Internship
Sunday, Jun 8, 2008 7:04PM / Standard Entry
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2 weeks ago marks the beginning of my internship training. A week before that there was this orientation to make sure we know how to do what we do. That weekend we had to attend the intensive ACLS (advance cardiac life support) course with tests on sunday, thank God i passed, but it only valids for 2 years, which means i'll have to re-take it 2 years from now. This was after i had my one week break after finishing my clerkship. I went back to my home during that week, stopped over at macau on my way back. Being back was nice, get to re-union with my parents and my brother, and friends as well. Just too short for anything. Macau was unexpected, invited a few friends to join me there and brought them around places. We had great times, and bad times as well, when most of us kind of lost almost all our capitals to the casinos. It was funny how we planned to spend the money that we were gonna win. I guess it's much better spent donating to people afflicted by the quakes.
I had my first two weeks of internship in Gastrointestines Internal Medicine, where it deals with most of the intestines problems from diarrhea to cancers. I have had the honor of being taught by a friendly NP, who taught me almost all the things i should know. She was a great teacher, though i worked hard on my part. I worked late almost everyday. We have to be on call about 2 to 3 times a week. I had mine on Thursday. The experience was not fun at all, and no sleep as well. I kept working until late nights, and got called up early mornings around 6am to do some simple procedures. We were assigned floors to be responsible for, if problems arises there's the on call residence to call for help, and i wouldn't wanna be them as they are always busy. That night i ran up and down floors and helped out with two critically deteriorating patients. The next day at work was so sleepy but i managed to get by. Saturday i had the assisting shift, which basically is to help out if there are newly admitted patients. Theoretically the shift was from 12 to 5, but i finished up until 8pm. On Sunday, it was my turn to be on call, which starts from 9am until next day when the work begins. It was OK during the daytime, not so busy until at night, things got hectic. There were patients who can urinate and i have to help them get their waters out, patient with 9 large pressure sore on them which i have to change dressing 2 times a day, patients complaining chest tightness which i have to follow up and kept complaining, and the worst part was the one just underwent bladder surgery and needed irrigation due to blood clots inside. It was laborous than anyone can imagine and needed most patience. Basically I haven't had weekends until this one.
This week was a much much better one. I get to do certain cool procedures, under supervision of course, not all succesful. I had a patient who had massive lung effusion and ascites, so i get to try and draw the fluids from chest and abdomen. I had my first chest tapping, unsuccesful though, as i were trying to pierce through the ribs instead of muscles. However, paracentesis was more succeful than that. Besides that, I get to watch chest man inserting chest tubes to drain for the chest effusion as well. I were on call once this week and it was much more sleep than i thought. However, sleep was restless as i kept wondering if i missed some calls. I had some snags while trying to insert nasogastric tubes for some p't. They just refuse to swallow and it was almost impossible. Some had the skills to re-direct the tubes into their mouths.
Next 2 weeks i will be spending time at the General Internal Medicine. Things would be pretty much the same i guess, i hope there will not be too much changing of schedule as well as work load, but it seems to be a wishful thinking. Guess i just have to tough it out.
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