SURVIVAL
TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS : Tip no. 1 - Set your intention right. It's
neither about the money, the highly respected position and the power. It
is about PUBLIC SERVITUDE, serving those who are in need of healthcare.
Only after you have served well, then only you could deserve the
rewards, privileges and rights allocated for medical practitioners!
Welcome on board!
SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS : Tip no. 2 -
Have the right attitudes. Being the most junior officer in the team, you
really have a lot to catch up and learn. Never pretend that you know
all. Never hesitate to admit that you do not know, to ask questions and
assistance. Respect those who are more experienced than you. People with
the right attitudes are welcome wherever they go, always...all the
time!
SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS : Tip no. 3 - Put on your
best smile and outstanding manners. Greet everyone with a cheerful
salam. No matter how busy you are, don't forget to move your
temporo-mandibular joints and carve out a big smile. It will stimulate a
fountain of endorphins in your neuron synapses, and aha...the feel-good
feeling will set in. Don't believe this? Just try....just do it.
SURVIVAL
TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS : Tip no. 4 - Work extra hard to convince
people that you are reliable, responsible, accountable and able to
complete tasks and meet expectations - within the first two weeks! Once
people know you're committed, you'll gain their trust, respect &
cooperation. Just mark my words!
SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICER
: Tip no.5 - Refresh your inner self with daily, constant and effective
spiritual input. For Muslim, don't ever neglect your 5 times daily
prayers, no matter how busy you are. You really need that 5 -10 minutes
regular breaks. It acts as a cooling oasis for you to rejuvenate.
SURVIVAL
TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS : Tip no.6 : Mend your bruised heart and dented
self-esteem, quickly and effectively - each time you received
unpleasant reminders of your incompetency & shortcoming from your
seniors. It's a part and parcel of the job. Admit your mistakes, but
PLEASE, try hard not to repeat them. To err is human, but to keep doing
the same error is a major blunder!
SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE
OFFICERS : Tip no.7 : Keep in touch with your loved ones - parents,
spouses, close friends, teachers etc. Don't shut out your life, which
mainly linger around your wards, call roster and private room now. There
is more to life out there than just work or crashing into bed to
recover from sleep deprivation.
SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS
: Tip no.8 : Make friend with the nurses. Never ever be their enemy.
Life would be much easier if you know how to win their hearts. Dr Meena
(Paeds MO) gave me this very precious advice : Harlina, be nice to these
people (nurses). They will decide whether you will have your meals or
not during your calls. Yesss, I later realized how true that advice was!
SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS : Tip no.9 : Forgive those who
raised their voices at you. They might be angry patients, stressed-up
MOs, overwhelmed colleagues, frustrated consultants, irritated nurses
etc. Nobody had ever shouted at you before,eh? Being a HO, anticipate
your first experience here. Forgive them, forget them and live on. After
all, we're all just humans living in the same pressure cooker!
SURVIVAL
TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS : Tip no.10 - Thank God for the honour of being
His instrument/tool of Mercy to mankind. A great opportunity is at your
doorstep to catapult your good self to be bigger than life. Grab that
opportunity and seize the golden moments. Nothing compares with the
feeling of satisfaction whenever your patients & relatives say :
Thank you, Doc !
SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS : Tip no. 11 -
Handle yourself well when dealing with difficult people. Feeling
victimized, bullied and discriminated? After reflecting on yourself, I
suggest you pluck some courage to meet face-to-face. Clarify, admit your
mistakes and make peace. InsyaAllah, things will be fine.
SURVIVAL
TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS : Tip no. 12 - Treat your patients as if they
are your own parents/relatives. Just as how you would like any doctor to
treat your parents, that's exactly how you should treat your patients
now. Remember, what comes around, goes around! Motivate your patients
always, you'll feel the positive energy seeping into you too.
SURVIVAL
TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS : Tip no. 13 - Express your love to your spouse
everyday, using his/her love language. Let him/her know how much
his/her support & understanding means to you. Share your ups and
downs, laughter & tears. Thank Allah everyday for sending you this
special person. Those who are still unmarried, what's keeping you, guys?
SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS : Tip no. 14 - Be sincere in
treating your patients, be gentle and caring. Control your anger and
frustration, avoid explosive emotional outburst in front of your
patients. If you really need to release the steam, do it in the washroom
with the tap running (peace, Mother Earth)- I consider that as an
effective form of anger management!
SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE
OFFICERS : Tip no. 15 - Keep abreast with what's happening around you -
medical & non-medical, locally and globally. Read the papers,
journals & magazines, listen to the news bulletin, engage in general
discussions. Have your own opinions. You're a doctor now! People wanna
know what's going on in your brain.
SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE
OFFICERS : Tip no. 16 - Always extend a helping hand to your
peers/colleague HOs.That's the only way to ensure help comes your way
the next time you desperately need one. Less of `Me, Myself & I',
please! More of `We & Us' now. Be a sporting team member, will ya!
SURVIVAL
TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS : Tip no. 17 - Make effort to remember names
esp. your patients'. Address them appropriately. If you're greeting them
for the first time, use `Encik, Cik & Puan' instead of `PakCik,
Makcik, Pak Aji, Apek, Aci, Akak, Abang, Adik'. Make quick glances at
the patient's file and pronounce his/her full name clearly. Just see how
impressed they will be!
SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS : Tip
no. 18 - Endure the disappointment when you discover the realities of
the system. Witnessing unprofessional, unethical conducts - far from
what you learnt in med schools? Feeling upset, angry, demoralized? Good,
at least I can count on you to be a future committed agent of change!
SURVIVAL
TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS: Tip no. 19 - Learn to read your
consultants'/specialists' minds. What do they want from a HO?
Dedication, commitment, eagerness to learn, willingness to be corrected
& guided. Give them those, and they won't make your life miserable.
SURVIVAL
TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS: Tip no. 20 - Keep your room in the HO quarter
clean, tidy & cheerful! Hire a keeper if you could afford one.Throw
away all the rotten left-overs. Buy an air-freshener & some flowers.
Pull up the curtains, let the sunlight in. It's supposed to be a
bedroom, not a cave!
SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS: Tip no.
21 - Spend your salary wisely. Share your first paycheck with your loved
ones. Pay up your debts / credit card bills. Recall your financial
planning lessons. Avoid weekly shopping mall rounds. Window shop with
your stomach full, you'll be able to control the cravings
SURVIVAL
TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS: Tip no. 22 - Push the `pause' button, get out
for some fresh air, watch the sunrise/sunset. Reflect & contemplate.
Remember, you just a small part of a very complex design. Put your
perspectives back on track. Inhale & exhale - be grateful to Allah
for everything you have.
SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS : Tip
no. 23 - Volunteer to help arranging the call roster.Experience the pain
in accomodating all requests and dealing with unhappy colleagues who
could not get their wishes. Best time to learn how to give & take
here!
SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS : Tip no. 24 - Be
friendly & mix around with everyone. Do not reserve your greetings
only for the bosses & VIPs. Greet the staff nurses, PKs, cleaners,
security guards, gardeners etc. Drink your coffee at the pantry. Stop
being choosy & selective. Snobs are lonely people.
SURVIVAL
TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS : Tip no. 25 - Pray for your patients'
well-being. Support their emotional & spiritual needs. Listen to
their stories. Don't be afraid to be close to your patients. You will
learn how to detach your emotions & rational thinking while looking
after patients - so you'll remain objective and professional.Learn the
balance to keep the ideal distance between you and the patients.
SURVIVAL
TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS : Tip no. 26 - Surprise those who look down
upon you by exceeding their expectations. Impress those who think highly
of you by exceeding their expectation too. Whatever it is, do your
level best. Be brave to take up challenges, be humble enough to ask for
assistance and be ready to receive feedback - Recipe for a satisfying
career!
SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS : Tip no. 27 - Do not
allow self pity to consume you now. Never curse yourself. Regretting
your life choice of becoming a medical doctor, feeling envious with
those friends who are enjoying life, free to do whatever they like?
Well, I bet they're envious of YOU too! Just hang on there, persevere
& be strong.
SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS : Tip no. 28 -
Admit your mistakes and try to redeem yourself. It takes a lot of
courage, self-esteem and confidence to own up for your shortcomings. At
the same time, do not boast around and inflate yourself. If you've
really done good, let others acknowledge. You do not have to keep
reminding others.
SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS : Tip no. 29 -
Enhance your medical knowledge thru' revising textbooks/notes ( I hope
you haven't sold all textbooks to the juniors in med school!). Get
answers to questions ASAP. Experience medicine with accurate
knowledge/information, not simply following orders like zombies -without
critical thinking.
SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS : Tip no.
30 - Let the deaths of your patients serve as gentle reminders/
tazkeerah - that you will also face yours, sooner or later. Treat the
dead with respect, whoever they were. Look at those cold, still bodies -
now separated from their souls. Pray for them. Convey your condolences
to the mourning relatives... they'll appreciate that.
SURVIVAL
TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS : Tip no. 31 - Keep in touch with your emotions,
but avoid being overwhelmed. Acknowledge the anger, sadness,
frustration, confusion etc. Don't simply brush them off, what more
trying to stiffle them! Manage those emotions - you're a human being,
not a robot! Ventilate, it helps clearing up your lungs & mind.
SURVIVAL
TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS : Tip no. 32 - Promise yourself that you're
gonna make one person smile today! He/she might be your patient,
colleague, MO, consultant, staff or spouse & parents at home. Simple
rule of life - if you wanna smile, make another person smile, if you
wanna be happy, make another person happy, if you want people to
appreciate you, appreciate others first!
SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE
OFFICERS : Tip no. 33 - Commit yourself to life long learning from your
surroundings. Your patients are your best teachers. Learn how they
handle bad news, manage their emotions, ask for help and accept their
fate. Despite all the pain & sorrow, they still tell you how much
they appreciate what you've done for them.
SURVIVAL TIPS FOR
HOUSE OFFICERS : Tip no. 34 - Master the negotiation skills, otherwise
life can be so inflexible and stressful. No matter how busy, there is
definitely time for short prayers, quick meals, brief naps & shower
time. The secret? You just have to know how to negotiate with people
around you.
SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS : Tip no. 35 -
Start scribbling your life journal / log book. You're facing new
challenges everyday, it's too precious to simply let them pass by
without any acknowledgment. Write down the lessons learnt. You will have
to share those with others one day.
SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE
OFFICERS : Tip no. 36 - Agree to disagree - the best way to handle
difference of opinions. Speak your mind out, share your concerns &
input. Don't be a YES-man all the time, people won't notice that you
exist! Learn to say ` I beg to differ' as a subtle way to say `No, I
don't agree with you!
SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS : Tip no.
37 - Observe your consultant's leadership style closely - emulate what
is exemplary, avoid what is not impressive. Do not get involved in power
play. Be principle-centred. At times you have to disagree with your
friend if he/she is wrong and compliment your enemy if he/she is doing
the right thing
SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS : Tip no. 38 -
Be professional - what does that mean in simple term? Doing the right
thing when nobody is watching! Three elements of professionalism - self
reflection, self regulation, self correction. You're expected to give
your best and place patient's interest above self! How's that?
SURVIVAL
TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS : Tip no. 39 - Put aside some money for
charity. For Muslims, start saving for your Hajj pilgrimage. Make time
to open Tabung Haji account, if you haven't done that yet. Share and be
generous. Enjoy the feel-good feeling of sharing your wealth with
others.
SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS : Tip no. 40 - Try to
perform one task extra than what is expected of you each day. This is to
avoid boredom out of routinized activities. How about volunteering to
push the patient's trolley to the OT, buying lunch at the warong for the
ward staff or helping a patient to the washroom? Yes, it is not YOUR
job, I know. I'm just suggesting. Don't be angry with me!
SURVIVAL
TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS : Tip no. 41 - Ask yourself these questions
time and again: `Is this world a better place because I am around?' Do I
make a difference?' Human beings need to have answers to those
questions. It's our spiritual need : self-actualization in Maslow's
Pyramid on Hierarchy of Human Needs.
SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE
OFFICERS : Tip no. 42 - Always end your conversation with your patients
with this magical question : ` Is there anything else that you would
like to know from me?' So many questions can spring out from the
patient's mouth - worries, concerns and misunderstanding which need
immediate attention & clarification. Now you know why so many
patients did not turn up for their follow-up visits, eh?
SURVIVAL
TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS : Tip no. 43 - Visualize who you would be in 10
years time. It's not too early to apply creative visualization
techniques now. That's the first step towards your success. Come on
guys, you shouldn't just barely survive this housemanship, you have to
succeed!
SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS : Tip no. 44 - Keep
holding to your principles, even when nobody seems to bother. Be the
only one doing the right thing, tho' everyone else seem to favour &
do the opposite. Truth will always prevail, sooner or later. You have to
be strong to be a person of substance & integrity.
SURVIVAL
TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS : Tip no. 45 - Be an outstanding team member.
Always be helpful, considerate and committed. Be ready to take up
leadership role whenever necessary. At the same time, don't be bullied
around. Defend your rights, stand strong on your ground. You'll be liked
and respected, just mark my words!
SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS: Tip. no 46 -Convince yourself that you
play a very important role in the healthcare system of the country. You
might feel like a slave sometimes, being pushed around, instructed to
do this & that. Just bear with those a little while more. You will
soon transform to be a matured, experienced medical officer,in-charge of
junior HOs who come after you.
SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS: Tip. no 47 - Think seriously about
starting a family soon. Family commitment pushes you to another level
of life and forces you to consider others in making decisions. If you're
still looking for the right suitor, keep on praying. If you already
have the potential suitor, just proceed making arrangement for a simple
wedding. Let's continue with life..do not get stuck forever with your
career!
SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS: Tip. no 48 - Clear up your mind,
clean up your heart regularly and constantly. Spend your holiday in a
quiet, peaceful outdoor environment. Keep in touch with nature. Feel the
magnificent power of God, the Creator around you. Remind yourself, how
small, weak and dependent you are to God's help every second of your
life. Pray - O Allah, just don't leave me alone!
SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS: Tip. no 49 - Have the courtesy to
meet and thank all your consultants, clinical specialists, registrars
and MOs whom you have worked with, before finishing your posting in that
particular department. Do not just disappear into thin air. Greet them
at the corridors, acknowledge their presence.
SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS: Tip. no 50 - Get use to the fact
that `Once a doctor, always a doctor!'. Internalize life-long learning
commitment. You are allowed to add the title `Dr.' to your name, but be
aware of the responsibilities that come with it. Prove that you deserve
such a noble title to be put in front of your own name!
Loves,
Dr. Har (
Blog)
ps: I will start my HO soon. InsyaAllah I will be strong. Pray for me :)
. This is my first entry under HO.
