Pages from a Medical Professional’s Diary…

First Day of Professional Life — A Hard Day’s Experience

I recently joined Medium, up till now I had been blogging atanother forum. The reason I joined Medium is to convey my story to the public.

I am a doctor and in the very early stages of my career. All the questions that I have in mind, and the queries and curiosities that leave me confused and in question, dwell up not only in my mind but also in the minds of all the young doctors and medical professionals all over the globe.

I am a needle in hay stack, but there are millions and millions of such needles scattered all around the world. Penning my thoughts is just a way to reach to all others having same dreams as me and fighting somewhat same battles as me, be whatever field they may all be in.

I would like to start with a blog that I wrote about my first professional day, when I was just in foundation year — or house job — as we call it here in Pakistan.

I think it will bring back memories to you all as you started in your careers. Leave a comment to tell your story. Till then, happy reading! J

May 1st, 2015…

Life as a medical student was hectic in its own way. There was a mountain size syllabus to be completed, and in a very short period of time too. And that syllabus being so volatile that it was difficult to keep it intact. Little did we know, we were in for a greater surprise!

University ended, exams held, result announced, and we were free, with the license to kill! 😁(pun intended) The final reward of the university, i.e. two months post semester vacations, were passed in the most leisure and happy ways, with no care of studies, house job, electives, or the world for that matter!

28th April 2015 was the interview day. With beating hearts we waited for the field of our choice, as we saw each and every category fill up. After what seemed like eternity, we chose our wards and luckily got the ones we wanted. Formalities done, and we were tagged as House Officers (HO).

The house job started with a pang. As our PG said, ‘tm log barey bhari kadam leke ae ho’ (meaning you people have brought a lot of hard work to the ward). For starters, there were only five house officers for a surgical ward of forty plus beds! Plus it was our first posting so we had just come out of our comfy zone, oblivious of the grueling schedule ahead. Then there was the story of 1st May, when — since it was a public holiday — everyone was deep in slumber, while few of us (including me) were racing on empty streets to reach our destination for our emergency duty.

It was the first day of work and we had already sacrificed our sleep. Next to come on this day was a call and that too Emergency Call (Em call). Four house officers and six PGs seemed nice and easy, but there was more to the day.

Morning passed peacefully with the usual drill of ward round, orientation, bed allotment, etc. Afternoon started in the same way but at 2pm first real emergency came, a person in shock after having fallen in a well of 80ft! That set motion! All PGs and 1 HO (which happened to be me) started. Two were passing I/V (intravenous) line, one was taking history, one was arranging Emergency Operation Theatre (EOT), blood etc and what not. All hands were on board to save the life which was slipping out of our hands and unfortunately, we lost him.

Then the bustle started. There was his relative injured but he was not seriously wounded physically, only emotionally and mentally to see a loved one dead. Then came RTAs (road traffic accidents), traumas, gun shots, comorbid cases and the list continued till night. All of us were busy either in ER (emergency room) giving first aid to the patient or in EOT cutting and suturing.

It was probably the most hectic day of my life (up till then). We worked unitedly and that helped in ceasing our pain. Where day passed, we had no idea. We had lunch at around 8pm in the night and dinner at 2am in the next morning. Sleep? None. Just an hour or two of sleep whenever and wherever whoever got time.

Next day brought an early ward round. At the sight of our HOD (Head of Department) we rushed to our beds. Thankfully our dear HOD was not strict and the morning round passed peacefully. After that started ward works. It was preoperative day and there were patients to prepare for operating list, getting fresh labs, ecgs, chest xrays, anesthesia fitness, etc. Plus we also had to get fresh labs and other workup of our emergency patients, which added to our list of works.

We got free around 2pm in afternoon, (for those of us wondering, yes 2pm is late for post caller Hos after Em call in our setup :P), all tired, sleepy, dirty but happy and satisfied. It was the first ever day of our professional life and happened to be first call and that too actually emergency call. Things seemed easy but when they became thick we had no idea. All we know is, it was a tiring but a good learning experience, not only from the medical point of view but also by giving us an insight in the medical profession and its exacting demands.

I am sure the following three months will be something of the same kind but I hope we will be more happy and more prepared next time during emergency rotation with a good backup of sleep :P I hope that after three months I shall be able to reflect back as happily and contentedly as I can look forward now.