STETHOSCOPE 16
(MY CLINICAL ROTATION DIARY)

It’s my second week in the department. Though I was a bit discouraged with the atmosphere in my unit, I’ve decided to concentrate on learning-that’s what I came to do.
There’s this sense of trying to prove knowing and trying to make one feel inferior or embarrassed when unaware of something. It’s pretty tense and almost like walking on eggshells whenever the consultant is around. I’m not a 100% sure why it becomes an issue once they know you study abroad. It’s almost like an attack is launched against you till you prove yourself worthy. Did I mention this consultant is a woman? Well, what can I say?😌 Maybe oestrogen is to blame.

Sorry, I’ve lost count of the days but it’s a Wednesday today. This week I intended moving to a new unit to see how things are done and also learn, because each unit is a different subspecialty.
I informed the senior registrar last Friday and she said she’d have to check the register to know what unit to post me to. She asked me to get back on Monday this week. I did get back to her but decided to remain in the unit since the surgeries for yesterday included a CS which I was interested in. Moreover, I had three days left in the department after yesterday, so I chose to stay.
The surgery yesterday was eventful, because the surgeons got more than what they bargained for. They went in thinking it was ascites but found what was called an ovarian cyst that occupied more than two-thirds of the abdominal cavity with its wall adhered to the abdominal cavity wall.
After the surgery, I left the theatre to join a CS operation which I was really interested in seeing. I waited for it to begin and tried to be a bit proactive this time😉. I felt so elated and relieved when the baby was brought out. My oh my! 🙌 I was allowed to hold the oxygen tube close to her nose. It felt so sweet😁😁
The schedule for today is seeing old and new patients. Let’s see what we’ll do.
Later…

Thanks for reading 😊

If you have any thoughts you’re willing to share as regards today’s episode, please leave them in the comment section. I would like to hear from you😊