Atiqah the skema reporter

Today during round Dr. Azrul looked through the op notes mumbling out loud

"Nama aku ape dah.."

I know he meant his role in the op as in surgeon, assistant, or whatever. But I stood there with my expressionless face and said

"Nama doktor Azrul Che Daud."

He almost face dropped onto the cardiac table grinning. I smirked. Dr. Pijan laughed. Poknik looked at me and said

"Takpe. Betul doh jawapan awok tu."

"Aku maksudkan aku ni assistant ke atau ape op haritu. Aku scrub nurse sebenarnya. Tapi bagus la ada orang ingat nama aku. Terima kasih."

"Kalau saya save nombor orang tu dalam henset saya, saya save nama penuh."

"Wow." Dr. Pijan sounded impressed amongst Dr. Azrul laughing at my skemaness. It's a habit from my news editor days. I need full names for news. "Nama saya apa?"

I stated his full name. He nodded.

290616 - One day in Ortho round

Dr. Annas was standing in the back chatting with the nurse and he was speaking humbly of himself.

Nurse: Dr. Annas ni merendah diri sangat.
Dr. Annas: Tak la saya tak rendah diri. Saya tinggi, lebih kurang Azrul. Rendah tu yang tu.

I turned around and glared him grinning at me and my vertically challenged self. I tip toed as tall as I can and then gave up.

Me: Never mind, jiwa saya besar.

We laughed bwahahaha.

Me: Apsal entah aku cakap camtu.

Dr. Azrul: Kau ni maaacam adik aku.

Pastu Dr. Azrul suggest aku extend dalam Ortho. I take that as a compliment la kan, you don't want insufferable people as your colleague. But of course I don't want to.

Me: Saya tak nak kena extend. Nanti susah nak amik Master.

Sometimes I think if I'm an MO what would I need and promptly do what occurred in mind. It's called proactive.

I respect my MOs. Especially when I've gone through Medical posting and realise the hard work my MOs have to pour. I really appreciate them and try my best to do my own work so as not to burden them. Naturally I become a nice HO who tries to oblige to my MOs as much as I can.

Like today. Poknik was going around in the ward looking at the board and asking the nurses about the OT list for Hospital Tumpat tomorrow. He couldn't find it so he called Tumpat himself. I felt bad for him that an MO has to do such a thing when there are HOs around, so I looked up to see who was the HO assigned for Tumpat cm. It was Fadzlin.

I remembered her messaging our group saying she's going to the clinic to find patients ticket and it occurred to me she meant the patients for Tumpat OT tomorrow. So while Poknik was on the phone talking to the nurse in Tumpat, I called Fadzlin and confirmed my assumption (she's reliable like that), and yes she had the OT list for tomorrow. While on the phone with her I told Poknik who was on the phone with the nurse that

"Fadzlin HO Tumpat esok. Dia ada OT list. Dia tengah kutip BHT patient for esok."

Done. Poknik is lucky he was assigned one of our most reliable HOs around. I handed him my phone and I went to the record room in our ward to look for one of the OT patient's ticket. And emerged out with the xrays Poknik needed.

---

On another note, I'm too comfortable with Dr. Azrul that I'm boasting unabashedly in front of him.

I needed a countersign for a memo for one of our patient who had been in and out hospital for the last one year for multiple MVAs, surgeries and complications. I went to the clinic and walked down the hallway scanning the room for a potential superior.

Dr. Iqbal is Spine, Dr. Wong is Spine and was in his room flirting with Fadzlin.. lol this girl she was supposed to help out JRU clinic, Dr. Nik sitting with Mr. Rashidee, Dr. Annas with Rahman, Dr. Azrul alone, Mr. Yusof alone, Mr. Nazir alone.. I doubled back and went inside Dr. Azrul's room.

"Salam Dr. Azrul."

"Ha Tiqah nak ape." He grinned.

"Saya nak countersign untuk patient Zahir post THR. Memo untuk kolej dia."

Dr. Azrul read the memo I wrote and it was evident he was impressed.

"Wow kemasnya surat ni. Kau tulis sendiri?"

Damn I was proud. Didn't even bother to hide my smug grin and went all out "Tengok la sape yang tulis."

He boomed out laughing bwahahaha and I think I heard him saying "Kau ni memang macam orang tua" or maybe I was deaf.

I spun around gently in the chair opposite him and mentioned one flaw that was bugging me. "Saya ada silap sikit tulis tu. Akhir sekali saya tulis 'hasten recovery'. Sepatutnya 'hasty' bukan 'hasten'. Tapi dah print."

"Ahh tak payah. Kau ingat semua orang pandai macam kau?" And he countersigned my memo.

I wanted to grin back a "why thank you" but enough ego inflated for a day. I grinned a thanks and went on my merry way.

---

And the day ended with a drama. We were efficient and finished our job by 4pm and waiting to clock out at 5pm. I studied. Then on my way out, I read my messages and turned out we have one new case admitted from clinic walking into the ward at 4.50pm! Anyone would be pissed at the patient. Clinic ended at noon! Between noon and 4.50pm I wondered if the patient fell into a ditch somewhere. Pity my Wad Dahlia colleague but I was in my car already. Meh.

Then I reached home. And guess what. Another patient admitted from clinic walked into ward at 5.40pm. Damn right the Ward Dahlia guys were pissed. Kenapa jadi camni?

And worst was that both patients were admitted from clinic by the same MO and he didn't say a word to us. How could he do that to us? Heads up la.

Okay I'm relaying my colleagues frustration. It was 6 and they were still in the ward. And were holy pissed off at said MO.

Suddenly said MO messaged us in the group. Wah functional rupanya WhatsApp dia. He politely requested for an update of our inpatients, siap panggil kami "adik-adik".

So I asked the guys what now? Nak layan ke tak? The Ward Dahlia people were still angry and refused to oblige to his polite request. "Common sense la, kalau nak tahu update inpatient datang la ward." I don't disagree. Poknik missed the morning round for clinic duty and later in the evening he came to the ward for his quick round, in fact he does this everyday. Poknik is exemplary.

"Kalau Poknik yang minta update?" I gauged them.

"Kalau Poknik minta baru aku layan."

Beres. We decided to silently protest him and not reply anything. You didn't say a word and so shall we. Oh boy HO nowadays...

But I asked my people to update their cases anyway since I was expecting Poknik to intervene later at night once said MO go berserk at us ignoring him.

And I was right. Woah my foreseeing power.

But only Periphery People updated their cases so we still have no updates for him. Haha. Too bad. We did this on purpose and so shall face his wrath or frustration coming morning gallantly as we are.

In the mean time I hope he sleeps well tonight.

HO terhalau MO

Masuk bilik doktor tempat HO selalu melepak. Sofa penuh, I scanned the room and noted semuanya HO except the last person.

"Eh." Nape ada MO sorang, dah la macam serabai.

"Eh." Dr. Pok Nik ehhed me back.

"Hmm." Buat muka takde mood.

"Kenapa? Kecewa ke tak boleh nak mengumpat?"

"Saya baru je nak meluahkan perasaan."

"Nak saya tubik ko?"

"Hmm takpe."

"Okay la saya tubik." With a grin boss left dengan lajunya. Aku baru nak mengadu Mr. Zakaria panggil aku degil harini. Never mind. Aku pun mengadu dekat HO lain.

Good girl

I was walking slowly towards dad's clinic this morning when I heard someone called me from behind.

"Tiq. Tiq."

I turned around and saw bro standing waiting for me in front of Blood Bank's counter. I walked towards him. It was enlightening to think he would call me out when he notices me, because that's not something I would do when I saw him not crossing my path.

He asked where I was going. Told him I'm killing time while waiting for 10am to clock out and I don't want to follow rounds. He invited me to Anggerik. Boss Razin was then in the procedure room attending a patient and bro went with him. I went to one of the patients we operated on last night to see his progress.

Bro later came out of the procedure room and told me "Malam ni. Minum."

"I'll be there bro."

Really, we're all talk. 80% of his invites followed by rainchecks either from him (three quarter of the time) or me and that night was no different. But it's not exactly a bad thing. I don't fancy hanging out with guys unless in large group. Omar made sure I feel bad about this.

Haha... That's one thing good about Omar.

Aku HO semata (hahahahahaha not)

Patient admitted 2pm yesterday. No one traced his blood. I came to work, reviewed him new case first thing in the morning. Traced his blood.

Creat 375, urea 20, potassium 6.9!! Normal 3.5-5.1 kot. Sample not lysed. Dekat ED dah buat VBG, potassium on VBG 6.6 upper limit normal 5 berapa entah. Damn ED and Orthobay people, elderly patient no known medical illness admitted for acute paraplegia sape nak jawab kalau meninggal sebab cardiac arrest?

Aku faham semalam orang oncall busy gilak. Dalam hati menyumpah orang lab pehal tak call doktor hahaha sambil minta maaf dekat kak staff nurse yang belum passover report lagi HO dah minta tolong ECG dan lytic cocktail stat.

All went well. Aku pun sambung review patient lain. 8 lebih MO datang ward for passover and to start round. I casually mentioned to MO yang postcall kes yang dia admit semalam tu potassium 6.9 sample not lysed.

"Potassium 6.9? Awak buat apa?"

"Saya assess patient, ECG stat okay, pastu saya bagi IV lytic cocktail stat. BUSE post lytic cocktail pending."

"Awak tak repeat dulu blood? Awak discuss dengan sape bagi IV lytic cocktail stat?" Nada dia questioning. Aku thiqoh dia penat semalaman jonah.

Tapi aku tergamam. Speechless. Aku lupa diri yang aku ni HO semata (wthell) dan sini bukan Medical. Potassium tinggi camtu pun kena bagitahu MO dulu nak bagi ape. Bwahaha oh God what is this.

Btw potassium post lytic cocktail dia 3.9! Ngehehe.

When you have a teaching MO, you need to study harder and ask him questions

Dr. Nik Abdullah is easily my favourite MO in Orthopaedic. Apart from the fact is an ASU senior who proudly wears his ASU nametag and periodically mention his Egypt days, he teaches a lot and is a responsible registrar who does fast rounds everyday before leaving work.

Sigh. I should study harder and ask him questions.

Anyway, today was funny. I updated my MOs of Anaes plan for intubation later. Dr. Nik turned around sniggering at me while covering his mouth. "Napok doh sapo nok keno bagging hari nih."

I semi glared him with a "Thenks." Five hours later I was bagging.

Dr. Nik came to ward after uneventful intubation by Anaes. Noted me at hard work bagging the poor patient. Another snigger. I semi glared at him from my masked face.

"Thenks."

"Tingga deh Tiqah."

"Bye."

Mr. Raziiiiiiin! #matabentukhati

Was exiting Anggerik when I saw my favourite Paed Surgeon the cutest Mr. Razin. I grinned at him.

"Salam Mr. Razin, ape khabar."

Mr. Razin grinned back. "Wassalam. Bila awak nak balik sini?"

Me while walking, turned around to face boss. "Aaa... setahun lagi!"

Hewhewhew I better go study now!

Kalau nak dokumen buat cara nak dokumen

Mr. Che Wan came for rounds. I readied to present.

"Ha. Macam mana kes kau?"

"Kes saya?" What was he talking about?

"Kes dengan pengarah."

"Hahaha entah. Saya tunggu jugak bila pengarah nak panggil saya."

"Bagus kau ni. Cuma documentation tak lengkap. Kau patut tulis verbally abusive tu dia cakap apa."

"Oh yeah." Aku tak tulis sebab nanti kesian pulak. "Okay saya akan ingat.. next time."

"Lain kali tulis proper. Tapi kalau aku kau jangan la tulis camtu pulak."

Hahahaha.

I'm good at ignoring. The lawyer letter will come when it comes, in the mean time I better study harder

I was ready to present my case. Dr. Irwan stood beside me and I started. "59 years old underlying DM, HPT, ESRD, history of right BKA-"

"Awak tahu awak femes sekarang?"

I paused for a while. I am not that ignorant, but I don't want to acknowledge this either. "Tahu."

"Awak tahu dulu pernah ada HO gaduh dengan dia jugak?"

"Tak." I was curious what happened to that HO, but I wasn't not that curious.

"Kalau gaduh dengan dia, kena beringat sikit."

I stared at my MO. I felt like explaining myself but I was not that excited to discuss about this. Saya bukan gaduh dengan dia sebab saya kenal dia sape. What she did was unacceptable regardless who she is.

"Boleh saya present kes?"

---

Dr. Nik the ASU senior slash my favourite Ortho registrar walked pass me while I was doing discharge and suddenly stopped.

"Awak la yang..." He grinned. "Ke ada orang lain?"

"Saya la."

"Dia memang macam tu. Jangan risau. Awak tak payah rasa down ke-"

"Semua orang ingat saya down ke." I smirked. Dr. Nik is so nice. "Terima kasih sebab risaukan saya."

"Awak dah baca dokumentasi dia?"

"Tak. Dia dokumen kat mana?"

"Awak tak tahu?"

"Perlu ke tahu?"

He grinned.

"Saya rasa doktor lagi tahu kes daripada saya."

Dinner

Someone pat me on the shoulder. Turned around to see one of my favourite Anaes who made me cry over a patient when I was in Medical.

Dr. Zahirah: Atiqah! Awak dah Ortho? Dulu Medical kan?
Me with a grin: Haah.
Dr. Zahirah: Awak hutang saya kan?
Me: Dinner right? Tapi saya takde number doktor.
Dr. Zahirah: Alasan.

#gettingbetteratthisflirtinggame