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...ALLAH IS ALWAYS WITH US..ZIKRULLAH ..WHEREVER YOU ARE
2345H
12/11/08
Day 5 of O&G tagging
9 more days to go..
Currently I’m in obstetrics and gynaecology (O&G) posting…Day 5 of life..
But in reality, I haven’t really started work per se..i’m still tagging
For those who are not familiar with the tagging system, let me just brief you a bit … during our housemanship, we have 6 rotations – for each rotation we have about 4 months. So, every time we go to a new rotation/department, we have to be the trainees before we are really accepted into the department, so to speak.
It’s an observation period, whereby you learn the ropes before starting to work.
During my paediatric posting, I had about less than one week of tagging, which means, in less than a week, you’ve got to know how to handle the job.
However, for O&G, it’s a bit longer. I was told that previously the new houseman had EOD calls (every other day/selang sehari) on calls. I don’t really know which is the better system, but at least for oncalls, you get to claim, which does not hold the same for the current system of tagging.
This current system of tagging, in which I’m doing right now – starts from 7.30am (rightfully at 7am) until 12 am everyday for two weeks ( if you don’t get extended, that is)
Thus, starting last week until next week, I’ve to stay in the hospital (not to feel the ray of sunshine) from morning until midnight.
After a while, it sort of gets to you, - easily tired and irritable
Day in and day out – the labor room/ward/deliveries after deliveries
I know our niat has to be pure and ikhlas lillahita’ala…honestly I don’t mind that much..it’s just that after 5 days being cooped in the hospital, a little bit of sunlight would help..
During my first tagging day, I’ve already had to assist in Manual removal of placenta in the ooperation theater..witness episiotomies and of course deliveries.
I wasn’t confident enough as to actually conduct deliveries tho0ug, added with the exasperated feeling in which we couldn’t get the weekend off – just makes you feel less wanting to be a in a pressured situation.
I must say that during delivery, there is high action and pumping with adrenaline.
Although, I ‘m a bit saddened by the event that sometimes I fail to correlate the situation with Allah. How I actually fail to appreciate that this process, in which Allah has bestowed on us to go through has much lesson in it to learn
However, one thing that has struck me deep during my tagging days so far, is that it is important for us to learn. It is imperative for us to learn to do something right, which I feel is very much reelevent in all field – regardless which occupation you hold
And to appreciate teachers – whoever that they may be. I really am grateful that the jururawat masyarakat and also staff nurses at the ward who lended their time and patience to teach us housemans.
Since tagging, the feelings of inadequacies always surround us. It is the time where we put ourselves to be slaughtered in front of everyone – and to learn and to be taught by whomever feel obliged to do so.
Everytime we conduct deliveries/do procedures we are certain to make mistakes and in front of the whole staff to witness. The feeling of shyness must be put aside. The sensitivity are at loss or else you might suffer great psychological consequences as a result.
May Allah give us the strength to continue our ibadah as His humble slaves…
p.s. have to stop right now and prepare for sleep as tomorrow will be another long day..
Wassalam..
azhani
October 2008
Sometimes our aspirations do not come out as what we had planned it to be. While I was in NICU, I had longed to be out of the ward and be posted to the general paediatrics. Probably it was because of the specialist that had frighten me out of my wits.
Now, when I’ve arrived to the general ward, suffice to say that it is not as merry as it had been painted. It starts all over again, that is to become blank as a board as I had been 2 months ago. The first two weeks were a bit harrowing, to say the least. On my 2nd day of work, I had to whisk of my patient to Sg Buloh Hospital. Without any preparation, I had to take this congenital heart disease patient and monitor her condition lest anything should happen. She was due for her neurological checkup at the neuro clinic. My hospital doesn’t have any neurosurgical unit for paediatrics. (that is what I understood, or else they would have simply refer to the department)
I was chosen to accompany this patient because I was already trained in regards of neonatal resuscitation. She has history of fitting, and this demands for a person who has been trained in resuscitation in case that she should fit during the trip.
Now, being trained and actually have done in the aspect of intubation is two totally different aspect. I myself have never intubated a baby before during my days in NICU, it has always been the job of the MO. All this while, alhamdulillah, those babies that were born flat initially recovered well after positive pressure ventilation have been given. And everytime a baby was delivered flat, I would urgently call my MO for help. I would definitely not allow myself to handle to situation myself. Babies are very fragile and unstable, to say the least. One minute, they can look normal, not in respiratory distress and suddenly develop grunting, with tachypnea and recession. Oxygen saturation would hover around less than 90% and definitely we would panic. To date, I think I have admitted about 4 babies to NICU because their oxygen saturation was less than 90%. Even though, sometimes they look comfortable and no signs of respiratory distress were present.
Even more frightening, was a case discharged by my friend during neonatal screening but after 20 minutes of arrival at home, the baby had died. I did not further investigate regarding the case, so I cannot comment further. It was said that the baby had undiagnosed congenital heart condition. I cannot blame my friend, because after having done screening many times, I feel that sometimes it was not that clear cut in regards of picking up the murmurs, especially if it the heart defect was small.
“Kepada Allahlah kembalimu, dan Dia Maha Kuasa atas segala sesuatu” (Huud :4)
“Sesungguhnya Tuhan kamu ialah Allah Yang menciptakan langit dan bumi dalam enam hari, kemudian Dia bersemayam di atas ‘Arasy untuk mengatur segala urusan. Tiada seorangpun yang akan memberi syafa’at kecuali sesudah ada keizinanNya. (Dzat) yang demikian itulah Allah, Tuhan kamu, maka sembahlah Dia. Maka apakah kamu tidak mengambil pelajaran?” ( Yunus:3)
Doa to Allah is the single most important tool that all of us need, for we are never in control of our destiny. We can definitely try our best to and it is what Allah intends us to do, but in the end, the ultimate power that determines the outcome is Allah.
Terms:
NICU – neonatal intensive care unit
Wad instensif untuk bayi2 yang berumur kurang dari sebulan
MO – medical officer
Pegawai perubatan yang dah habiskan houseman training dan di register bawah MMC. (fully registered as doctors)
Fit – sawan
Intubate – memasukkan tiub kedalam rongga pernafasan utk disambungkan pada oxygen untuk membantu proses pernafasan
Reference ayat2 al-Quran:
Al-Quran dan terjemahnya , Rasm Uthmani
Transition:
It has been an endeavor, to say the least, of what has happened since the past 2 months. Many a times, I feel as though this line of work is definitely not suited for me. I believe also that this feeling has cropped inside the minds of many of my peers indeed.
From a medical student to a doctor, the thin line that crosses between the two stages of life is an intricate one , I must say. Full of torment and misery. Yet, this is not true to some extent though, such as in the case of yours truly. Even if I might say that I am suffering, but in truth, some of my other friends have it worse, much worse.
Currently I’m posted in paediatrics, whereby, they say it’s one of the most relaxing posting of them all. However, for a person such as myself, who has trouble in terms of adjusting myself in a new situation, even in the least stressful of event, it can seem worse.
I had prayed to be placed in a hospital in which I would be happy to be working in it and also close to somewhere that would enable me to still be a part of the tarbawi community. Alhamdulillah Allah had granted me to be in Hospital ---. insyaAllah so far it has been welcoming, to say the least. I am still able to follow the weekly kuliah over there, albeit not full, but still possible. If I’m not oncall, I can still join the weekly halaqah..that also includes if I’m not postcall..
Let me just put it in chronological order, so that we might be able to see the flow.
During the 1st week, which is the week of tagging..of course, it felt horrible. To see the new setting and to have the actual realization that I am to be working in a white coat society and surrounded by neverending admissions is quite distressing indeed.
In truth, I still felt like I was a medical student..but of a lesser quality. To be called a doctor, was far from the truth, it felt like. Useless, is the term that much qualified to be associated with.
It’s as if I’m bounded make endless mistakes. From the very simple tasks to the more complicated ones. Followed by that mistakes is of course, the never ending scrutiny by the ABOVE ones..the SPECIALISTS..
What I’ve gathered so far is that I’m not one is well versed in clerkwork and regarding the medicolegal stuff. I like medicine, as in the essence of medicine itself. However, in real life, there is no such thing as medicine as a study by itself. Medicine, is part and parcel of human life. Undoubtedly, it was first being studied since it was important as to know how to treat the sickness that overpowers us.
The things that they do not teach us in medical school are indeed vast. It is in fact, a very different setting from the learning scenario that we are accustomed to. I think more importantly is that they ought to train the medical students as how they would in the end become a good houseman.
Pardon me, I think I have brought myself outside the topic. I plan to just equip you all with the knowledge of how the setting is so far.
The first month was also distressing. Imagine yourself, being on the job for the first time. In a different setting from what you have been used to all your life. To be working with people, much much older than you. Yet, at the same time, in rank, you are above them. Hence, you are the one held responsible. It is a sad state indeed. To not know anything, yet be in charge of it.
However, in truth, so far the staff have been very cooperative. Just a certain few who does pose some problem. But, it is a minor one indeed. It’s just an overwhelming situation for someone like me, I suppose.
Lo and behold..it’s already been 2 months since I first stepped into NICU.. and again..surprise surprise..still doing many mistakes as always.. I really don’t know what is wrong with me..I don’t know how to become more efficient. It’s like I’m certained to become a klutz until the end.