The End of Surgical Rotation

I have mixed feelings at the end of my surgical rotation. It's probably my last chance in having any experience with surgery...not that I want anymore :p

To be honest, I didn't learn much in terms of surgical skills. I still don't know how to tie a surgical knot. I haven't cut open a patient. In the theatre, I am more like a secondary surgical instrument that can hold the primary surgical instrument. 99.9% of the time, I am more useless than any theatre nurse or technician.

What I learnt was every pt needs DVT prophylaxis, regular medicine, and analgesia charted. I learnt that it's ok not knowing how to manage medical problems because the med reg is just a referral away. I learnt that I have to run everything past my registrar, so I don't normally have to use my brain. I just need to do what I was told, and I don't have to do anything extra.

It's not good learning, but I don't really mind as long as I get paid.

During this rotation, I realised how great my co-interns are. We looked after each other and we survived together. I will miss the very nice registrars. Times when my reg said "let's go makan." and the free coffee I got from them. I will also miss the super nurses on my ward who will actually take blood and do blood culture.

My surgical rotation is a positive experience. I will miss the people of my ward just like I miss the people in Bairnsdale.