HO in other hospitals get to tag the more senior HO for 2 weeks before they're let off into the wild. Here in UM, I was already put oncall on my 5th day of work. Tag, what tag? I was expected to know everything right from the start which I felt was very unfair. Even simple U&Es are called BUSE (blood urea serum electrolyte) here. Then what's the difference from renal profile? Hmmm...will find out later. Maybe RP tests more electrolytes.
I remembered that it was not easy to get a Depression history as you had to go to the isolated psychiatric building, made to carry a keyring which can toggle off the alarm if the patient became aggressive, had to wait for a nurse or doctor to let you through those prison-looking doors with Pentagon level of security, when all you had to look for was just any new HO in Malaysia. I haven't come across anyone in my hospital who was very happy and motivated when they first started out. Depressed HOs? Yes, 99.9%.
So, some tips on surviving the first week:
- Try to familiarise yourself with the layout of the hospital especially if you're really slow on the job. You don't want to waste more time getting lost while you're oncall.
- Pack loads and loads of biscuits or instant food in your bag. If possible, in your lab coat as most of the time, you don't have the privilege of having a proper meal.
- Be prepared to be scolded, ridiculed, scowled at not only from your MO but from nurses who you pleaded for their help in assisting you in the middle of the night.
- See 1, do 1. Most of the time, listen to the instructions for practical procedures over the phone or read them off a paper and then off you go and do without supervision. I pity all my guinea pigs.
- Accept the fact that you're not a human but a robot who is still very accurate even without charging the batteries.
- Master the art of listening through one ear and letting the information pass through the other. Especially when the transmitter's volume is above noise pollution level. Meanwhile, transport your mind to somewhere else when you felt happiest. Make sure your facial expression stays serious and don't start smiling stupidly. I did that once this morning and had to call my super duper annoyed MO again to reconfirm the rate of blood transfusion for my patient. Haih....
I've been battling with all these thoughts since the first day I stepped into my working life. How much longer can I bear it? I seriously don't know and don't want to think about it.
Next oncall: Tuesday and I'm dreading it every single moment.
2 comments:
u are in UM? two of my friends baru masuk there also...burhan and shaleela. dunno if you've bumped into them or not. good luck with work, noreen!
**hugs**
yup. in UM. haven't seen them yet but will surely bump into them as there's not many of us.
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