Articles, Fifth Posting (Medical), Housemanship Diaries

My First Night Shift Covering Medical 4 / Medical 5 / Infectious Disease Ward In Sarawak General Hospital – Housemanship Diaries


An article regarding my experience covering Medical 4, Medical 5 and the Infectious Disease Ward during the night shift while I was rotating in my Fifth Posting, Medical.

Article written by Dr Jewel Nambiar.

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Around my third month in the Department of Medical at Sarawak General Hospital, I was reallocated to Medical 4 which is the “Nephrology Ward” meaning patients who are admitted with newly diagnosed chronic kidney disease or have underlying kidney pathology requiring biopsy or haemodialysis (HD support) but clinically stable as in not requiring oxygen support, not in sepsis or not requiring medications for blood pressure support are admitted here.

I will explain more about that ward in another article.

Anyway, back to the reason for this article, being allocated in this ward meant that I had to cover not just this ward, Medical 4 but also Medical 5 as well as the Infectious Disease Ward during my night shift.

In the Department of Medical, the night shift is from 8pm till 10am the following day.

While I was allocated here, I was blessed enough to have a few taggers in the ward and tagging is from 7am till 10pm.

Thus, upon heading down at 8pm, there are usually a few people in Medical 4 till 10pm. Thus, upon entering my shift, I would first head over to Level 9 to place my bags, pop into Medical 4, for a while and then head over to Medical 5 to take the coming morning bloods.

Upon completion, I would then head over to Medical 4 and begin my coming mornings there. Usually while I’m taking my coming mornings, new patients will come in and thus I would transfer in at the same time.

Upon completion of my coming mornings in Medical 4, I would usually send my bloods at around 2am and then head over to the Infectious Disease Ward to take the coming mornings.

In between I would be free but sometimes I would receive call for new transfer ins at Medical 4 and Medical 5.

At 5-6am, I start running the blood gases. Usually when I take the coming mornings bloods, I would take the blood gases as well and keep it in a separate syringe in the cooler.


Surviving the night shift initially was intimidating as I have yet to experience it and Medical 4 and Medical 5 were located far apart from each other.

My main concern was if something were to occur at both wards at the same time.

Thankfully, my experiences were mostly good and I enjoyed every night shift I’ve experienced thus far in this ward.


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