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I encountered my first taste in the various types of wards in the Paediatric posting.
Coming from the Orthopaedics Posting, there were limited number of wards albeit having multiple sub specialities. However, there were all located in the same ward. In the Obstetrics and Gynaecology posting, the wards were limited as well but there weren’t such things as sub specialities.
In the Paediatrics Posting, the wards that most of us had to rotate in are General Paediatric Ward 2B, Paediatric 4A, Paediatric Isolation Ward 3A and Nursery Ward.
1. General Paediatric Ward 2B
The General Paediatric Ward 2B otherwise known as “Paeds 2B” is located at the side building at Level 2.
The age of patients here ranges from as young as neonates to up till 17 years old. The median age of patients here are from 1 year old to around 10 years old.
This ward was my assigned ward upon entering this posting and most of the cases that were admitted here is respiratory illnesses such as acute bronchiolitis, acute exacerbation of asthma, viral pneumonia requiring oxygen support from as low as nasal prong up till CPAP or BiPAP. Occasionally, some patients with febrile seizure are admitted for monitoring.
There are instances when some patients would be electively admitted for IVIG, sleep study or certain procedures.
The morning shift is from 7am till 6pm while the night shift is from 6pm till 10am.
2. Paediatric 4A (Neonatal Jaundice, NNJ)
If you are in Paeds 2B, you are required to take care of Paeds 4A as “peri”.
The patients located here are usually babies referred from Klinik Kesihatan for neonatal jaundice requiring single phototherapy or intensive phototherapy.
“Paeds 4A” is actually the Paediatric Surgical Ward. However, some patients are under follow up by the medical team as well.
Working the day shift in Paeds 2B, if one is allocated as the “Peri House Officer”, we are required to review the patients in Paeds 4A who are under Paeds Medical follow up as well as the neonatal jaundice (NNJ) babies.
However, if one is working the night shift, they are required to take the coming morning bloods of the NNJ babies.
3. Paediatric Isolation Ward 3A
The Paediatric Isolation Ward 3A or “Paeds 3A” is a general ward, similar to Paeds 2B. However, patients who are tested positive for Covid-19 are quarantined here.
The age of patients here ranges from as young as neonates to up till 17 years old and the cases are similar to cases admitted in Paeds 2B.
Working during the morning shift is from 7am till 6pm and the night shift is from 6pm till 10am.
4. Nursery Ward / NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit)
Ahh.. The babies’ ward.
The Nursery Ward and NICU are located at the same place with the NICU located at the back of the Nursery Ward.
The patients who are admitted into the Nursery Ward or the NICU are admitted right after birth.
The babies admitted into NICU are usually those that require NIV support, to be intubated or born extremely preterm.
Babies who are admitted into the Nursery Ward are babies being stepped down from NICU support or babies who are admitted right after birth for observation such as presumed sepsis for respiratory distress, presumed sepsis for maternal chorioamnionitis, infant of mother with gestational diabetes mellitus or post vacuum assisted delivery. These are just a few of the cases. There are also patients who are transferred out from maternity ward and admitted for monitoring such as presumed sepsis for vomiting and presumed sepsis for hypoglycaemia (just to name a few).
I will elaborate more on our duties as a House Officer in the Nursery Ward / NICU in another part. Working the AM shift in this ward is from 7am to 7pm and the PM shift is from 7pm to 10am.
5. Nursery Level 1
Nursery Level 1 is an extension of the Nursery Ward.
Albeit the name “Level 1”, it is actually located at Level 3 of the main building, opposite the Maternity 1 ward, at the back of the vascular ward.
Most of the babies admitted here are stable enough to be left to their own devices without extra monitoring from the medical doctors. Most of them are admitted for neonatal jaundice, requiring phototherapy or have been admitted for many months and have been stepped down from NICU support to Nursery, monitored for sucking and feeding, gaining weight and finally about to be discharged soon.
Hence, being allocated here as the House Officer, it is our duty to ensure that the planned discharges are complete as this will hasten the discharging process the following morning.
Some of the babies here are staying in their own cot just like in the main nursery ward while some babies are rooming in with the mother.
6. Paediatric 2A (Oncology)
The Paediatric Oncology Ward is located beside Paediatrics 2B, at the side building at Level 2.
As the name suggests, it is an oncology ward. However, I am unable to elaborate on the tasks and job scope as I have yet to experience working in that ward.
7. PICU (Paediatric Intensive Care Unit)
The Paediatric Intensive Care Unit otherwise also known as PICU, is located near the Nursery Level 1 which is at the main building, Level 4, opposite the Maternity 1 ward.
Sadly, I am unable to elaborate on the job scope as well and cases seen as I have never been allocated in this ward.
These are the Paediatric’s Wards that us as House Officers rotate in, in the Sarawak General Hospital.
Each ward has its own challenges and interesting cases. If you are going through Paeds or about to go through, remember to enjoy the process and journey and to learn as much as you can!
Related Posts:
- Housemanship Diaries: Surviving the Tagging Period in Paediatrics
- Tagging Day 1 In My Third Posting – Day 498 | Housemanship Diaries
- The Benefits Of Working During The Weekend / Weekdays As A House Officer | Housemanship Diaries
- My Experience In O&G During The Anaemic House Officer Period
- My Support System During My Second Posting in The Obstetrics & Gynaecology Department – Housemanship Diaries
- Reflection of The Obstetric and Gynaecology Posting
- My First Ever Explanation Letter
- My Last Day In The Department of Obstetrics And Gynaecology
- The Joy Of Working The Night Shift As A House Officer
- My Second Posting During Housemanship – Obstetrics & Gynaecology
- I Survived 26 Days Of Tagging In O&G – Housemanship Diaries
The Theoretical Doctor 