Starting Out My Journey As a Doctor to Be

Saturday, December 06, 2008

One Week at the Surgical Ward

i am certainly in my euphoric stage now, i can't stop giggling :P tagging for a week at the surgical ward was absolutely a worthwhile experience, there is some much to be learnt! even though at times you are going to feel a little left out because as a medical students, you are at the bottom of the bottom of the medical hierarchy, but still, it's worth it. and surgery itself is a complete breath of fresh air! i just LOVE it. today i got to SCRUB IN!!!! yesh, sterilized, helping in surgery kind of scrub in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

with scrubs

surgical mask

and i even did the proper wash-my-hands-until-my-elbow-with-the-proper-brush-and-not-touch-anything-else but sterile gown and gloves :p

you need to divide your forearm into 4 quadrant and brush each part 4 times. my forearms were so red and painful by the end of all those brushing o.O

and of course there is some special technique of putting on the sterile gloves too

and of course you got scrub nurse to help you to put on your gown

this was my very first scrubbing in hence i was a bit clumsy and eventhough it took my around 10 mins to get everything done, i was so so so thrilled! i still am! it was AWESOMENESS.

i watched 5 surgeries to day and scrubbed in in a total thyroidectomy. okay la, all i did was pulling the retractor but hey, at least i DID something. i was totally swept off my feet :p they also used this little instrument with metal tip to burn off tissues and stop minor bleeding and there is still weird bbq scents coming out from the operating table. ~~~ so, no more tepanyaki for me anytime soon. (I MEAN IT)

i was offered to scrubbed in again for the 6th one but i had some planning with my mum tonight hence i had to VERY very very, exteremely, supremely RELUCTANTLY leave the operation theatre. well i still feel a little bit disappointed but i guess i need to strike a balance. i want more surgeries!!!!!!!

I have to say this, the teaching staffs/doctors in Penang General Hospital are wonderful, they have so much to teach and they do so very happily. From what i have seen, from housmenship officers to medical officers to specialists and consultants, they are a whole bunch of very passionate, dedicated, competent and hardworking group one could hardly imagine how much effort they have put in without seeing it themselves. I am so glad and surprised that this is actually happening in Malaysia's hospital. Good on them! Now i am seriously having my second thought, i might want to come back to M'sia to do my internship afterall.

Labels: medicine and me