I have met four patients in my first week. Four. None of which seemed to realise that I was sweating profusely whilst practising my examination skills on them. Personally, I'm pretty pleased with that. I want to blame my body's reaction to the temperature in most of the hospital wards but that would be extremely dishonest.
I need to take the positives from this week.
- I managed to put on my stethoscope the right way around.
- I have yet to get lost.
- I am still smiling, even when inside I'm thinking 'WHY can't I remember the name of every cranial nerve?' (NB. Answer - because it's been a year since you've done any of this so chill out.)
There were moments when I've wanted to hide because I just can't comprehend how anyone could possibly remember the fountain of medical knowledge that exists. And then something happened that reminded me that there's more to this career than reeling off academic knowledge. My moment? Walking through a respiratory ward during visiting hours I spotted an elderly lady in one of the beds. She revealed a wide, toothy grin. She looked so happy, not because she was feeling 100% I'm sure but because someone had taken the time to come into hospital to wash and blowdry her hair for her. I'm not sure that my peers noticed her as we walked through the ward, and I know it seems like a small thing, but it was a gentle reminder that I'm embarking on a great journey and that it'll be worth it for grins just like that.
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