If anybody's wondering where I've been for the last three months (not that I expect anybody to keep tabs on my whereabouts), well, I've been in the hospital (obviously), becoming the typical zombie/medical intern/monitoring machine.
So maybe that was a bit of an exaggeration. Here is a brief run-through of my first three months of internship. Human interest stories will be written and published after I have recharged my literary creativity which 3 months of internship has sucked out of my marrow.
Month 1: Community Medicine
During my 1st month, I was assigned to Community Medicine. This was the fun part. The only problem is that we had the bad luck of getting this rotation at the FIRST MONTH. Therefore, we are deprived of a vacation to look forward to. During Community Medicine Rotation, all we did was play poker and Tong-its, sing Karaoke at Manang Josie's store, play charades, watch movies, paint a mural, and eat a lot. Sometimes, we get patients for consultations.
Month 2: Internal Medicine (In)
This is the Zombie/Monitoring Machine Month. 90% of our time is spent monitoring vital signs. Seriously. The 10% is spent sleeping, eating, making histories, getting grilled during endorsements, and bagging during codes. I may have to make a whole post dedicated to the joys of vital signs monitoring (because we don't have monitoring machines) and bagging for long stretches of time (because we have a limited number of mechanical ventilations) just to get it out of my system.
But in fairness, I did learn a lot (and then forgot most it so to be brutally honest, I learned a few things). And for some weird reason, I actually kind of enjoyed. But maybe that's because I like Internal Medicine.
Month 3: Internal Medicine (Out)
For our second month of IM, we rotated in a Government Hospital. The thing I loved most about this rotation is that THERE IS NO VITAL SIGNS MONITORING! (Hurray!). And we get to do a lot of procedures. Blood extractions, FBC insertions, NGT insertions, Gastric lavage, IV insertions and more IV insertions. I think I have mentioned in a previous post that I'm a no-guts klutz who's always afraid of doing procedures. Well, I'm proud to say that I'm less of a klutz now. I've mastered NGT insertions, can find the right hole for female FBC insertions, and get 7/10 IV insertions. AND... I'VE INTUBATED! Twice. Actually, I was the last of my group to perform but what the heck. I've intubated and it's a great feeling. The patients died though. (We have a 0% survival rate after a code.) Still, I learned quite a lot.
My only complaint is that I am constantly TIRED. You would be if you go on duty every other day.
MONTH 4: Radiology/Psychia
For the first week, I'm rotating in Radiology. I'm not sure I'm learning anything, except how to recognize a normal CXR. All I do is get histories. I guess that makes me a Historian. (*lame joke*). The great part is that we have weekends off and no 24 hour duties! Yey!!!
So that's it for now. A wrap-up of my first quarter.
It's not all fun. But then again, it's not all misery.
