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Friday, March 27, 2009

Scalpel and Stiches 4 & 5

All American Rejects - Give You Hell

Sorry for the delay on yesterday's post.
Was extremely exhausted...
And was in a total emotional dilemma.
Still trapped in that situation.
I hate hate hate being in a dilemma every now and then.
My mind's so bloody fickle, till I can't think straight.
I can't elaborate more on this... I have my reasons...
I will reveal much later on, so yeah.

Program Pendedahan Kerjaya Seorang Doktor (Day 4 & 5)
Exposure to Medical Career Program (something like that :p)


We didn't do much on the fourth day.
Visited the Surgical ward, where patients are emitted before and after surgery to recuperate.
The nurse was really really nice to bring us around.
There wasn't any houseman (HO) or medical officer (MO) available at that time.
So, we didn't get the opportunity to ask much about the surgical cases there.
But Sister was kind enough to bring us around and explain some recent cases.
Like there was a patient who just came in from thyroid surgery, still deep in his sleep.

Hmm... what else?
I can't really recall much...
After that was a looooong but entertaining talk by Mr. Harris (orthodontic specialist).
Funny... Once they become a specialist, they prefer to be addressed as Sir or Mr.
He said, "We study so hard to gain the Dr. title, but we've gotta work even HARDER to get rid of it..."
I really enjoyed his talk. He joked a lot about his experience as a doctor.
They were all true experience, but he has a good sense of humour around it.
After listening to him, it was pretty clear that my heart has taken its own course.
I knew at that point what I wanted and what I didn't want.
But due to circumstances, you can't always follow your heart.
A lot of things have to come into consideration...

I know I'm not making any sense now...
I'm trying to keep details as minimal as possible.
My JPA interview is coming up soon...
1st of April, that's right. On April's Fool.
According to a forum site, there were cases where the interviewers played some trick at the candidates, just to lighten things up...
Cause it's bloody BOH-RING to interview thousands of em.
They keep changing the language. From BM to English then to BM again...
I think I'll just die if they speak to me in BM.
I'll slurr and give all kinds of umm OMM ERRR AARR...
Anyway, I heard some interviewers do Google candidates' blog.
I'm afraid that whatever I state here might affect their impression and all that.
It's quite a big deal! It's friggin JPA scholarship!
They can offer to send you overseas to further your studies.
I can't bloody afford that, so this is a HUUGEE opportunity for me.
If I don't get this scholarship, I can bloody well forget about studying overseas.
Not that studying locally is not good enough...
It's better overseas, you get cultural differences and gain more knowledge about what's OUT THERE.
In Malaysia, we kinda live in this shallow shell.
Everything is in reach, but it's because we never bother to stretch out for it.
Either that or because the government kinda hides stuff from us, for some particular reason I have no idea of :/

So anyway... back to the program.
I can get so bloody carried away...
From the program... to the interview... to April's fool... and then the government :/
ANYWAY...
Today was pretty much the same. Visited the Orthopedic Ward.
Saw some really gruesome leg wounds.
This is were bones and flesh are all over the place.
Not an easy field I tell ya. This is where you witness groans, moans and sometimes screams of pain and agony.
Again, the Sister entertained us most of the time
HO and MO were all busy and only one HO managed to squeeze some time for us.
We heard the same stuff that we've been listening to for the past THREE DAYS x|

Do it if you're really interested.
Don't do it for the money.
It's not a glamorous job.
There're a lot of sacrifices you must make.
You can partially forget about your social life.
Patients come first, not yourself, or your own family...

It is discouraging, but many stood strong on their decision.
I asked around... And many of them said they are DEAD SURE they wanna be a doctor.
One even said that she's desperate to do it.
Another said she wants to do NOTHING ELSE but medicine.
Yes, it is very very EXTREMELY intimidating to be around these people.
I salute them. They have found their "calling".
It's a blessed thing... They know what they want in life...

Back to the Orthopedic...
We got to listen to a nurse's point of experience rather than a doctor.
The Sister who brought us around told us about her experience.
She had a few cases where she had to advice her patient whether to amputate or not.
Most specialists will recommend to amputate the minute they suspect the wound would spread.
But for some cases, it's not necessary, just a step of precaution.
So, this particular Sister will advise her patient, whether or not it's necessary.
She had two cases where the patients took her advice, refused to amputate and in the end their injuries healed.
So she actually helped them to save their leg...
In my opinion, nurses are the unsung heroes.
Usually when you know the doctors' names but not the nurses.
They're the one who's with you most of the time.
Cleaning your wounds, tending your bed, food, etc...
In the Operation Theater, the nurses are needed to prepare the equipments required.
They're responsible to make sure that the doctors use the proper tools.
Without them, things just won't work. The hospital won't survive.
And yet, most patients do not realize or take notice of their existence.
I think it's a NOBLE job, aside from being a doctor of course.
Cause they deserve some sort of recognition.
So, I support whoever that is interested in becoming a nurse!
I can't do it. I don't have that sort of patience and endurance.
Doctors and nurses have different kinds patience levels.
I would say that the doctors have the easier job.
In sense of endurance especially!

I just stated a big give away right?
I think if you read between the lines, you roughly know what my heart has decided.
Then you would understand the dilemma I'm in.
I'm afraid to reveal it publicly because a lot of people will come messing with my head with a lot of advice and questions.
I kinda need to clear my mind and think straight for a minute.
Scratch that. Think straight for SEVERAL DAYS.
Time is not what I have.
The interview is in less than a week's time.
And I have to decide on something that would affect my future.
*groans* This is heavy... So darn heavy....

Argghh... Anyway, I'll cut short.
We didn't do much today.
Had another talk by Dr. Shuhaila (Clinical Specialist) after that.
She gave us vital information about medical school, interviews, doctors criteria, etc.
For those who are pretty sure that they wanna be a doctor, her talk just strenghtens their decision.
For those who are not..... Let's just say it created more room for doubts.
All in all... It's a GOOD exposure.
JPA has done a great job in coming up with this program.
It's really an eye opener, although I would say that Hospital Putrajaya is not exactly the best hospital to head to if you wanna see the ugly reality of medical profession.
It's a district hospital, less patients, and far more relaxed.
My advice to future candidates : Go to Hospital Kuala Lumpur or Hospital Klang.
Apparently, it's a MAD WORLD.
Thus, you can foresee the challenges that lie ahead.
Jeng Jeng Jeng...
Medicine... Awesome field. BEYOND AWESOME.
Mind blowing AWESOME....

Well.. the end of the program *applauds*
Bloody tiresome... Going back and forth from Putrajaya.
I'm glad it's over. Now I can concentrate on my studies and activities I've abandoned.
But... The nightmare of JPA interview is awaiting.
Oh life is just so darn great ain't it... =.=

Toodles for now.
Off to hibernate!



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