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Part 1 – Life As A Peri Medical House Officer In Hospital Umum Sarawak | The Emergency Department

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Upon entering the Medical Posting, I was stationed into the “Peri-Medical Pool”. My “birthplace”, so-called.

Prior to entering the Medical Posting, many of my colleagues commented that the Peri-Medical pool is probably one of the worst place to enter considering that it is rather hectic, busy and messy, not to mention the joblist is never ending.

The working shift for a Medical House Officer is as such:

Short Day (SD): 7am till 6pm
Long Day (LD): 7am till 10pm
Night Shift (ON): 8pm till 9am

The Emergency Department in Hospital Umum Sarawak is rather huge and consists of:

Green Zone
EDAU
CSSD
Yellow Zone
Yellow Respi Zone
Green Yellow Zone
Red Zone I
Res Zone II
Decon

Usually a House Officer is allocated to take care of more than one zones.

For example:

Green Zone / EDAY / CSSD
Yellow Zone / Green Yellow Zone
Red Zone I / Red Zone II / Yellow Respi Zone

When the amount of manpower is high, the job gets done quickly and keeping track of the patients is easier.

However, in days where we are stretched thin it is rather difficult.

The Day Shift

Photo by Laura James on Pexels.com

Since I entered the Peri Medical Pool on my Day 1 of tagging in the Medical Posting, my working hours were from 7am till 10pm every day till I offtagged.

I begin my day by first tracing the casenotes of the patients in the zone I am allocated to, snap pictures of the chest x-rays, any relevant radiological reports as well as to trace their bloods.

If bloods were not taken or not in the system, we would then proceed to “summon” the post-night team for help with their bloods.

After all the patients have been traced and the Google Lists have been updated (this is to aid us during our rounds as well as following up on their location later, to ensure that they are not being missed), then I would proceed with my morning reviews.

The morning reviews are just as usual as any morning ward reviews, rounds with the Medical Officer and Specialists and finally carrying out any active joblists.

Since we are in the emergency department, there is usually no afternoon reviews. It depends on the medical officer. Most of the time, rounds are just once daily.

After we are done with our morning joblists, we have to actively screen through the patients in our allocated zones as there is constant movement of the patients in both in and out of the emergency department.

Thus, this means assisting the current on-call team for the day with any STAT bloods or STAT radiological requests as well as updating their progress.

On most days, it is manageable despite the chaos. However, on days where we are lacking in manpower, the difficulty sets in.

The Night Shift

Photo by Photo By: Kaboompics.com on Pexels.com

The night shift begins at 8pm till 9am the following day or until we are done with our “summons”.

I was blessed enough to have gone through perimedical with a partner. Thus, there were two House Officers allocated for the night shift.

As night House Officers in Peri-Medical. We are expected to continue screening through all the casenotes for any new joblist or patients in all the zones in the Emergency Department as well as to assist in any procedures, take STAT bloods or request STAT radiological procedures.

In addition to that, we also have to cover the main building and the side building. This means, if there are any medical patients lodging in non-medical wards, we are in charge of them as well. Most of the time, it is just new transfer ins, sometimes, it is attending to any acute issues.

This is then followed by taking the “coming mornings” or bloods of the stranded patients in the Emergency Department of the lodging patients.

The amount of patients in the Medical Department is extremely high and thus, the medical patients can be stranded up to days in the Emergency Department which can even last till they are being discharged.

Thus, this ensures that the patients are being continued on their treatment irregardless of their location within the hospital.

The night shift as a perimedical house officer can get rather hectic if there are back-to-back influx of new patients in the Emergency Department, tons of coming mornings as well as acute issues in the ward.

In the morning, the “summoned” list can get rather extensive and chaotic as well and can be rather endless.

Hence, on top of the constant walking about the whole hospital, it can get rather tiring. But like I said, it is doable and manageable.

In fact, I enjoyed life as a perimedical house officer a lot.

If you are due to join Peri-Medical, fret not. Keep yourselves equipped with necessary forms and just work quick and as fast as you can.

On some days, one might get lost in the sea of chaos. However, stay strong and know that help is always within reach and that you are not alone.

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Working on New Year’s Day (2025)

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This will be the second year in a row that I’ve chosen to work on New Year’s Day. If you’ve read my previous similar article last year, I’ve mentioned how my father has this tradition of working on New Year’s Day every year, ever since he started working at the age of 18. It is something that I’ve adapted as well.

This year, I began my year in the Department of Medical which is my Fifth Posting in my Housemanship Journey. I entered this department on the 11th of December last year.

Having just off-tagged the week before, I was still allocated in my first pool which is the Perimedical Pool.

Looking back as it is currently April 2025, at the time of writing this article, I do not quite remember where I was allocated to. I think that I was most probably taking care of the stranded Medical patients in the main building.

Thankfully, I remembered it not being a hectic day and I was allocated the “short day” shift, meaning that I had the opportunity to return home at 6pm.

Considering it was New Year’s Day which is a Public Holiday here, things were rather slow and tuned down.

Thus, it was a rather slowed down and uneventful day, ending with me returning home on time and unwinding early.

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My Morning Routine Being A House Officer Leader In The Surgical Posting | Housemanship Diaries

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There are three main leaders in the Surgical Posting. One is in charge of curating the weekly schedule, the other, in charge of ward and cubicle / bed allocations as well as to reallocate if there are any people who took emergency leaves or medical leaves and the third one, in charge of our attendance at work.

I was the daily allocator. Being the “allocator”, I would be in charge of designating the house officers to the selected cubicles of both the male and female surgical wards (MSW and FSW), the Peri, EMOT and ETD as well as to look for substitutes if there are any last minute changes or leaves.

Usually, I will prep my allocation in advance after the schedule leader has done the schedule and make necessary changes along the way. The leader in charge of the schedule usually determines which person works the night shift and when as well as to approve any leaves. Usually, the house officers will be divided into their respective wards.

The night before, I usually run through the suggested allocation in the “Leaders Group” with the medical officers in charge of the House Officers to screen through.

After receiving the green light from them or making necessary adjustments, I would then upload the list in the House Officer’s group. Thus, they would then know where they would be covering.

The list is usually sent in the “MOHO” group, meaning the group containing the House Officers and Medical Officers at 6:30 a.m.

Thus, I would wake up and be on standby at 5am everyday, even on my off days as I would wait for any messages should anybody take medical leaves or emergency leaves and make the necessary adjustments needed.

At 6:30 a.m sharp, I forward the daily allocation into the “MOHO” group.

If I happened to be working on that day, I would pause in between work just to send and then go about my work.

However, if I happened to be on leave or having my off days, I would then return to sleep or go about my other activities after 6:30 a.m.

It was an interesting experience having had the privilege to hold the position as one of the posting leaders.

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Yawhey convenant keeper🙏🙏🙌🙌🙌

Lately, I’ve been feeling a strong connection with the Holy Spirit, guiding me to specific scriptures. For the past month, I’ve found myself reading the same passages every morning without even realizing it until today. I absolutely love the Psalms, especially chapters 23 and 24, and I often hear a voice leading me to other verses within that book. It’s been a month of this beautiful journey, and I can’t help but feel joy in becoming a woman of God—humbled and obedient, building an altar for Him.

I’m not rushing to other scriptures without the guidance of my counselor. During a tough time in the hospital, when I faced serious health challenges and even collapsed, I found myself saying, “Father God, I submit; I surrender.” Those powerful words were my offering to my Maker, acknowledging that I couldn’t do it all on my own. That moment truly changed my life. It doesn’t mean I’m free from challenges, but I now face them with the authority that God has already seen them. All I can do is tell Him, “You are my shepherd; I exalt Your name, for Your name is above every name.” I bring my challenges before His holy name, asking to drink from the cup of living water. One of the Psalms I read daily for repentance is Psalm 51, and for conviction, I turn to Psalm 7.

I even put myself on trial, saying, “Father God, convict me, judge me. If I’ve done anything to displease You without knowing, I accept Your judgment. But I beg You, Father God, to pardon me and vindicate me through the blood of Jesus.” Amen

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Reflection Of The Surgical Posting | Housemanship Diaries

Can you share a positive example of where you’ve felt loved?

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As you can see based on the prompt that I would be answering, Surgical Posting is definitely the place where the environment among the superiors felt more like a family to me and I’ve always felt the love and care towards one another and the patients in the whole team.

Prior to entering this department, I’ve always had my doubts and fear considering that I’ve heard numerous negative comments in regard to the department. Mostly, the department was deemed “toxic”.

However, upon entering there during my first day, I was guided and encouraged to follow rounds even when I seemed rather lost. I was not reprimanded or shouted at but instead I was guided and taught.

No doubt it is a tiring posting and after having completed my tagging period in all of the 5 major postings (Orthopaedics, Paediatrics, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Surgical and Medical), the tagging period in the Surgical Posting is the most tiring for me.

This posting sort of reminds me of Orthopaedics except the amount of patients are full-blown, never ending with random or common surgical-related issues and the patients are even more unstable.

The thing about being in this posting is that usually when an order is given by our superiors, it is expected to be carried out STAT, meaning immediately and they will usually keep checking in to know the progress and status of the patient which is both good and also annoying. Good because it keeps you on our toes and ensure things are being carried out. Bad as the day could be burning with multiple issues and joblists and there is lack of manpower and you barely had time to sit or even had a drink and next, you’re being summoned again.

However, looking back, I definitely enjoyed every bit of my journey over there. Eventually, I was given the responsibility of being one of the leaders in this department, the daily allocator to be exact, by my friend.

This unknowingly deepens my relationship among my superiors as we would constantly reach out to each other.

Along the way, I made friends with the nurses at Male Surgical Ward and I will always be grateful for their help.

The Surgical Posting also made me realise how much I enjoy Surgical-based and that I am one. Despite my initial interest in Medical upon entering my housemanship journey, I realised that I love hands-on more and I need to “see” the issue. For example, if a patient complaints of abdominal pain, assess the patient, send some blood workups which might help and in your direction of care as well as scans.

Most of the time, the issue is identified through the scan with the blood workup being highly suggestive. Thus we move on from there.

I can’t quite explain. Somehow it just make sense to me just like when I was previously in the Orthopaedics Department.

This posting is also where I spent the longest time. I entered the posting on the 4th of July 2024, which is around 5 months as I took a break in between due to my injury.

The Surgical Posting definitely holds a dear place in my heart. Upon bumping into my old superiors, I still greet them with joy and a smile, reminiscing my good times within the department.

If you are due to join the Surgical Posting, please prepare yourself both mentally and physically.

In my opinion, the Surgical Posting is a physically tiring and not as bad as it seems despite the multiple negative remarks. Perhaps, it was a different experience for others but in my humble opinion, it is NOT a toxic department. At least at the place that I am practicing in.

Have faith, hang in there and try your ultimate best everyday in both your work as well as in trying to learn the most you can out of this posting and journey.

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My Experience as A Plastics House Officer | Housemanship Diaries

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When I entered the Surgical Posting, we initially did not have the privilege of experiencing subspecialities like other batches.

This was due to the fact that there were lack of house officers.

However, mid-Nov, there was redirection of House Officer allocation and suddenly, the posting was overflowed with House Officers.

Hence, subspecialities were reintroduced. The subspecialities reintroduced are neurosurgical, plastics and urology.

Ever since my first posting in Orthopeaedics, I’ve always wanted to experience being in Plastics after assisting my medical officer at that time with SSG.

Thus, during my final weeks, I was given the priviledge.

The Burn Ward is located at Level 3 of the Main Building, and is able to host at most, 10 patients, with each patient having their own room/cubicle.

Usually the burnt patients are kept at Burn Ward whereas other patients who are admitted for AVF creation or SSG are placed at Surgical Ward.

The timing for us House Officers is from 7am till 6pm, Sunday till Friday with an off day on Saturday.

During my time in Plastics, I would usually arrive on time at 7am and proceed to trace the bloods first. After all the bloods have been traced, I would proceed to help out with morning reviews.

Morning reviews are usually done by the postcall medical officer. This is then followed by rounds with the surgeons, usually starting with the acute or rather, the intubated patients followed by the rest.

Rounds at Burn Ward is only once daily. After morning rounds, we would gather at the “Handover Room” whereby the patients who are not in the Burn Ward but is being seen by Plastics as another team or as a primary team are being handed over in terms of case and progress as well as the newly admitted ones.

Next, we will proceed to follow the “Peri rounds” and change dressings if needed. Usually after the Peri rounds is when us House Officers go about our joblists in terms of posting case, referrals or bloodtakings or imaging request.

The rest of the day could be pretty chill if there is nothing going on but usually, there would be new patients to be transferred in, take blood or any post-op patients to be reviewed.

Sometimes there are cases being called and we are more than welcome to join the operation. In between, there are arterial blood gases (ABGs) to be take in between or bloods to be sent.

Finally, in the evening, prior to leaving at the end of our shift, we would prep the coming mornings and leave them nearby before informing in our Surgical House Officer’s group in regards to the “coming mornings”.

My time in Plastics was rather short-lived and I felt that there was so much more to be learnt. But my time spent there was extremely wonderful and the medical officers and surgeons were more than helpful and welcoming towards the new people into their team.

Definitely, a department that I would want to return to.

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From Embers to Dawn

Beneath the coals, a flicker dances—
A heart aflame, yet shadowed trances.
One breath, I’m scorched by fevered light,
The next, adrift in endless night.

No Plan A stitches fractured dreams,
No B can chart these jagged streams.
I clutch the threads of trust, undone—
A tapestry spun by the Holy One.

The grill’s fierce heat, a fleeting high,
Then ashes choke the silent cry.
Laughter fades where echoes dwell,
In hollows, sorrow starts to swell.

Depression’s tide, a thief unseen,
Unmaps the world that once was green.
Yet in the void, a whisper stirs—
A psalm of dust, a prayer deferred.

How else to grasp this tempest’s weight?
But palms upturned, I abdicate.
Mercy, etch my name in grace,
Lift me where the phoenix dares to face

The storm. Let embers, cold and scarred,
Become the stars Your hands unbarred.
For in the wreck, where hope seems slain,
Your dawn ignites the sky again.

This poem weaves duality through fire and shadow, surrendering control to divine trust. It mirrors the chaos of depression while anchoring in faith’s quiet promise.

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Welcome to rainbow nation 🌈 maafrika dzonga

Write about a few of your favorite family traditions.

South Africa is a tapestry of cultures, languages, and traditions. In our remote villages, every gathering feels like a family reunion. As an African woman, I cherish our belief that it takes a village to raise a child. Uninvited guests at celebrations are a norm; we embrace everyone as family. When we mourn, the community unites, often slaughtering a cow to honor the departed. We don’t worship the dead, but we express gratitude for their impact on our lives. During Easter and December, we gather, light herbs, and share stories of our ancestors, believing they watch over us. Our homebrew beer fuels laughter, singing, and dancing, sometimes for three days straight.

In our tight-knit communities, we care for one another—checking in when someone is sick or facing hardship. We have stokvel societies to support each other financially, ensuring no one is left behind. Church strengthens our bonds, reminding us of our shared faith. In our language, we say, “umuntu ngu muntu ngabantu,” meaning we are who we are because of each other. This is the essence of ubuntu—humility and togetherness.

We brew umqobothi, our homebrew beer, and cook goat with pap, creating a feast that lasts for days. These gatherings are not just about food; they are about connection, sharing stories of our triumphs and challenges. We support each other in times of need, ensuring no one is left behind. Our stokvel society strengthens our bonds, pooling resources for funerals and community needs. Church unites us in faith, reminding us of our shared humanity. As we say, “umuntu ngu muntu ngabantu” – a person is a person through other people. This is the essence of our community, where we thrive together.

Image courtesy of Wikipedia

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Daily writing prompt Do you need a break? From what? View all responses

Give me a break. Give me a break. Break me off a piece of that kit-kat bar.

You deserve a break today at McDonalds.

I hate myself for typing the two previous lines.

Do I need a break? Yes. Of course I need a break. Who, living in the American capitalistic rat race (see the first two lines of this post), doesn’t? I need a break from work, from stress, from guilt, from pain, from thought (sort of), from… well… life. Take me and my wife and my step kids and put us on a plane heading west. Drop us off in San Diego, CA right on the shore of the Pacific ocean and let us flake together for a few weeks.

That’s the kind of break I need. Just leave us alone and let us… be. Just for a little while.

Hey Google Bard, generate an image of a Jedi Knight relaxing by the shore of the Pacific ocean…

I asked for a Jedi and it gives me red light sabers? I don’t recall asking for a Sith Lord, thank you very much. Oh well. Close enough for a Wednesday morning.

https://robertjames1971.blog/2024/02/07/give-me-a-break/

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