Disclaimer: All thoughts and opinions here are solely my own, and some may even be impulsive comments. Do take it with an open mind. Also hoping that this may serve as a preview of what lies ahead if you decide to pursue a career down the same path as us.
(cc: future housemen/doctors)
*Inspired by many events in our daily lives dealing with bosses, senior doctors, patients, their families, nurses, staff (this ranges from the cleaners, security guards, PPK, lab personnel, blood bank, radiology and the list goes on)
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A locally trained doctor in Malaysia a.k.a House Officer/houseman - is someone who is trained to be a clerk, typist, cleaner, phlebotomist, listener, public speaker, punching bag (mentally), IT personnel etc etc. while gaining as much knowledge and experience as we can.
Character wise -- someone who is humble enough to learn all they can in between hardships, someone who is fast enough to work efficiently while keeping up with the expectations from the rest of the world, someone open-minded enough to accept the ridiculous behavior coming from all directions, someone optimistic enough to keep themselves going at the end of a rough day facing poop, most importantly, someone passionate enough to stay through all of that.
"Glorified clerk","Are you a reporter or a doctor?"- you hear this sometimes. Then they speak even faster where some are unable to keep up, to jot down every single word the senior/superior says. Not to mention those who get the cold shoulder just because they are deemed "the slower ones". Believe me when I say you will meet some colleagues/peers who are whether purposely or unintentionally, SLOW. Might even go missing sometimes.
Paperwork will always be the death of us. The time spent just sitting down filling up those lab forms (even with a computerized system), death certification forms, national registry forms, discharge summaries... all those accumulated could come up to hours. Not to mention that "wasted" few minutes where we get distracted by some light hearted conversations here and there with colleagues while all of us are frantically trying to finish up ward work, just to stay sane.
Some of us are lucky enough to work in hospitals that are half-computerized, with the luxury of sitting at the ward counter to trace laboratory results, print request forms, search up patient information.. LIFESAVER REALLY. (Until the tech decides to play a fool/system down) I still have friends who work in hospitals where house officers have to personally walk to the lab to collect result sheets. That I appreciate much. *hugs computer*
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With all that said, there are countless things to be grateful about of course. Like how you've actually done a good deed for the 30th time today. Or like how your patient got better because of a simple medication you decided to commence. Or having made a correct decision/plan and your senior/boss agrees with your management. All the happy little things.
The simple gesture of patients' families thanking you for trying your best, even if the outcome wasn't good. Be it in the form of a smile, a handshake, just a nod maybe? Or the best, food -- KFC treat lol
These are priceless returns you get to see; The cheerful smile you get from your 73 year old uncle patient, who is still coughing away from his pneumonia. Also the 81 year old mak cik who is asking you to take a break because you look so stressed out "and have you eaten"?
There are still times that, being the whiny kid we could be, when our efforts go unappreciated, our kind advice ignored, our good intentions taken wrongly.. can't help but to be a complaining spoilt brat. Just like how we take poop from so many in a day, you probably can't do much but mentally curse them, then suck it up and move on. Because you have no time to lose or waste. Being angry means losing your mind the next 15 minutes and losing motivation for the next half of the day, which makes you work slower, and it becomes a vicious cycle.
At the end of the day, it's really a skill to learn -- to deal with the unexpected, be it joyful or depressing. Life itself is a journey with endless possibilities anyway.
EQ strengthening still in progress
xx
▼ HOW TO DEAL WITH.....
Now you have upgraded from a caterpillar to a butterfly.
It's a wild wild world out here, with thorns,bushes,volcanoes and wild animals ready to swallow you up. You may not be ready to face these things but - too late! You're already in it so just suck it up.
Good news is, you're not alone! You won't ever be alone. Your fellow colleagues a.k.a housemen who enter the workforce with you will be your best buddies. (or at least companion in suffering)
A houseman's skill or knowledge can be taught, but his attitude and character cannot. The worst are those with NO insight. Being humble never hurts.
Housemanship 101
Have a good attitude.
Good is a very broad term. Just as what you have learnt in medical school, do no harm. That's a good start.
Good is a very broad term. Just as what you have learnt in medical school, do no harm. That's a good start.
It's sounds like such a simple thing but trust me, one day when you become a senior or medical officer, you would have seen SO MUCH. So much that you are afraid of people.
I've seen colleagues perform their tasks in the most unimaginable ways. There are shortcuts in work (yes do work hard but work smarter), but there are some unacceptable shortcuts. I shall not mention specifics.
Show respect.
You will have so many people to learn from. Even the PPK has more experience than you. The radiographer who shoots your chest x-rays. The security guard who opens the doors for you. Especially your staff nurses, who could easily be 5 years senior to you.
You will have so many people to learn from. Even the PPK has more experience than you. The radiographer who shoots your chest x-rays. The security guard who opens the doors for you. Especially your staff nurses, who could easily be 5 years senior to you.
Of course, you will mainly have to work with your medical officers, specialists and consultants. Sad to say, in our very Malaysian hospital culture, respect also means you cannot disagree or refuse. In most situations. Though I cannot say all bosses are unreasonable, as some are encouraging and want you to voice your opinions. This all comes down to your social skills and speaking. Some people are born to offend others. lol
No jumping hierarchy. (IT'S A THING) You always consult your senior first a.k.a medical officers. Consulting your specialists directly is considered rude especially if you're not directly involved in the management of the patient. Except in special situations or if your specialist is just really really too friendly.
Go hands on.
I remember situations where new juniors enter like trembling sheep, and are too afraid to do anything. Taking bloods, setting branulas, documentation -- all are simple tasks you MUST know.
I remember situations where new juniors enter like trembling sheep, and are too afraid to do anything. Taking bloods, setting branulas, documentation -- all are simple tasks you MUST know.
To learn the basics you GOTTA DO IT. No one is gonna hold your hand and spoonfeed teach you. It takes just a tiny effort to learn and firstly, WANT to learn.
It's all about initiative. It's normal to be scared to fall, scared you might do it wrongly; but doing it wrongly now is better than risking a life in the future due to your lack of experience.
It's all about initiative. It's normal to be scared to fall, scared you might do it wrongly; but doing it wrongly now is better than risking a life in the future due to your lack of experience.
Till now I still have plenty of procedures that I'm waiting for a chance to do. Trust me, the feeling of satisfaction when you get to perform it.. priceless.
Suck it up.
You are BOUND to be scolded. Who doesn't? It is a must during housemanship.
I used to be affected by comments or opinions from my medical officer/specialists. Until I realized, there are some comments that matter, and some that don't.
Constructive opinions are gold, let it stick and build you up.
Degrading insults are gold that you get from your DREs, just throw it away and forget about it.
At the end of the day, you find yourself so fed up with EVERY. SINGLE. THING.
The patient's family will bug your life. Whether it is because they need a change of pampers, why isn't the operation being done NOW? or maybe just... Why ah, the normal saline finish already how ah? The patient themselves will be uncooperative. Uncle doesn't know his own medications because he refuses to even take it. He will say, I don't know lah you are the doctor you tell me! They will be pulling their own endotracheal tubes, ryles tube, branula and every other thing that is sticking out of their bodies.
This is it. No longer just the training of your IQ, but training for your EQ. It is the same everywhere. You will sometimes meet exceptionally nice people, you'll often feel helpless, and ALWAYS - you will meet shitty people.
To cure sometimes, treat often, and to comfort always - Edward Trudeau
And that's the harsh reality.
From a butterfly to a stronger butterfly.
Finally! Getting a proper 8 to 5 job with a proper lunch hour. Being official. Making your own decisions. Climbing up the hierarchy ladder- by that one bit.
Also, the responsibility of giving your own plan. Being held in charge for your patient. Making sure your job is done and not half hanging, even when you are halfway across the sea having a holiday like at last.
The transition from housemanship to being a medical officer was quite a breather to be honest. I remember my MO telling us when we were so stressed out, "Just chill, your time will come soon and you will see a brighter world" Partially true. Not without another type of stress of course. This depends on where your MO placement is at. I would say I probably prayed to all the gods to be lucky enough to be at my current place (and still am thankful everyday for it). The most nerve-wrecking moment for me and my colleagues was definitely when our placement list was out, and most of us had to leave our own homes to work in another state. Being an adult means, despite trying your best to appeal for a change of placement (and failing), you still have to accept the final decision and just go. To whichever kampung/district/random/unknown place on the map.
Being able to stay in a town/city/urban area was definitely a good thing for me. Some of the other peers decided they like the district hospitals or Klinik Kesihatan work-lifestyle. Some wanted to get more experience by going to rural areas. At the end of the day, you get a different kind of exposure no matter where you end up. Whether good or bad, that is a very personal and subjective view.
Malaysia has now adapted the contract system, just like our neighboring countries. We were the last few batches who are the luck(ier) ones kept in the permanent loop. For the future generations of Malaysia doctors, it is quite hard to predict the balance of graduates produced VS training positions as now there is the debate of whether or not the country can afford to hire all the new ones as permanent medical officers.
So many articles and conferences about how the country needs to limit the amount of spots for medical training, producing too many medical graduates, quality of graduates questionable etc etc. but to be honest from a Pegawai Perubatan point of view, there will never be enough doctors. The amount of patients is increasing everyday for all departments whereas the workforce stays the same. Since housemanship we have always hoped for more workforce to fight along with us. Now an MO, even the clinic is exploding with patients, and the feeling of being overwhelmed with a HUGE patient load is still the same.
Happier days,
but drowning with lack of workforce still on and off...
xx
Suck it up.
You are BOUND to be scolded. Who doesn't? It is a must during housemanship.
I used to be affected by comments or opinions from my medical officer/specialists. Until I realized, there are some comments that matter, and some that don't.
Constructive opinions are gold, let it stick and build you up.
Degrading insults are gold that you get from your DREs, just throw it away and forget about it.
At the end of the day, you find yourself so fed up with EVERY. SINGLE. THING.
The patient's family will bug your life. Whether it is because they need a change of pampers, why isn't the operation being done NOW? or maybe just... Why ah, the normal saline finish already how ah? The patient themselves will be uncooperative. Uncle doesn't know his own medications because he refuses to even take it. He will say, I don't know lah you are the doctor you tell me! They will be pulling their own endotracheal tubes, ryles tube, branula and every other thing that is sticking out of their bodies.
This is it. No longer just the training of your IQ, but training for your EQ. It is the same everywhere. You will sometimes meet exceptionally nice people, you'll often feel helpless, and ALWAYS - you will meet shitty people.
To cure sometimes, treat often, and to comfort always - Edward Trudeau
And that's the harsh reality.
▼ ;MO-ship
From a butterfly to a stronger butterfly.
Finally! Getting a proper 8 to 5 job with a proper lunch hour. Being official. Making your own decisions. Climbing up the hierarchy ladder- by that one bit.
Also, the responsibility of giving your own plan. Being held in charge for your patient. Making sure your job is done and not half hanging, even when you are halfway across the sea having a holiday like at last.
The transition from housemanship to being a medical officer was quite a breather to be honest. I remember my MO telling us when we were so stressed out, "Just chill, your time will come soon and you will see a brighter world" Partially true. Not without another type of stress of course. This depends on where your MO placement is at. I would say I probably prayed to all the gods to be lucky enough to be at my current place (and still am thankful everyday for it). The most nerve-wrecking moment for me and my colleagues was definitely when our placement list was out, and most of us had to leave our own homes to work in another state. Being an adult means, despite trying your best to appeal for a change of placement (and failing), you still have to accept the final decision and just go. To whichever kampung/district/random/unknown place on the map.
Being able to stay in a town/city/urban area was definitely a good thing for me. Some of the other peers decided they like the district hospitals or Klinik Kesihatan work-lifestyle. Some wanted to get more experience by going to rural areas. At the end of the day, you get a different kind of exposure no matter where you end up. Whether good or bad, that is a very personal and subjective view.
Malaysia has now adapted the contract system, just like our neighboring countries. We were the last few batches who are the luck(ier) ones kept in the permanent loop. For the future generations of Malaysia doctors, it is quite hard to predict the balance of graduates produced VS training positions as now there is the debate of whether or not the country can afford to hire all the new ones as permanent medical officers.
So many articles and conferences about how the country needs to limit the amount of spots for medical training, producing too many medical graduates, quality of graduates questionable etc etc. but to be honest from a Pegawai Perubatan point of view, there will never be enough doctors. The amount of patients is increasing everyday for all departments whereas the workforce stays the same. Since housemanship we have always hoped for more workforce to fight along with us. Now an MO, even the clinic is exploding with patients, and the feeling of being overwhelmed with a HUGE patient load is still the same.
Happier days,
but drowning with lack of workforce still on and off...
xx
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