It feels so weird being able to be home at 5 pm after two months. but cheers to being able to go home relatively early, and having the license to be a little bit lazy, I can actually write about the past 6 weeks of such tiring but definitely love and learning filled rotations - MICU, Neuro and IM *insert hearts here*
and yes, our block is done with what is considered to be the rotation that most clerkies look forward to :) *throws confetti and plays party music*
After my last three rotations, I now believe that there are different phases in every rotation, and that it was best elucidated in the last six weeks :) so indulge me as i share this wonderful (because it's my blog) realization :p
Stage 1: Shifting dullness
First days are always the worst, for me at least. No matter how much you try to prepare yourself with unlimited endorsements, first days are the days that make you want to go back to your previous rotation (case in point, today as my first day in Ortho, and I literally want to run back to IM :p)
MICU: I can still remember the stress I felt on the first day of MICU when I learned that my supposedly patient was already discharged (e kunwari nagbasa ako tungkol dun sa problem list niya the night before) and that I would be decked with another patient with whom I totally have no idea of what she has. Add to that that she has a very thick chart that I was not able to browse at all, plus a scheduled consultant rounds that very day (buti na lang may interns). It was also the very day when I learned that I no longer need coffee to keep me awake, because palpitations during endorsements or rounds are enough to keep me awake, alert and keep me at the edge :p
Neuro: First day at Neuro was a stormy day, in fact it was a stormy week that i felt that the shifting dullness lasted for a whole week and it was only at the last week when we were able to get a grasp of what should we really be doing in that rotation.
IM: Please dont judge me but i cried during our first day in IM. After having a patient who was reported as a morbidity on that very morning at Guazon (well we were not expected to know anything about our patients at that very day, but it's always stressful when your patient is toxic :| ) and the whole day of taking care and carrying out orders for a toxic patient (na sobrang hirap kunan ng dugo by the way), and being on pre-duty status with two hours of monitoring after a duty status the previous day, and to top it all, a meal-less day, i think anyone is bound to cry, or stress at shifting dullness lang talaga ako nun. hindi naman na naulit e :p
but i guess, having a horrible first day, is what made me push myself to move on to the next stage which is..
Stage 2: Getting a grasp of the (insert rotation name) world
It's the stage where you start to formulate your everyday routine - getting the hang of what you need to do on whatever post you are in.
Generally, it was a routine of signing attendance, doing chart rounds and saying hello to your patients, carrying out orders, insert monitoring in between SIC work (if you are preduty), and trying to learn more in every single free time that you get (if you get to have free time and if you are not being lazy or tired), this also includes being able to prioritize, and at least having the foresight of the possible questions that they can throw at you. or even the foresight or feeling that your new patient is endorsable, and that yes you should study more.
Of course IM and MICU have the very famous *dun dun dun* endorsements. and in this stage, we are still scared, well not as scared as in the phase of shifting dullness, but still scared of not being able to answer questions. Alam mo yung feeling na it's the stage wherein you thought you are getting the hang of it and then you fail in one way or another, and you just start to be miserable again, and just hope for the rotation to end. haha.
Stage 3: Appreciating each and every day *insert hearts here again*
It's the final stage, wherein everyday is not just a routine. but being able to appreciate everything that you do. (and now please forgive the cheesy-ness, nagwiwithdrawal na ata ako :p)
appreciating that your block's complete when you sign the attendance, or simply being able to laugh at the 'love letters to our resident monitor' for not being able to sign on time because 'we were too engrossed with SIC work' etc. :p
appreciating that you are being appreciated in the things that you write in the chart or even just for your efforts.
appreciating how much effort your interns put in making every day bearable :)
appreciating your residents and how much they make an extra effort of imparting knowledge in whatever way they can :)
appreciating the free time to rest, to eat and to simply bond over a pack of hany, a box of mallows, a dozen donuts, or whatever coop, pares and fast food there is.
appreciating the self made sanctuaries which are the call room that has countless sightings of the famous micu mouse/mice, the call room that is actually just a hall room or a call room with a literally freezing aircon.
appreciating your mistakes or your inability to answer questions because it only means that there is always a room to learn more and improve yourself.
but most especially, appreciating seeing your patients improve day by day, of being able to see them smile, of hearing them say that you will be missed because they will soon be discharged, of their understanding whenever you fail miserably in extracting blood or inserting IV lines, and of course, appreciating their unlimited thank yous when it was actually you who owe them a lot. :)
It would have been perfect kung diretso agad sa stage 3, but the impact of being able to appreciate all of these wont be as great kung hindi dadaanan ung two stages. those past three rotations were definitely life and perspective changing. It made me love what I do and what I need to do more. And for that, thank YOU :)
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