1) After what seems like an eternity, I am finally back with another edition of my blog. It's hard to believe that almost a month as passed since then. Anyway, we're approaching the tail end of our first rotation, mine being gastroenterology in Ward 230. Honestly, gastroenterology has been a great rotation thus far, and I could not have asked for more support and guidance from my seniors and colleagues alike. I've found myself on the liver team (hepatology) more often than gastro, but overall working in both sides has been really rewarding.
2) For my next rotation, I'll be in trauma and orthopaedic surgery. Like my current rotation, it is also split into two sides - two months in trauma and two months in spine. Recently, the T&O team have been organising weekly teaching sessions, which aim to cover common conditions encountered in the ward - such as cauda equina syndrome and spondylodiscitis. I have been attending these and have found them really useful. I have heard stories about this rotation from my colleagues, so I am hoping that by reading up on some basic managements before starting, I would be able to settle in a bit better.
3) Working is honestly quite different from studying for exams. Firstly, the learning is a lot more opportunistic and less structured. There are of course teaching sessions but they cannot hope to cover the vast knowledge required to manage the ward jobs efficiently. Therefore, you have to be proactive and keep asking around to understand how and why things are done the way they are. I've found the trust guidelines really useful in that respect. It provides a brief overview of steps to manage many common conditions encountered in the wards.
4) Secondly, you can get as little or as much as you want out of working. For example, you could spend the whole day in the wards carrying out ward jobs like a clerk, and not getting anything out of it at the end of the day. Or you could choose to take the time to understand why certain changes to medications were made, why certain scans were ordered, or why certain patients require additional close monitoring. All of this is part of personal development, which is something heavily emphasised in our portfolio.
5) In addition to all this, as a foundation doctor on the academic pathway (SFP), I am also required to undertake a module called research methods in health, taught by Keele University. It basically comprises statistics and study designs that will be useful when we are start our research block in Foundation Year 2. At the end of the module, we have a written exam consisting of MCQs and SAQs, as well as a 2000-word essay to submit. All in all, plenty to keep me occupied for the rest of this year. And with that, I shall end my blog post here. Thank you for visiting as always, and have a great week ahead. Cheers!
Breakfast after a long night shift (9pm-9am)
Some people get a little queasy at the sight of blood, but for most of us here, it's a relief that we've gotten the blood required for analysis
Remembrance Day today
My first real purchase of anything other than basic food and amenities
Back to being a student then :)
Trauma and orthopaedic teaching Mondays
Unfortunately yesterday's session had to be postponed due to last minute changes
You know it is the correct location when there is a model of the human spine lying around
Free teaching and free lunch - what's not to like?
A nice assortment of sandwiches for lunch
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