Archive for August 2008
How not to be prepared
Posted on August 5th, 2008 by Matt
It’s by doing this website I’ve realised that I’ve only done one stupid thing this summer. I’ve left all of my notes on, and prospectuses for, the universities I’m thinking about applying to back on my bed in halls. In the same pile is my personal statement, and the books I bought about getting into medicine.
It’s a good thing, therefore, that I had planned to buy one more book this summer, Progression to Medicine, Dentistry and Optometry 2009 Entry by UCAS. It’s a real shame I can’t seem to find it in a high street shop anywhere, because I’d like it now! Instead I’ve bought it off the UCAS website, and should have it by the end of the week. A bargin for only ?19.99 including delivery – well, I’ll think it was a bargin if it helps me get in, if not I’ll think I’ve wasted ?20.
They say that first drafts of personal statements are always in need of re-drafting, so I may as well go ahead and just do that. I don’t suppose it can do any harm, this way I’ll be able to pick the best parts from both of them!
Matt says: Now really is the time to be starting your application properly!
No Comments »First ‘proper’ day
Posted on August 5th, 2008 by Rob
So I arrived at 8am and the House Officer whose job I am taking over gave me a bit of a tour. I?d met her before and she we?d chatted about the job at length. At about 9am she said ?right ? I start my new job in London tomorrow morning and I have to pack and drive there today ? do you mind if I go??. So there I was in Central Delivery Suite (CDS ? Labour Ward). I?m a doctor. I?m wearing scrubs; I have a stethoscope around my neck, a name badge saying ?doctor?, and a bleep. Good lord ? What has just happened?
A midwife comes to me and says ?can you prescribe some morphine for my lady in 3, doctor?? I don?t know! Can I? I hesitate for a second. I know nothing about this woman. I?ve never seen her, never spoken to her, and I haven?t asked about her allergies. The midwife gets a bit more hurried and so I cave in and just do as requested ? my first prescription for morphine no less. I?m still expecting the police to break the door down and arrest me.
Then my bleep goes off. I pick up the phone and called the number on the display. I say ?hello you bleeped the obs house officer?. The voice replies ?It?s the reg, where are you??. I explain that I?m on CDS. ?Well I can?t do the section on my own come to maternity theatre to assist me?. So I stand up and ask the midwife ? where?s maternity theatre? The door directly in front of me!!
I spent the next three hours holding retractors, pushing here, pulling there and getting back ache. The afternoon was filled with more Caesarean sections but with a different reg. Unlike this morning the reg was chatty and asked questions, showed me things and explained what he was doing. By the last case he said do you want to try closing the skin? And my answer: ?YES PLEASE?. So on my first day I learnt and did subcuticular skin sutures.
1 Comment »First Day
Posted on August 4th, 2008 by Rob
Ok so my first day wasn?t as exciting as I?d expected. I spent the whole day in a lecture theatre having a ?trust induction?. I had to have blood taken, show my passport, hand-in my GMC and insurance certificates. Then 15minute lectures on security, IT, labs, endless forms and what they?re for, heath and safety, manual handling, consent, complaints etc etc
Tomorrow I shadow the F1 whos job I’ll be taking.
No Comments »The Night Before
Posted on August 3rd, 2008 by Rob
During my 6 years at medical school I?ve learnt to stick needles in people, I?ve given CPR, I?ve intubated people (under supervision), delivered over 50 babies, got malaria in Tanzania, cried when a baby died, got accidentally locked in a psychiatric ward, met my (soon to be) fianc?, and, of course, passed finals.
It?s been six weeks since I passed finals and during that time I?ve had lots to do. Firstly my Foundation post is in Plymouth and so I had to find a house (with my girlfriend) and move in. Then I had to upgrade my bank account to a graduate account and have my cards changed to ?Dr?. Plus get my overdraft extended. Then my mum came to visit and we did joint activities with my girlfriend?s parents (if you knew my mum you?d understand). I?ve been setting up this website and I did a weeks shadowing.
The time is almost here. I?ve received my contract and offer of employment. Its 11pm the night before my first day and I have a mixture of feelings. Firstly I?m excited. My MPS name badge came today! I?m nervous because my first job is in Obstetrics and Gynaecology which I haven?t done in a while. I?m anxious because after rechecking my documents I have to take my passport with me to get my ID card. Where on earth have I put it? I?ll meet about 50 new colleagues tomorrow. Leaving London meant that I left most of my friends and now I have to make new ones. What if they think I?m a total twat? I might become Billy no mates, especially because I?m not living onsite.
That annoys me. Last year all F1 doctors got free accommodation within the hospital. This year F1 doctors have to pay ?485 plus bills plus council tax. For a tiny studio apartment with a pull down single bed. For that reason Georgia (my girlfriend) and I decided to rent. We found a great 3 bedroom house 5 minutes down the road for ?650 a month (between us). The accommodation office are apparently having problems filling the residences.
Anyway. The shit is gonna hit the fan in the coming months and I plan to tell you all about it. For now I must go because I need a bath (to remove the face pack that my girlfriend applied 20 minutes ago) and an early night so that I?m bright eyed and bushytailed for my first day.
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