.

You're doing great. You haven't chosen an easy path, but that doesn't seem like it would suit you anyway. Get it grrrrrl. 💗

I can't imagine having to be fearful for your life, especially during medical school. I am barely hanging on with nursing school while having to take time off from it due to medical issues. I can't wait to do my L &D clinical rotations even though I'm probably only going to be on the L&D floors for only 3-4 weeks, which sucks. I was thinking about L&D as a specialty when I graduate nursing school. Please take care of yourself and prioritize your mental health and safety.

Hi Rachel happy Saturday afternoon and I hope you having amazing day today and I loved your vlogs and you are amazing Supporter

You got this love❤

I’m glad that you touched on the homebirth topic. I’m married to an MS4 and we just had our 4th baby. I have 100% intervention free births, but always in hospitals. My last labor left me at a 7/8 cm for nearly 12 hours and my doctor never once suggested anything other than changing positions and using a breast pump. No mention of Pitocin, membrane rupturing, etc. I wish more obs were as accommodating to completely intervention free, physiological births. Unfortunately so many aren’t and this is pushing more and more women towards potentially dangerous homebirths.

Hi Rachel, I‘m a newer subscriber from Germany and I‘ve been loving your content! I was just wondering what a fellowship is, some kind of voluntary extra training after residency? I‘m super inspired by your determination and resilience in this super stressful time of your life!! Thank your for taking us on this journey with you ❤️

Please be kind to the Nurses!!! PREACH!

I’m sorry about your stalker. Some people truly are sick. Hoping things get better for you.

Your self care activities sound wonderful

You're so strong Rachel!! It's insane to see how far you've gotten since I first came onto the channel. Thank you for being so open and honest about all your highs and lows, as always :)))

I know this isn't much, but I'm a new viewer and I went through your med school vids and they were all great, but I like your residency ones more, bcs you're like the only person who vlogs during your residency. Since you said in one of the last videos that you want to do a part in changing the number of hours residents and medical staff is overworked, I think you're already doing a part in that and motivating others to do the same. Have a nice weekend 😊

My wife was a legal secretary and young lawyers would tell her how much they hated their jobs and they made a mistake choosing law. My wife would tell them, your young, you have time to get out and choose another profession.

In the building watching from Baltimore MD 😎

I’m a general surgeon. I have to put a wall up to deal with losses. You can’t feel every tragedy that you encounter.

In the Building waiting from Baltimore MD 😎

Seeing how you've changed from med school years to how seemingly miserable you are now has made me question and regret going into medical school. I understand the stuck feeling. My "why" was to provide a new trajectory for my kids and to have an impactful career. I don't want to be miserable for the foreseeable future; is there any light at the end of the tunnel?

My answer to the patients who ask about home birth and how so many years ago how people didn’t have access etc… is the MORTALITY RATE!!! So I educate them about that.

I'm in surgery 72 hours a week rn and I NEED to get some compression socks. My calves have been cramping in the middle of the night after long days.

A friend had a home birth & started hemorrhaging. Because she lived in SF they couldn’t get an ambulance for 45 min! 🙅🏻‍♀️ Thank goodness mom & baby survived.

Hi Rachel!! I am a 3rd year medical student from Portugal!! Do you think you can talk about your method of studying, the perfect one you find out to work best, since you ended as a top 5 of your class!!

Hi Rachel! You're amazing! Just wondering whether you ever had to diagnose anyone with ovarian cancer. If yes, how did you handle that?

Hey Rachel, hope you’re doing well. How’s residency in California in terms of living costs, taxes, salary etc,? Is it comfortable working as a resident or physician in California ?

I am a med student who really wants to go into OB/GYN, but I'm nervous that residency and the life-long work/life balance won't feel worth it. If you could do it again, would you pick a different specialty?

Okay so I've been binging her videos and I'm seriously considering a move from lawyering to study medicine. Thoughts from The Herd?

nice!

Andy!

It’s terrible that you had that experience and have to live with that for the rest of your life. I’ve heard so many stalker stories that I’ve become paranoid about leaking my personal info online and I’m sure my efforts are futile anyways.

She glows and is smart. Think she woulda enjoyed being a housewife, kids, and starting a small business on the side.

Interesting.

Hi is there any where I can ask a med school related question? Through email or a dm? If not my question is: How do you afford a place to live while in med school? Do med schools offer housing and does it come with tuition? Or would I have to take out a loan to pay housing?

Im so sorry to hear about the stalker. That is sick and creepy. Are the police keeping an eye on this person? I hope so. Are you always going to have to work 80 hours per week, or can you reduce your workload later on? That would be very tiring, and far too much.

You are amazing

💗💗

There is one question I would like to know if you have time to answer. What you say at the end of every video, when did you decide to make that your motto if I can say it like that? I ask that because I think about it as far as how I’m treating myself! Sometimes we’re better to other people than to ourselves!

you're so beautiful!

Put the stalker's info on blast. Then we can stalk the stalker! 😂

❤

It is, and it will be worth it. You chose Ob/Gyn and the program you wanted to do. That program chose you...your first choice. So you were meant to do this

Lol not the clicking burn out. Sorry about that🐥

😊❤

Do you know any residents who are moms? I’m a third year and I’m kinda nervous about residency with my kiddos!

Lmao yes tell the stalker how u really feel ha ha😂.

💖💖💖💖💖

Hi Dr. Southward! I was just accepted into DO school this morning!! I was wondering if you would be willing to share an email address as I would be so appreciative to ask you some questions as I embark on this new chapter. If not for privacy reasons I completely understand.

My daughter had a stalker in college. Her older brother tracked him down and had a talk with him. No other comment 😏

☺️❤️