I just graduated from medical school, and my new hospital has some very strange rules

Hey there, I'm a new resident at a hospital in the US, and I thought I'd share some strange things I've encountered so far. I'm only a few weeks in at this point, so I'm still getting used to things, but I wanted to get this stuff down before I forget. Also, if anyone has experienced something similar, please let me know.<br><br>Rule 1: I'm not allowed to go outside after dark. \*\*No exception\*\*.<br><br>Apparently this is a safety precaution to protect us from wild animals, and it's not uncommon for animals like stray cats or raccoons to wander into the hospital at night. I haven't seen any wild animals yet, but I did find some scratches on the walls in one of the hallways.<br><br>Rule 2: No searching for the hospital's blueprints online.<br><br>The hospital's architect was very privacy-conscious, and he had the copyright for the blueprints. His company went out of business, and the copyright was never renewed, but I think someone might have bought the rights. I don't know why they didn't just make new blueprints, though.<br><br>Rule 3: Patients who get out of their rooms after 10PM are a serious problem.<br><br>One night, a patient pushed his call button around 1AM and asked for some water. I thought it was a bit odd since the patients usually go to sleep by then, but when I went into his room, I found the bed empty. I looked around and found him in his roommate's bed, resting his head on the roommate's chest, which was very strange. The roommate was sleeping, though. A nurse came in and scolded the patient, saying that patients who get out of their rooms after 10PM are a serious problem.<br><br>Rule 4: Don't look at the ceiling vents.<br><br>Apparently there are cameras in some of the ceiling vents, but I haven't seen them myself. I've heard some nurses discussing it in hushed tones.<br><br>Rule 5: There's a strange, locked door in the basement.<br><br>While exploring the basement, I stumbled upon a strange door with a large, heavy-looking iron door knocker in the shape of a lion's head. The door was locked, and there were scratches on the walls nearby, as if something had been trying to get out. I felt uneasy and left quickly.<br><br>Rule 6: Some patients are extremely sensitive to light.<br><br>I had a patient who was extremely sensitive to light, and even a penlight caused him immense pain. He was wearing dark glasses during our consultation, which was unusual. I've never encountered a patient with this condition before.<br><br>Rule 7: Some nurses have... unusual habits.<br><br>One nurse I encountered was sitting on the floor, staring at the wall with an unnatural grin on her face. I felt uneasy and quickly left. Another nurse I met had the habit of staring at me a bit too long, making me feel uncomfortable.<br><br>Rule 8: There's an unmarked elevator that isn't for employees.<br><br>On the first day, I was given a tour and shown the elevator that employees use, but I also noticed an unmarked elevator that wasn't pointed out. I asked about it, but was told that it's not for employees.<br><br>Rule 9: There's a strange, locked supply closet.<br><br>Next to the unmarked elevator, there's a locked supply closet with a sign that says "Employees Only". The key to this closet isn't on the set of keys employees are given, and it's not in the key cabinet either.<br><br>Rule 10: Patients don't always react as expected.<br><br>I had a patient who didn't react to an injection that should have caused pain, and I've heard whispers among the staff about patients who don't always react as expected.<br><br>Rule 11: There's a strange noise in the walls.<br><br>I've heard a strange, unidentifiable noise coming from the walls near the supply closet. It's hard to describe, but it's definitely there.<br><br>Rule 12: The basement is off-limits to residents.<br><br>The basement, except for the locker room, is off-limits to residents, which seems unusual. However, I did manage to sneak in once and found the strange door and the noise in the walls.<br><br>Rule 13: There's a secret meeting among staff on the last Friday of every month.<br><br>Apparently, on the last Friday of every month, staff gather in the conference room for a meeting that isn't on the schedule. The topic of the meeting is unknown, but it's definitely not a regular hospital meeting.<br><br>Rule 14: Patients don't always show up for appointments.<br><br>Sometimes patients don't show up to their scheduled appointments, and when I ask about it, I'm told that it's not uncommon for patients to skip appointments. However, I've never encountered this before in my training.<br><br>Overall, I'm still getting used to the new environment, and I'm excited to learn more about the hospital and its quirks.