An MD's Odyssey

A medical resident is in the hospital 7am to 5pm everyday on his day post. Every 3 days a medical resident stays for 24 hours which ends and goes on till 5pm the next day because of his day post for a total of 34 hours. Confusing? For example: On a regular monday we come in at 7am and leave at 5pm. One of us has to stay until the next day so I endorse all my patients until I get back at 7am the next day. This is what we call the preduty post. I like preduty posts because this means I get to go home at 5pm. The next day is my "duty" post. (TUE) This means that I come in at 7am and at 5pm I don't get to go home because it's my turn to stay so my fellow residents that are not on duty get to go home at 5pm and endorse their patiets to me. At 7am the next morning (WED) my fellow residents come back and I endorse back their patients.
I resume my day post until 5pm this is what we call the "from duty" post. You are supposed to be in your day post just like everyday but you're sleep deprived because you went on duty the night before. The next day (THU) you come in as preduty post which starts the 3 day cycle all over again.

Why am I writing this? Don't get me wrong because I love my job but the routine can really get to you. I feel I'm still lucky because I have a tendency to attract stuff making every single day different. (I swear by murphy's law) Now small things, such as getting away from the hospital for a few hours may be the thing that keeps me sane. That's why every chance I get I find ways to make the most out of every minute. Ina few hours I'm on duty again


-- Post From My iTouch

Hospital Christmas

It's my 5th Christmas in the hospital. (Clerkship, Internship, Pre-Residency, 1st Year, 2nd Year Residency). It's 6pm and just got out of intra-operative monitoring. I have just finished rounds MICU, Referrals and ward. I went to the Radiology department to view some radiographs. On the way back, I always make it a point to pass by the Treatment Room (Pay Emergency room) and say hi to the lonely MROD (Lauren is on duty). Now who can pass-up on the opportunity to have a photo-shoot when there are no patients in the ER?

A few seconds from this photo an ambulance came in with what appears to be a trauma patient. I intubated the patient and was chased away by the ER people before I "attract" more patients. (A toxic ER resident "attracts" patients like a Mall Sale attracts shopaholics). Went back to the ward to check on my patients. While doing my rounds, I get a call from my mom saying I've won a flatscreen TV. I suddenly remembered I shelled out P200 for bingo cards for my nephews to play bingo in our street christmas bingo. My mom wrote my name at the back of the cards I bought and they played it for me. Not a few minutes from dropping the call. I get a call from Lauren saying that the patient I intubated wasn't a trauma patient. All the blood was from hemoptysis and the patient had TB. Merry Christmas!!! I can now watch TV with my TB.Got stuffed on Noche Buena with my fellow residents and interns from Internal Medicine, Derma, Neuro and Pedia. Not that I didn't enjoy my past christmasses in the hospital but I just need to spend the next christmas elsewhere. I am looking forward to getting out the next day and spending christmas day in Bulacan with my relatives.