Wednesday, 3 April 2013

Changeover Day

Today is the last changeover day of the academic year for most foundation doctors. That means we are switching to our final jobs of the year. This isn't quite as nerve wracking as the first or second job, but I'm still pretty nervous.

I am starting on nightshifts. Our nightshifts are notoriously busy covering surgery, urology and orthopaedics, but that isn't what worries me most. What if I get lost? I've only worked in A&E in this hospital, I have no idea where anything else is. Not even the loos, let alone the wards! I don't even know where I can leave my bag and stash of nightshift food.

This is also my first ever proper nightshift with a post take ward round afterwards. I don't think A&E nights count as the dept is the same as the day just with less staff. In psych we did 24hr on calls so if I got called in it would only be for an hour or two. As an FY1 my trust didn't do nights. I don't really know what to expect. I'm guessing the clerking admissions thing will be pretty much the same as A&E (and will often happen in A&E) but it has been over 8 months since I was last running around hospital wards.

I also can't really remember how to use the computer system in the hospital. Oops. Hopefully it will all come back to me.

I'm also feeling very emotional after leaving my last placement yesterday. The nurses and HCAs clubbed together and got me a HUGE bunch of flowers and box of chocolates. They are all just so lovely and it will be a real shame not to work with them anymore.  I'm very excited about the ward night out that I'm going to at the end of the month.

Now I just need to work out the best way to sleep before this set of nights. I slept quite well for 6-7hrs overnight, so a lengthy nap this afternoon and I should be OK.