HO survival kit: One rotten apple makes the whole basket looks bad.

After posting my last post, I got this hate reply:

"Why you complained? When on call, you or your colleagues complained too much work, to tiring, etc. Now that the shift system is being implemented, you complained that it is way to cut your salary. What do you want? I bet that you just want to stay at home and continue to draw salary, right?"

My reply is:
I challenge you (whoever you are) to check all my punch cards, the times that I spent in hospital; ask all the staff nurses from all the wards that I have been posted in; and then only post a comment.

My advice is:
DO NOT GENERALIZE

HO survival kit: Your voice does not matter, ever.

Have you heard? The shit, I mean, the shift system will be starting soon. Every single hospital in Malaysia that has housemen are FORCED to start the shift system for the housemen. This is so that the housemen have enough rest and a better quality of life..... yeah, right.

This is just a cover up because they do not want to pay us if we do calls. So, like it or not, the shit, I mean shift (sorry, it has become a habit to say shit system as many can foresee the failure of this system) system, MUST take place.

The pros:
-less working hours
-the government can save money
-better quality of life for housemen (I am not sure in what way is this true as even though we are allowed some days off in the week for the shift system, we still have to come for continued medical education on our off day).
-seriously, I can't think of any more pros.

The cons:
-confusion during passing over
-no ownership of patients, therefore the HO that really don't have passion don't even care about the patient.
-very limited hands on experience and very short learning and training time
-we will not know the daily progress of a patient
-no more extra income
-no training for critical time when we are supposed to handle cases when we are alone during on call
-some of will really become like nurses
-there will be confusion when a HO changes from one discipline to the next because of the sudden influx or outflux of HO

Really, the people who asked for this and enforced this system should just quit their jobs now because they really don't know what they are asking for.

And worst of all, we can't do anything because when they say it MUST be enforced, it MUST. And then we are shunned by the seniors saying that we are so spoiled, when the seniors do not actually know that I am so damn against the shift system and I voiced my opinion to the authorities but no one heard me.

What else is there left for me to do?

HO survival kit: Ikut resam padi, makin berisi, makin tunduk.

Everyday we hear: the key to life is HUMILITY. We are told to be humble and remember that this is a borrowed earth, not ours, but God's.

Problem is, some people just don't believe in God and they can come up with the statement: "This is my place and here I am God". Had the shocker of my life when I heard that. And for some people, they do believe that God is around is just that sometimes, most oftenly, they tend to forget the existence of God. Well, we are imperfect, so we forget.

No matter who we are, the higher we go, the more humble we should be. That is why there are times, instead of eating with the health care provider people, I sit in the Faber's (cleaner's) pantry and eat with them. That is why, with each and every patient, no matter where there are from, I make sure that I attend to their every single whim and question. I do not judge them. I talk to them, I never leave them wondering: "Hey what is next?"

I wonder what goes through their splendid minds when they intervene in someone else's territory just like that. Without any formal introduction, just because they are in the same level, they just come and butt in with just: "excuse me, excuse me" and start to attend to the patient, leaving the main team awestrucked as to: "Who on God's earth are you?".

Although, there are some of them who are so humble, they never forget that they were once like us, they started off like us, they went through everything like us. Those whom I mentioned, I respect them. They EARNED their respect, they didn't ask for it.

I hope there are more like them around.

The higher you go, the harder you fall.....

HO survival kit: All HO are useless

We come to work at 5am in the morning.
-All HO are useless

We sometimes have to skip meals to finish our work so that things are done.
-All HO are useless

We sometimes run around, instead of using the phone to get appointments/results earliest possible.
-All HO are useless

We don't go back until late just to get our ward work done.
-All HO are useless.

We stay and wait and wait and wait until all procedures are done.
-All HO are useless.

We sometimes sleep less than 2 hours in a day.
-All HO are useless.

We are also human. We are still rather new at this. We make mistakes. We need guidance. We need someone to listen to our voices sometimes. We are not perfect, neither are we useless...

HO survival kit: Ditelan mati anak, diluah mati bapak

As a HO one should realize that no matter what you do, even if you have said it right, saved a life, whatever, you are WRONG.... and I mean, ALWAYS.

The life chain when you become a HO goes lie this:

Consultant -> specialist -> MO -> Sister -> staff nurse -> PPK -> cleaner -> HO

Yes, we are at the bottom of the life chain. Believe me, this is true.

There was once, during those OT days, where you are expected to go for rounds, then finish your ward work and then go to OT to learn something, my name was on the list to be in OT. But we were told by the CONSULTANT to finish our ward work before we go off to OT since there are already the superiors in OT to do the job.

So, we all went off to our respective wards, trying to finish our work when the ward phone rang and the Superior called and ask why wasn't there any HO in OT. Naturally, I answered and said that the CONSULTANT has already ordered us to finish our work first and then go to OT.

But with arrogance, the Superior said that this is the last warning because we did not follow HIS direct orders.

Wow....

So, if we don't follow the consultant's orders, we're dead. And if we don't follow the Superior's orders, we are also dead. We are in trouble no matter what. It is like you are balancing on a fine tight rope that even with a swift blow of wind, you will fall......

and fall.....

and fall.....

and then you get extended, sometimes for no apparent reason.

Day 14 of life as a Houseman

Today is D14 of my new life as a HO. It is a tough life, but i am tougher to make it through to today. I know of some of my other friends who quit on D2 itself and I keep on wondering what have made them change their mind so drastically.

On the 1st day, I was left to do a discharge summary for a patient that I have no idea of and also, I don't even know how to do a discharge summary. My friend just left me there with a few instructions and i was supposed to do everything else on my own. I put on a mask immediately and put all the shyness away. I asked around of what to do. I got scolding on the first day itself because I didn't know how to request for some blood pints. But it's ok, i learned to be thick skinned.

During my 4th tagging day, I was left to be in the ward alone with my patients. I was to present these patients to the MO and also the specialist. And of course many more scoldings took place but I just learn from my mistakes.

Tagging was supposed to be for 14days but I never made it to that. By day 7, I was already on call. First hand management of acute and emergency patients that are sent to the ward. I only managed my self 2 clicks of shut eye and the progressing to the next day as if i had slept for the last 1 week.

I have learned that there are many different people to work with out there. Some are ok, some are just better left alone. I just make sure that my job is done and that my patients are safe to be discharged home or to be passed over to the on call person.

Today is day 14 and i am post call last night. Been running around from OT to and fro. I am raggedy ass tired and sleepy. But today, i have to stop thinking about sleep cause currently i am on call for mobile blood bank. Thank God there is wi-fi here. Or else I will be snoozing by now already......

From brother with love

Thank you so much kakanda cik ropi for this graduation present. I was so happy to finally have redSeptember in my hands :)

nak minum starbucks?

hahahhah

Hush little darling, don't you cry

I was on the working floor when I received a call from Qatar airways to remind me to not forget that I am picking you up tomorrow. I was more than ecstatic. I told them, of course I won't forget, I have been waiting for her arrival since 3 weeks ago.....

I got myself ready, I bought the ingredients to make your favorite dish that only I can cook for you. I went to the grocers twice because I had not enough time as I am tied with work. But I do not mind because I want to prepare the best for you while we spend that short amount of time together.

When I finally got home and was just having a rest before I start preparing for your arrival, I had a call from Mamak. Immediately I knew, my sisterly instinct shouted at the back of my head: "something's gone wrong!"

After finally learning the whole situation, I realized that I am not going to see you anytime soon. Maybe a little later, but I don't mind waiting. I was so dead worried after getting all the information of the whole situation. I was worried that this is the first time you encounter such situation.

I know that you are still a little baby in everyone's eyes and I also do know that there is always the first time for everything from where you should learn. I understand that you are traumatized by the whole situation. But Allah will not give us any situation that we cannot get through. Thank Allah that you are ok, just a little shaken.

Hush little darling, no matter where you are, don't you cry. We are all here for you no matter how distant we are. We will give the best for you so that you will be safe, insya'Allah. But please promise that you will too give the best to yourself, do not doubt yourself that you can go through these situations as a strong Princess.

There is always me here for you.....

Waiting to see you soon :)