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“You Guys Are Angels”
This may be a biased statement and it differs according to the individual’s experience. Thus, although I do know of the controversies I may ignite. I am merely saying this out of my own firsthand experiences and as mentioned before, each person’s experience differs greatly.
MOs, short for Medical Officers.
First of all, I don’t know how do you guys (medical officers) do it, pulling through an oncall shift, just to return for another oncall duty the following day after postcall. Perhaps it is because during my current batch, we have shifted fully to the “shift system”. Thus, we have yet to experience the “oncall” system which was experienced by the older house officer batches.
I am in awe and I appreciate the determination and discipline that goes with it. Most of the time when an oncall medical officer is on duty, they solely handle the referrals from emergency or ward and sometimes both. This goes on from the start of that day till the following morning and after which they would have to help out in clinics during their postcall, wards or even in operating theatres (OT).
Most of the time, they are alone unless they are lucky enough to have a “tagger”. Thus it is them, the house officer, the registrar and the specialist that forms the oncall team.
That is if they are oncall. In the wards, they rely on the house officers to carry out the active joblists, to take the bloods, request necessary scans, to resuscitate the patient first and inform if there are any acute issues and to carry out the morning, evening and oncall reviews while they are in the clinics or operating theatres or helping out in other places.
I used to think that once we have completed housemanship, life will be better. However, after observing my medical officers and registrars, it does not actually get better, the stress is on another level, the responsibilities increases yet they pull through it with jokes and smiles. I used to think that, perhaps they have gotten used to it. On the other hand, I’m still struggling.
Medical Officers are in charge of the House Officers as well. Thus, if any pitfalls were to occur, of course we do get scolded but they are the ones who get reprimanded as well. I’ve lost count of the times when the medical officers have backed me up. Although I do know that, that is their duty but albeit the responsibilities and the stress, I’ve experienced it first hand multiple times when they would take the fall instead when it comes to answering the specialists.
There are times when I do feel their anger were uncalled for. However, most of the time I understand that it mainly stems from tiredness. The patience really wears thin and snaps easily when there is lack of proper rest.
A lot is expected of them from the specialists and on top of that, taking care of us, House Officers too and teaching us what we do not know while trusting the patient’s care into our hands while they are off to help out in a different place. They are always a call away even if we are placed in the night shift. Thus, should there be any issues, they are always nearby and there.
Yet, after work, after the tiring day and issues that occur in ward, they return home to their families and loved ones and try to go about their life, only to return and repeat it again the following day.
Some might say, well, it is their duty isn’t it? I’ve heard it before.
It is true and personally I feel that we as House Officers, although we are tired, and on top of that being tested emotionally, they are even more tired.
Thus, if there is anything at all that stems from this article, it is my deep and heartfelt gratitude and appreciation towards the Medical Officers, which are rarely said.
My dear readers, if you are beginning your journey as a House Officer or is currently going through your housemanship or internship journey, have faith, patience and to always remember to be kind. Remember that as House Officers, we serve to ease the burdens of the Medical Officers on top of learning on the job, for we will one day take their place.
A fellow colleague always mentions this sentence while I’m in my Surgical Posting, “Don’t do unto others what you don’t want them to do unto you”.
This wise line by Confucius has a special place in my heart and I hope it does for you as well. As you become more senior and familiar with the work at hand as well as build good relationships with your superiors, always remember to be humble and kind.
Do not let cockiness overcome you nor be easily angered when a fellow junior makes a mistake or asks for guidance.
We were all once in their shoes as well.
Always remember to take care of yourselves first, so you can serve others best.
Related Posts:
- My Last Day In Paediatrics As A House Officer
- Working In The Nursery Ward – Housemanship Diaries
- My Downfall In Surgery Which Led To My Extension – Housemanship Diaries
- 1 Year Of Housemanship Update – Housemanship Diaries
- Another Good Advice I Will Remember For The Longest Time – Housemanship Diaries
- The Time I Turned A Baby’s Hand Blue – Housemanship Diaries
- My First On Night Experience In General Paediatrics – Housemanship Diaries
- My First On-Night Experience In Nursery Ward
- My Experience In General Paediatrics (Paeds 2B) – Housemanship Diaries
- Enjoying The Journey – Housemanship Diaries
- 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
The Theoretical Doctor 