1st posting (department)

Almost a year since i last posted??? Walao !!

Then i'll just write what comes into my mind, because if i wait, this blog gonna be history.
Departments can be divided into 2 major categories, which are, surgical based and medical based.
By now, you all should already know which department belong to which category, right?

Based on my experience and my experience ONLY, the choice of department DO play a big role in your HO life. I'll tell you why...

Example :
You graduated from your university, went to the "Kursus Penempatan" or whatever they call it, now you know which hospital you're going to serve. Those coming from local universities have more advantage than those from the overseas (i graduated from indonesia, so chill laa, Malaysia Bull-eh). NOT in terms of level of knowledge (generally speaking) but in working environment.
Local grads, did their clinical years in local hospitals. Everyday they see how specialist do ward rounds, how things were done there, how HO get f***ed up & lots more. So its like ;

"well... i've been to Zimbabwe once with my family, next time, if i go alone also, i can survive one" said Ahmad with one eye closed.

Meanwhile, overseas grads, if they never do attachment in govt hospital during semester break, they will not have any idea on how govt hospital is being run. Its like,

"well... i'm a tip-top student in my university, how hard can housemanship be, sure can laa", said Bidil while sipping his favorite Starbucks' Cappuccino.

When i was a first poster (1st day in my 1st department), i was damn BLUR. I don't know what to do. Everyone is busy doing some work, i don't know what i am supposed to do. People told me to clerk the new patient. I don't even know what "clerk" really means !!! So i took one file, and... started READING for like 30mins, trying to understand what is written on the referral letter.

<<<< Referral Letter >>>
Dear doctor, kindly see this pt, 28/C/F, G2P1 @28w
p/w cont pain since 2am, no leaking, FM good, no show. Documented cont 2:10:15secs, CTG reactive, uFEME leu 2+
Imp : Threatened Preterm Labour d/t UTI
Kindly see her and do the needful. Tq
 ============================================================

I was like, WTF !! this is NOT a letter written by human being, this is some kind of alien telegraph intercepted by the CIA.
When they saw me NOT helping at all, they then gave me an easier job, which was, trace the all the blood investigation STAT. Since i went to the hospital orientation before, i knew where the lab is, but still, i don't know what blood to trace, whos blood to trace, bloody hell laa wei... lol
The next day, i became a senior HO's shadow, i switched to mode "watch & learn".

Since you have a lot to learn as a 1st poster, it is going to be a lot harder for you to start in a "busy department" than in a "less-busy department", right?
Medical department is well known to be the MOST busy department of all, applies to all hospitals at all time. So, it is more wise NOT to start in medical as your first posting.

For me, i started in O&G. Still a busy department, but compared to medical, O&G is less busy !!
I have to learn the short forms, how to clerk cases, set up IV line (branula), take vein blood, trace blood & vaginal examination. If i were in medical, i have to learn all these (except vaginal examination), plus how to take & analyze arterial blood, do rectal examination, neurological examination, take blood culture, ECG interpretation and many more. (during tagging time of course).
Learn "one by one" slowly is far much better than" all by one", common sense !!

Remember, less busy = less stress !!

Tips : some hospital "administration officers" understand  1st poster's problem, after getting your "duty-report" letter, try to call your respective hospital admin officer (normally at bahagian sumber manusia), introduce yourself and ask them if possible, not to put medical as your first posting. They are the one in-charge of new HO's department arrangement.

p/s : medical is a big posting, you'll learn alot there, try to do it as early as possible, or if you can, as your first posting. HO always say, if you finished medical, you be more confident in managing a patient yourself.