Seems like only 3 things keep me distracted now:
1. Work
2. Money
3. Finding a job in China
1. WORK
Despite dreading that asshole at work, I think I still enjoy my job on the whole. It's nice to talk to the family of my patients, nice to hear them say "Hello" when they spot you walking into the ward, nice to see them well again to be discharged.
I guess so far my greatest satisfaction is to calm an angry relative down alone. Normally these things should be handled by the Consultant or the Registrar, but because no one was around that day, I decided to handle the relative myself.
The husband of a patient of mine was very displeased with the way the NHS works and was telling me how flawless the Swiss medical system is. I have heard a lot of good things about Switzerland, and have heard that Singapore is nothing compared to them, hence being Singaporean and not being able to stand how the NHS works, it is natural for them to be unable to tolerate.
He was complaining that the doctors in the UK are not concerned about his wife's diarrhoea, and no one has explained to them about it, but always trying to discharge his wife when he knows that she's not well enough to go home, and as a result, have multiple admissions into the hospital within a short period of time.
I understand his concerns, and hence, didn't mind being lectured by him for a good period of time. But I think I handled this situation well, because after fully understanding his concerns, I did a look through of the patient's medical notes, new and old, and tried to find a reason for the diarrhoea. Apparently, the reason for the diarrhoea has been given in her past admission, but perhaps the doctors didn't bother to explain. I had to take over the job of slowing explaining it to the patient and her angry husband, and that did calm him down a little before he demanded an explanation to why the diarrhoea is persisting. Fortunately, the wife mentioned that she was supposed to have some enemas done every night by the nurses, but did not have them done. I then decided to dig into the medication charts and realised that the doctor who had admitted her forgot to note the medication down into her charts, and hence, the nurses didn't give it to her.
Had to explain this mistake to them, and assured them that I will write it up so that the nurses will give the patient her enema. I also agreed to get a dietician to see this patient as the patient and her husband were mentioning that she isn't eating or drinking well.
I find talking to patients and their family a challenge because there is a discrepancy in what the family expects of us doctors, and what we expect of the family. Being doctors and not being related by blood to the patients, it is difficult for us to treat them the same way as how we would treat and get worried about someone close to us. But for the patient's family, being all concerned for the patient, it is natural that they expect us to treat the patient like how we would treat our own parents, and neglect the fact that we have to share our attention with numerous patients. Also, being doctors, the public sees us as having the ability to turn things right when an individual's health goes wrong. However, many, at the moment of anger, forget that we're humans and not God. We can try our best to treat a person, but if someone's meant to breathe his/her last, there is nothing we can do to bring him/her back to life. Also, patients and their family expects us to put things right asap, but sometimes, the body takes time to heal, and patience is very important. As medical professionals, we know that certain diseases take months to heal, but for the general public who are layman to medicine, would be expecting a cure instantly. Unfortunately, that's not how nature is.
Anyway, after much explanation and making the husband aware that his wife's diarrhoea isn't going to be cured instantly, and the medication I've written up for her will only help stabilise her condition, and also explaining that he needs to give her body time to recover and that it's likely to take weeks and months rather than days, he finally calmed down completely and started to smile.
It was a great relief to see him smiling, and what made me happier was he started asking me where I'm from and said he's impressed with my patience and making every effort to find an explanation to the questions he has got. He's extremely satisfied with my explanation.
The next day, he happened to stream into the wrong ward to look for his wife, and I bumped into him. I thought he'll ignore me (angmos r great at doing that, mind u), but instead, he started talking to me, telling me how he told his son how patient I was, and knowing exactly what I'm talking abt, and I'm the first doctor he has met in the UK who is able to explain things well enough to keep him satisfied and happy. Hearing that makes me really pleased. This type of job satisfaction is something money cannot buy.
Although his wife has been sent to another ward now and will not be under my care, I hope her diarrhoea will get better soon.
2. MONEY
Everyday, I'm thinking about how I am going to earn more money during my stay in UK. When Dearie knew about it, he got worried because he doesn't want my health to go downhill due to lack of rest. I told him I have thoughts of working in a supermarket during the weekends to earn extra bucks, and apparently, he thinks I'm too harsh on myself, because that will mean I'm working 7 full days a week, on top of my on call hours.
I know if I keep myself busy with work, time will pass faster. But it will give me lesser time to keep in touch with Dearie. Being in a long distance relationship is tough enough, and if we don't even get to communicate much, I'm sure in no time, major problems will start to arise.
Does anyone know of any reliable webbies where I can do surveys and earn money from? I don't mind doing some data entry jobs or type letters too.
3. FINDING A JOB IN CHINA
Been surfing a lot to find a job in China as a medical doctor, but it's really tough. The number of foreign hospitals in Beijing is limited, and most of them are clinics. The foreign hospital isn't big too, hence, there are very few doctors working there. That also means competition is very very tough. Being a junior doctor, I don't stand a chance at all.
The more I surf, the more disappointment I get, and the more demoralised I get. I feel bad about not being fluent in my Mandarin to the point whereby I can even write medical notes in Mandarin and practise Medicine in Mandarin.
Told Dearie about this, and my fears. I couldn't help, once again, thinking what's going to happen to us if there is really no way I can work in China as a doctor. This issue can be easily resolved if I just quit and stay at home to be a taitai since Dearie is dead sure he can give me a good life, but I remember what I swore before in the temple before I went to medical school, and I know I'll face major retribution if I take back my words.
Sigh...don't know what I should do. Dearie thinks that maybe the situation will change in the next few years, and maybe things will turn out right for us. Sometimes, I think he's really positive.
1. Work
2. Money
3. Finding a job in China
1. WORK
Despite dreading that asshole at work, I think I still enjoy my job on the whole. It's nice to talk to the family of my patients, nice to hear them say "Hello" when they spot you walking into the ward, nice to see them well again to be discharged.
I guess so far my greatest satisfaction is to calm an angry relative down alone. Normally these things should be handled by the Consultant or the Registrar, but because no one was around that day, I decided to handle the relative myself.
The husband of a patient of mine was very displeased with the way the NHS works and was telling me how flawless the Swiss medical system is. I have heard a lot of good things about Switzerland, and have heard that Singapore is nothing compared to them, hence being Singaporean and not being able to stand how the NHS works, it is natural for them to be unable to tolerate.
He was complaining that the doctors in the UK are not concerned about his wife's diarrhoea, and no one has explained to them about it, but always trying to discharge his wife when he knows that she's not well enough to go home, and as a result, have multiple admissions into the hospital within a short period of time.
I understand his concerns, and hence, didn't mind being lectured by him for a good period of time. But I think I handled this situation well, because after fully understanding his concerns, I did a look through of the patient's medical notes, new and old, and tried to find a reason for the diarrhoea. Apparently, the reason for the diarrhoea has been given in her past admission, but perhaps the doctors didn't bother to explain. I had to take over the job of slowing explaining it to the patient and her angry husband, and that did calm him down a little before he demanded an explanation to why the diarrhoea is persisting. Fortunately, the wife mentioned that she was supposed to have some enemas done every night by the nurses, but did not have them done. I then decided to dig into the medication charts and realised that the doctor who had admitted her forgot to note the medication down into her charts, and hence, the nurses didn't give it to her.
Had to explain this mistake to them, and assured them that I will write it up so that the nurses will give the patient her enema. I also agreed to get a dietician to see this patient as the patient and her husband were mentioning that she isn't eating or drinking well.
I find talking to patients and their family a challenge because there is a discrepancy in what the family expects of us doctors, and what we expect of the family. Being doctors and not being related by blood to the patients, it is difficult for us to treat them the same way as how we would treat and get worried about someone close to us. But for the patient's family, being all concerned for the patient, it is natural that they expect us to treat the patient like how we would treat our own parents, and neglect the fact that we have to share our attention with numerous patients. Also, being doctors, the public sees us as having the ability to turn things right when an individual's health goes wrong. However, many, at the moment of anger, forget that we're humans and not God. We can try our best to treat a person, but if someone's meant to breathe his/her last, there is nothing we can do to bring him/her back to life. Also, patients and their family expects us to put things right asap, but sometimes, the body takes time to heal, and patience is very important. As medical professionals, we know that certain diseases take months to heal, but for the general public who are layman to medicine, would be expecting a cure instantly. Unfortunately, that's not how nature is.
Anyway, after much explanation and making the husband aware that his wife's diarrhoea isn't going to be cured instantly, and the medication I've written up for her will only help stabilise her condition, and also explaining that he needs to give her body time to recover and that it's likely to take weeks and months rather than days, he finally calmed down completely and started to smile.
It was a great relief to see him smiling, and what made me happier was he started asking me where I'm from and said he's impressed with my patience and making every effort to find an explanation to the questions he has got. He's extremely satisfied with my explanation.
The next day, he happened to stream into the wrong ward to look for his wife, and I bumped into him. I thought he'll ignore me (angmos r great at doing that, mind u), but instead, he started talking to me, telling me how he told his son how patient I was, and knowing exactly what I'm talking abt, and I'm the first doctor he has met in the UK who is able to explain things well enough to keep him satisfied and happy. Hearing that makes me really pleased. This type of job satisfaction is something money cannot buy.
Although his wife has been sent to another ward now and will not be under my care, I hope her diarrhoea will get better soon.
2. MONEY
Everyday, I'm thinking about how I am going to earn more money during my stay in UK. When Dearie knew about it, he got worried because he doesn't want my health to go downhill due to lack of rest. I told him I have thoughts of working in a supermarket during the weekends to earn extra bucks, and apparently, he thinks I'm too harsh on myself, because that will mean I'm working 7 full days a week, on top of my on call hours.
I know if I keep myself busy with work, time will pass faster. But it will give me lesser time to keep in touch with Dearie. Being in a long distance relationship is tough enough, and if we don't even get to communicate much, I'm sure in no time, major problems will start to arise.
Does anyone know of any reliable webbies where I can do surveys and earn money from? I don't mind doing some data entry jobs or type letters too.
3. FINDING A JOB IN CHINA
Been surfing a lot to find a job in China as a medical doctor, but it's really tough. The number of foreign hospitals in Beijing is limited, and most of them are clinics. The foreign hospital isn't big too, hence, there are very few doctors working there. That also means competition is very very tough. Being a junior doctor, I don't stand a chance at all.
The more I surf, the more disappointment I get, and the more demoralised I get. I feel bad about not being fluent in my Mandarin to the point whereby I can even write medical notes in Mandarin and practise Medicine in Mandarin.
Told Dearie about this, and my fears. I couldn't help, once again, thinking what's going to happen to us if there is really no way I can work in China as a doctor. This issue can be easily resolved if I just quit and stay at home to be a taitai since Dearie is dead sure he can give me a good life, but I remember what I swore before in the temple before I went to medical school, and I know I'll face major retribution if I take back my words.
Sigh...don't know what I should do. Dearie thinks that maybe the situation will change in the next few years, and maybe things will turn out right for us. Sometimes, I think he's really positive.
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home