survival tips for house officer (ho)

7/30/2019 Survival Tips for House Officer (HO)

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SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS : Tip no. 1 - Set your intention right. It's

neither about the money, the highly respected position and the power. It is

about PUBLIC SERVITUDE, serving those who are in need of healthcare. Only

after you have served well, then only you could deserve the rewards,

privileges and rights allocated for medical practitioners! Welcome on board!

SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS : Tip no. 2 - Have the right attitudes.

Being the most junior officer in the team, you really have a lot to catch up

and learn. Never pretend that you know all. Never hesitate to admit that you

do not know, to ask questions and assistance. Respect those who are more

experienced than you. People with the right attitudes are welcome wherever

they go, always...all the time!

SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS : Tip no. 3 - Put on your best smile andoutstanding manners. Greet everyone with a cheerful salam. No matter how

busy you are, don't forget to move your temporo-mandibular joints and carve

out a big smile. It will stimulate a fountain of endorphins in your neuron

synapses, and aha...the feel-good feeling will set in. Don't believe this? Just

try....just do it.

SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS : Tip no. 4 - Work extra hard to convince

people that you are reliable, responsible, accountable and able to complete

tasks and meet expectations - within the first two weeks! Once people knowyou're committed, you'll gain their trust, respect & cooperation. Just mark my

words!

SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICER : Tip no.5 - Refresh your inner self with

daily, constant and effective spiritual input. For Muslim, don't ever neglect

your 5 times daily prayers, no matter how busy you are. You really need that

5 -10 minutes regular breaks. It acts as a cooling oasis for you to rejuvenate.

SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS : Tip no.6 : Mend your bruised heart and

dented self-esteem, quickly and effectively - each time you received

unpleasant reminders of your incompetency & shortcoming from your

seniors. It's a part and parcel of the job. Admit your mistakes, but PLEASE, try

hard not to repeat them. To err is human, but to keep doing the same error is

a major blunder!


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SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS : Tip no.7 : Keep in touch with your

loved ones - parents, spouses, close friends, teachers etc. Don't shut out your

life, which mainly linger around your wards, call roster and private room now.

There is more to life out there than just work or crashing into bed to recoverfrom sleep deprivation.

SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS : Tip no.8 : Make friend with the nurses.

Never ever be their enemy. Life would be much easier if you know how to win

their hearts. Dr Meena (Paeds MO) gave me this very precious advice :

Harlina, be nice to these people (nurses). They will decide whether you will

have your meals or not during your calls. Yesss, I later realized how true that

advice was!

SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS : Tip no.9 : Forgive those who raised

their voices at you. They might be angry patients, stressed-up MOs,

overwhelmed colleagues, frustrated consultants, irritated nurses etc. Nobody

had ever shouted at you before,eh? Being a HO, anticipate your first

experience here. Forgive them, forget them and live on. After all, we're all

just humans living in the same pressure cooker!

SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS : Tip no.10 - Thank God for the honourof being His instrument/tool of Mercy to mankind. A great opportunity is at

your doorstep to catapult your good self to be bigger than life. Grab that

opportunity and seize the golden moments. Nothing compares with the

feeling of satisfaction whenever your patients & relatives say : Thank you,

Doc

SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS : Tip no. 11 - Handle yourself well when

dealing with difficult people. Feeling victimized, bullied and discriminated?

After reflecting on yourself, I suggest you pluck some courage to meet face-to-face. Clarify, admit your mistakes and make peace. InsyaAllah, things will

be fine.

SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS : Tip no. 12 - Treat your patients as if

they are your own parents/relatives. Just as how you would like any doctor to


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treat your parents, that's exactly how you should treat your patients now.

Remember, what comes around, goes around! Motivate your patients always,

you'll feel the positive energy seeping into you too.

SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS : Tip no. 13 - Express your love to your

spouse everyday, using his/her love language. Let him/her know how much

his/her support & understanding means to you. Share your ups and downs,

laughter & tears. Thank Allah everyday for sending you this special person.

Those who are still unmarried, what's keeping you, guys?

SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS : Tip no. 14 - Be sincere in treating your

patients, be gentle and caring. Control your anger and frustration, avoid

explosive emotional outburst in front of your patients. If you really need to

release the steam, do it in the washroom with the tap running (peace, MotherEarth)- I consider that as an effective form of anger management!

SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS : Tip no. 15 - Keep abreast with what's

happening around you - medical & non-medical, locally and globally. Read the

papers, journals & magazines, listen to the news bulletin, engage in general

discussions. Have your own opinions. You're a doctor now! People wanna

know what's going on in your brain.

SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS : Tip no. 16 - Always extend a helping

hand to your peers/colleague HOs.That's the only way to ensure help comes

your way the next time you desperately need one. Less of `Me, Myself & I',

please! More of `We & Us' now. Be a sporting team member, will ya!

SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS : Tip no. 17 - Make effort to remember

names esp. your patients'. Address them appropriately. If you're greeting

them for the first time, use `Encik, Cik & Puan' instead of `PakCik, Makcik, Pak

Aji, Apek, Aci, Akak, Abang, Adik'. Make quick glances at the patient's file and

pronounce his/her full name clearly. Just see how impressed they will be!

SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS : Tip no. 18 - Endure the

disappointment when you discover the realities of the system. Witnessing

unprofessional, unethical conducts - far from what you learnt in med schools?


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Feeling upset, angry, demoralized? Good, at least I can count on you to be a

future committed agent of change!

SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS: Tip no. 19 - Learn to read your

consultants'/specialists' minds. What do they want from a HO? Dedication,

commitment, eagerness to learn, willingness to be corrected & guided. Give

them those, and they won't make your life miserable.

SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS: Tip no. 20 - Keep your room in the HO

quarter clean, tidy & cheerful! Hire a keeper if you could afford one.Throw

away all the rotten left-overs. Buy an air-freshener & some flowers. Pull up

the curtains, let the sunlight in. It's supposed to be a bedroom, not a cave!

SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS: Tip no. 21 - Spend your salary wisely.

Share your first paycheck with your loved ones. Pay up your debts / credit

card bills. Recall your financial planning lessons. Avoid weekly shopping mall

rounds. Window shop with your stomach full, you'll be able to control the

cravings.

SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS: Tip no. 22 - Push the `pause' button,

get out for some fresh air, watch the sunrise/sunset. Reflect & contemplate.Remember, you just a small part of a very complex design. Put your

perspectives back on track. Inhale & exhale - be grateful to Allah for

everything you have.

SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS : Tip no. 23 - Volunteer to help

arranging the call roster.Experience the pain in accomodating all requests

and dealing with unhappy colleagues who could not get their wishes. Best

time to learn how to give & take here!

SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS : Tip no. 24 - Be friendly & mix around

with everyone. Do not reserve your greetings only for the bosses & VIPs.

Greet the staff nurses, PKs, cleaners, security guards, gardeners etc. Drink

your coffee at the pantry. Stop being choosy & selective. Snobs are lonely

people.


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SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS : Tip no. 25 - Pray for your patients'

well-being. Support their emotional & spiritual needs. Listen to their stories.

Don't be afraid to be close to your patients. You will learn how to detach your

emotions & rational thinking while looking after patients - so you'll remainobjective and professional.Learn the balance to keep the ideal distance

between you and the patients.

SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS : Tip no. 26 - Surprise those who look

down upon you by exceeding their expectations. Impress those who think

highly of you by exceeding their expectation too. Whatever it is, do your level

best. Be brave to take up challenges, be humble enough to ask for assistance

and be ready to receive feedback - Recipe for a satisfying career!

SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS : Tip no. 27 - Do not allow self pity to

consume you now. Never curse yourself. Regretting your life choice of

becoming a medical doctor, feeling envious with those friends who are

enjoying life, free to do whatever they like? Well, I bet they're envious of YOU

too! Just hang on there, persevere & be strong.

SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS : Tip no. 28 - Admit your mistakes and

try to redeem yourself. It takes a lot of courage, self-esteem and confidenceto own up for your shortcomings. At the same time, do not boast around and

inflate yourself. If you've really done good, let others acknowledge. You do not

have to keep reminding others.

SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS : Tip no. 29 - Enhance your medical

knowledge thru' revising textbooks/notes ( I hope you haven't sold all

textbooks to the juniors in med school!). Get answers to questions ASAP.

Experience medicine with accurate knowledge/information, not simply

following orders like zombies -without critical thinking.

SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS : Tip no. 30 - Let the deaths of your

patients serve as gentle reminders/ tazkeerah - that you will also face yours,

sooner or later. Treat the dead with respect, whoever they were. Look at

those cold, still bodies - now separated from their souls. Pray for them.


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Convey your condolences to the mourning relatives... they'll appreciate that.

SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS : Tip no. 31 - Keep in touch with your

emotions, but avoid being overwhelmed. Acknowledge the anger, sadness,

frustration, confusion etc. Don't simply brush them off, what more trying to

stiffle them! Manage those emotions - you're a human being, not a robot!

Ventilate, it helps clearing up your lungs & mind.

SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS : Tip no. 32 - Promise yourself that

you're gonna make one person smile today! He/she might be your patient,

colleague, MO, consultant, staff or spouse & parents at home. Simple rule of

life - if you wanna smile, make another person smile, if you wanna be happy,

make another person happy, if you want people to appreciate you, appreciate

others first!

SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS : Tip no. 33 - Commit yourself to life

long learning from your surroundings. Your patients are your best teachers.

Learn how they handle bad news, manage their emotions, ask for help and

accept their fate. Despite all the pain & sorrow, they still tell you how much

they appreciate what you've done for them.

SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS : Tip no. 34 - Master the negotiation

skills, otherwise life can be so inflexible and stressful. No matter how busy,

there is definitely time for short prayers, quick meals, brief naps & shower

time. The secret? You just have to know how to negotiate with people around

you.

SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS : Tip no. 35 - Start scribbling your life

journal / log book. You're facing new challenges everyday, it's too precious to

simply let them pass by without any acknowledgment. Write down the

lessons learnt. You will have to share those with others one day.

SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS : Tip no. 36 - Agree to disagree - the

best way to handle difference of opinions. Speak your mind out, share your

concerns & input. Don't be a YES-man all the time, people won't notice that

you exist! Learn to say ` I beg to differ' as a subtle way to say `No, I don't


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agree with you!

SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS : Tip no. 37 - Observe your consultant's

leadership style closely - emulate what is exemplary, avoid what is not

impressive. Do not get involved in power play. Be principle-centred. At times

you have to disagree with your friend if he/she is wrong and compliment your

enemy if he/she is doing the right thing.

SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS : Tip no. 38 - Be professional - what

does that mean in simple term? Doing the right thing when nobody is

watching! Three elements of professionalism - self reflection, self regulation,

self correction. You're expected to give your best and place patient's interest

above self! How's that?

SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS : Tip no. 39 - Put aside some money for

charity. For Muslims, start saving for your Hajj pilgrimage. Make time to open

Tabung Haji account, if you haven't done that yet. Share and be generous.

Enjoy the feel-good feeling of sharing your wealth with others.

SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS : Tip no. 40 - Try to perform one task

extra than what is expected of you each day. This is to avoid boredom out ofroutinized activities. How about volunteering to push the patient's trolley to

the OT, buying lunch at the warong for the ward staff or helping a patient to

the washroom? Yes, it is not YOUR job, I know. I'm just suggesting. Don't be

angry with me!

SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS : Tip no. 41 - Ask yourself these

questions time and again: `Is this world a better place because I am around?'

Do I make a difference?' Human beings need to have answers to those

questions. It's our spiritual need : self-actualization in Maslow's Pyramid on

Hierarchy of Human Needs.

SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS : Tip no. 42 - Always end your

conversation with your patients with this magical question : ` Is there

anything else that you would like to know from me?' So many questions can

spring out from the patient's mouth - worries, concerns and


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misunderstanding which need immediate attention & clarification. Now you

know why so many patients did not turn up for their follow-up visits, eh?

SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS : Tip no. 43 - Visualize who you would

be in 10 years time. It's not too early to apply creative visualization

techniques now. That's the first step towards your success. Come on guys,

you shouldn't just barely survive this housemanship, you have to succeed!

SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS : Tip no. 44 - Keep holding to your

principles, even when nobody seems to bother. Be the only one doing the

right thing, tho' everyone else seem to favour & do the opposite. Truth will

always prevail, sooner or later. You have to be strong to be a person of

substance & integrity.

SURVIVAL TIPS FOR HOUSE OFFICERS : Tip no. 45 - Be an outstanding team

member. Always be helpful, considerate and committed. Be ready to take up

leadership role whenever necessary. At the same time, don't be bullied

around. Defend your rights, stand strong on your ground. You'll be liked and

respected, just mark my words!

survival tips for house officer (ho)

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