It's that time of the year

I know Christmas is coming but what I did not realize until a few hours ago is that it is just barely 6 days away. No, it is not my first Christmas away from home. In fact, I'm pretty much used to it now. But with this thing called residency training, I haven't really delved into the whole spirit of things.

How didn't I notice?!

People are nicer.

Exchange gifts.

Our seniors asking us less questions and offering more suggestions.

Lesser frowns on people I meet.

The cool breeze wafting through my curtains in the morning.

People talking about bundles of joy and bonuses.

How come I did see it until today?

I guess, I'm more preoccupied with adjusting to this whole residency thing. Following up laboratories, not killing people, getting ready for endorsements and actually learning as much as I can before I get another crack at the ER are what mostly occupies my mind during the waking hours.

It's just hospital-home-sleep and repeat-the-next-day for me right now.

Thankfully, an occasional movie and Tonett break that cycle but, as doctors, trainees, and residents, we all live life every three days.

As I'm nearing my second month of residency and being that time of the year, I'd like to offer some nuggets of wisdom for surviving two months in a residency program:

1) Make your seniors look good. Even if you end up looking ridiculously dumb. But if you are not ridiculously dumb, you'd find a way to make both of you look good.

2) Get a good history. There's just no substitute for a good clinical history and physical exam. Even if you don't know what the heck your patient is suffering from, I'm pretty sure you'd get killed in endorsements with a poor history and end up with something if you bring all your cards to the table.

3) Endorsements and morning reports are not easy things. Get ready for them and plan them in your mind.

4) Some allied medical professionals (nurses, PT's, OT's, etc) could be your best friends in the ward, helping you with patients and ward work. But a good portion of them can be the bane of your existence at times from reading too much into a simple order to not actually giving the medicines you needed to give or not referring nada to you at all.

5) Move fast. Sweat. Look toxic. Look busy.

6) Survive. Just take it an hour at a time. You'll be previous the next day, preduty after that, then repeat the cycle again.

7) Pray. Pray a lot. It helps if you have Him on your side.

As the day of Christmas draws near, I bid you all a Merry Christmas with trimmings of red, green and gold.

Somewhere in the middle of Cebu on the 25th of December, I will be on duty, at the ER, no less.

It's definitely that time of the year.

Merry Christmas.