First Day Back

My day started well, woke up at 8.45am, slightly surprised that my alarm clock hadn't done it's job. Was certainly not surprised by the fact that I'd actually set it for 8pm. So I was a bit late for the first ward rounds of the new year, not that any of the doctors noticed that I was ever gone. Of course, we medics are the parasites of the hospital, leeching everybody's time and patience. No chance to use my incredible raspberry coloured (but not flavoured) stethoscope, one of my Christmas presents, and just another crutch on which to lean my flimsy medical ego. All these little trinkets that make us feel more able and knowledgeable but frankly aren't a bit more useful than their most basic equivalent.
The patients weren't making the morning much more fun either, by insisting on having incurable diseases. Of the first 3 patients, 2 had already been "signed off", handed over to palliative care. Had a slight revival with a group of more cheerful patients but I've learnt already that the majority of patients have been admitted to have their demises temporarily postponed, and not averted for any vast length of time. It sounds cruel, but if you look any honest caring doctor in the eye and ask him if Mrs. Smith's tenth course of antibiotics will give her a good strong ten years then you're only getting one answer. In fact, it's a tribute to these same doctors that patients can get so old these days. Caring and naivety are two very different things.
After a case-based-teaching session on diabetic foot ulcers (actually learnt somthing that might stick), I nipped to the canteen for some lunch. I know sometimes eateries have a "curry day" or "Scottish day", but to have a "crap food" day is simply poor management. And not even advertising it was even worse. In the two horse race between baked potatoes that looked more like rockery stones and vegetable lasagne that reminded me of my recent learning on diabetic feet, I took the latter. God knows why.
Went back up to the ward, but found it devoid of doctors (driving to the golf club in their Porsches no doubt) and medics (getting the bus to Clowns no doubt). Took an early finish and buggered off home to catch the late Neighbours after an afternoon nap. That's right, a nap. I'm nearly 21 and I still get drowsy after lunch. But just because I'm a medic doesn't mean I'm not also a student at heart...