“Rabbit in your headlights”

These last 3 days at work, I’ve been feeling like I’m a medical student again. I started my new SHO job last Weds in Critical Care/ITU Medicine, and it’s like i’ve entered a whole new world.

Everyday, I hear beeps, boops, burps, buzzs, or something like that. There are loads of gadgets everywhere, stuff which i have no idea how they work, but which keep critically ill patients alive. And there are a shit load of new abbreviations: PEEP, CPAP, BiPAP, SIMV, M&M and numbers and physics—aaaaahhh!

I’ve watched several cool procedures this week, none of which i have the confidence to perform yet, but would love to do.

On Fri, I was assigned two patients to “look after”, i.e order all the investigations and check up on them later, but was so freakin slow, as i didn’t know where any of the radiological dept’s where in the hospital. By the time i sorted the investigations for my first patient, the registrar saw the other patient already. Slow slow slow.

Hopefully next week, i’ll become more useful to the other docs on ITU.

A sweet ending…

Today is the last day for most junior docs in their present 4 month post. Tomorrow I start a new job, in a new hospital, and unfortunately have to wake up at a new/earlier time.

Traditionally and unofficially, the last day of the job is when us docs give the staff and secretaries a gift, usually chocolates, to say thanks for supporting, helping, whingeing, not reporting us to the GMC etc. I’ve just bought a box of Celebrations which will be demolished by the ward staff in approximately 2 hours- and they all say they’re on a diet. yeah right! not when it comes to chocolate or doing exercise.

The last day also means everyone is a bit apathetic and can’t be arsed to really see everyone because we’re not around the next day.

I just have to remember to leave a patient list, give my bleep back, tell security to cancel my car park permit, have farewell (soft) drinks at the local and amble off home.