working in western

My first week is over, and if the work routine is a sign of things to come, guess I am gonna be okay.

I was basically doing all the non-ot work an anaesthetist does, reviewing pre-op patients, doing post op rounds on patients who had a spinal/epidural (yup, they are all followed up here), setting difficult iv lines, attending code blues, doing acute pain and chronic pain rounds and I did venture in OT to see how things are done.

The patients are are treated very well, given adequate explanation about whats to be done and followed up. This is by no means saying the patients back home are treated badly! Its just different. For example, we don't write 'language barrier' when communicating with a non- English speaking patient. The hospital provides interpreters on demand. Its simply not acceptable to shove things into a patient without them understanding completely and totally whats to done. Which is the way it should be.

Another thing is that patients are never referred to by their race/religion/colour/sexual preference.....their names are used each and every time.

The nurses are indeed territorial about their patients. And any patient they touch is their patient. Their attitude is commendable, but for a newcomer like me, things can get sticky....I need to build up a good reputation and prove myself before I am to be trusted fully. I am out of my comfort and have to work hard, which is one of the reasons I came here in the first place. I probably want to prove to myself more than anything that I am capable.

Speaking of hard work, what are the hours like? Well, the week for a non-OT schedule is a solid 8am to 6pm day, from Monday to Thursday, with a half day of work on Friday and academic sessions for the other half. Work is hard, and you have as quick. Imagine, answering a code then doing and epidural before going to the clinic to see a pre-op patient! Snapping at any of nurses is bad idea! We don't have too anyway, they went out of their way to help me on several occasions. At six sharp, we can hand over to the afternoon person, (who works till 10 pm), then go home. The consultants present cases and discuss mortalities on Friday.

Its obvious, that while we work hard, great emphasis is placed on rest, recovery and education, so that we can be even more productive at work. Its something that doctors in Malaysia should strive for instead of taking pride in how many hours they work without falling asleep!

Next week, its a different schedule...