#This is an old post in 2017 from the blog Standing Alone
When it comes to choosing medical or surgical postings as your first rotation in HSIJB, it's not an easy feat. The allocation of house officers depends on the department's needs at the time, so you may not have the liberty to choose your preferred posting. It's done to prevent chaos within the departments.
Let's delve into the surgical department. While HSIJB may not have a neurosurgical unit, we boast excellent breast and endocrine surgeons, as well as a dedicated Burn unit. This means you'll have ample opportunities to observe and assist in various surgical procedures.
As a house officer in the surgical department, you'll have the chance to perform a range of procedures such as CVL insertion, chest tube insertion, excision biopsies, and even appendectomy. The feeling of accomplishment and excitement when you're entrusted with these tasks is unparalleled. If you're a higher poster (4th to 6th), you're likely to gain more trust from your superiors and therefore have the opportunity to perform even more procedures. The tagging period for surgical posting is 2 weeks for 1st to 3rd posters and 10 days for 4th to 6th posters.
Moreover, the specialists in the surgical department are incredibly kind and eager to teach. There are individuals like Mr. M, Miss D, and Dr. H (a skilled and friendly MO) from whom I hope to learn surgical skills someday. They are great mentors to have.
However, there is a downside to be aware of. Recently, there seems to be a trend of laziness among the surgical medical officers. They may skip ward rounds, slack off, and delegate their responsibilities to house officers. If anything goes wrong, the blame often falls on the house officer. Occasionally, they might even teach you incorrect information. It's disheartening to witness such a shift in the hierarchy within the department. Many individuals are drawn to the surgical department as MOs due to the relaxed atmosphere and lack of responsibility. Nevertheless, this current situation leaves me feeling saddened and disappointed.
I apologize if my words come across as discouraging; I merely aim to share the reality of the situation. One piece of advice I can offer is to always do your best and cover yourself by documenting your actions appropriately.
Things may have changed. Be positive. Life is fantasy!
If you have any comments or thoughts, please feel free to ask. I am more than happy to provide guidance within my abilities.
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