competent!

for the first time today, I actually felt like I knew what I was doing, I was responsible, and I could be really BE a doctor. ok maybe not the first time. BUT still, I was entrusted with the job of seeing the ante/post-natals on Level 5.

do you know what that means?!?

I suppose it isn't really such a HUGE thing...

started off today with the usual HO then Consultant ward round. scribed, did a couple of discharge summaries, then the HO and I headed to GAU/AGA. was initially kinda quiet. but once I was there, whenever I picked up the phone, it seemed like ANOTHER patient was scheduled to come in! *shudder* made me stay away from the phone for a while!!! =X

post-lunchtime, I offered to see the Maternity Ward patients, and the HO gladly let me. cos GAU was just starting to get BUSY, the rooms were suddenly full somehow, and both Reg and SHO were busy in Birthing Suite/OT. so off I went!

it's nice working in an environment where there isn't much "stress" as such, being a Sunday and only me representing the medical team! the midwives/nurses were all lovely too. =)

HOWEVER, it took me almost 4 hours to see the 7 patients (none of whom I knew). HEE HEE HEE. too slow! still haven't gotten the hang of it. and after going through the notes, seeing the patient and examining them, you STILL have to sit down and write down everything.

after a while, everyone blended into everyone...lol. I relied a lot on the piece of paper I wrote down all the different patients, their details and what I saw them for. really admire those people who know patients and who they are off the top of their head. I can't do it eh...=S

but anyway, I managed to finish seeing all the patients that needed a medical review over the weekend. FINALLY. then it was dinnertime. HAHAHA.

decided to do a "blood round" post dinner, seeing how the phlebotomist doesn't work on Sundays! and it was such a great sense of satisfaction managing to draw blood from every patient you see. WHEE! only 4 though, and mixture of using the Vacutainer and butterfly needle. think I'm better at taking bloods than putting in IV lines...=P

after that headed back to GAU, and thankfully there wasn't much going on. decided to head home earlier, but before I left went to do another set of bloods, this time using the butterfly because had to collect 3 tubes. it's "cheating" in a way cos I know I'm in the vein, but it's less likely that I will pull out the needle when changing tubes. still haven't mastered the art of the Vacutainer system that well...but it went great, single stab. =D

and it's good to be back! haha. literally FREEZING outside, it's negative temperatures. time to snuggle in my nice warm bed...(what a lengthy post...I must be so excited, don't burst my bubble LOL!)

p.s. the last time I mentioned about competency in my blog, it was last year when doing O&G as well. HMM......