Wednesday, January 30, 2008♥1/30/2008 11:25:00 PM
Eileen finally has her own blog~!!!! that's how in trend she is after everyone is hitting on blogging!
Haha...glad that I can browse her daily updates through the net as we barely meet up each other.....you know, she has her lovely James and sister to occupy her...I know, this blog was set up because James is leaving for studies and this could link them up when they're separated. It's glad to know that their loves still going strong, I'm happy for her~ Sincerely hope that they would be able to overcome the distance, 3 years isn't short.
Totally engrossed,
Scribbled by Valerie, pen down at
1/30/2008 11:25:00 PM
Monday, January 28, 2008♥1/28/2008 12:48:00 AM
The more I work in the surgical field, the more I prefer to be a doctor.
High social status and repayment are not the root causes leading me to have the thought of studying M.B.B.S. I love biology especially pathophysiology, I love to study human organs and functions. Perhaps that is one of the reasons why I'm so much in love with my present job.
When I was still in high school, medicine had been one of my dreams. However, financial problem hindered my path and it's almost impossible for a foreigner to take up medicine in NUS.
Therefore I joined nursing, with the hope of getting a sponsorship from any hospital.
Ever since I practiced as a registered nurse, the desire to be a doctor seems to grow stronger day by day. The thought of studying medicine after my 3-year bond with NUH is getting stronger and stronger.
During the outing, ShiongWen told me I can enrol in medicine without me worrying about the tuition fee. In another word, banks do provide studying loans for medicine students!
So my most worried has settled, the next thing is the age.
By the time I finish my 3-year bond with NUH, I will be at the age of 25 when it is supposed to be the age of medicine graduants! Upon the completion of medicine, I will be stepping into thirties and I'm behind 5 years.........5 years.........one can be a registrar already within 5 years.......
I'm in the greatest dilemma of my life......thinking of my future, clearing my thought......
Totally engrossed,
Scribbled by Valerie, pen down at
1/28/2008 12:48:00 AM
Saturday, January 26, 2008♥1/26/2008 10:19:00 PM
My annual leaves is ending soon~ *Sobsob*
Happy hours usually flies faster....just like last night.
Yesterday was the best day of my AL. Went to Merchant Court and had a sumptuous and luxurious buffet with HPB team. We had a fantastic dinner~ Apparently after my change of hairstyle, some of the surgeons couldn't recognize me without the scrub cap! Until they had a closer look on me.....then they realized I'm Valerie!!!!
Hahaha....
Oh ya, I haven't posted my latest photo ya....wait and see.....be patient...
Thereafter I met Jon, Ganesh, Carol for drinks.....They were there for drinks while I was there for accompany......Because I don't drink! Chatting and enjoying friends company would be my top activities....
We headed M.O.S meeting the rest.......Oh...we had a great night, drinking and dancing all night through.....At that moment, we're no longer doctors and nurses.....WE ARE CLUBBERS!!!!
Really enjoyed ourselves and it was already close to 4am when we left the happening....
Totally engrossed,
Scribbled by Valerie, pen down at
1/26/2008 10:19:00 PM
Wednesday, January 23, 2008♥1/23/2008 11:47:00 AM
Aspired by my HMDP, I decided to start learning Korean from now.
Like what my brother mentioned, " You've a year to master Korean, why not start learning now..?"
I nodded, completely agreed. Although I dislike Korea Language, I still will give my very best.
However, I've zero basic in Korean.......Aiyo, they should send me to Japan.....at least I know the basic!
Nonetheless, I want to learn Korean~!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Saying is easier than doing. Now, I need to actualize my action!!!!
Online searching for study material in progress....
Totally engrossed,
Scribbled by Valerie, pen down at
1/23/2008 11:47:00 AM
Tuesday, January 22, 2008♥1/22/2008 05:16:00 PM
22/2/2008 will be my good friend's solemnisation~
That's so fast...hmm..around one more month..?? oh my god..
Too fast to be true......
anyway, congrats to both of them~!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
really happy to know that...
=)
Totally engrossed,
Scribbled by Valerie, pen down at
1/22/2008 05:16:00 PM
Thursday, January 17, 2008♥1/17/2008 12:25:00 PM
From the day I first started joining NUH OT, Tuesday was my most heartbreaking day.
Not only I'm hearbroken, disappointment invaded my heart as well....
I wonder why am I working so hard when they tend to overlook my sacrifice and concentrate on my flaws.
This is what happened yesterday morning....
~PART I
I was told by someone that da jie was very upset that I didn't stay up for the hepatectomy at 6pm and hence she had to stay for my absence of scrubbing! Hello, madam xxxx I only took about 20 mins toilet cum lunch break in between since 11am to 6pm! If really I took my full lunch break and filled up my tummy very well, I don't mind to stay throughout. So now you expected me to skip my dinner and stayed up all the way to 9pm..? I tell you, NO WAY~!
Correct, that my another da jie said when they were still new, they would stay throughout the operation so that they would know what happened for the whole surgery. Excuse me, I'd tried my super best not to have a break during lunchtime. If only my bladder has unlimited capacity, I'm UNWILLING to let LeeLeng takeover me for 20 mins~!!!!!!! Don't tell me you can tolerate while your bladder is full~! Crap!
So my effort of not trying to go for lunch all down to drain, and my not staying to finish the case being magnified so much~
~PART II
I was supposed to be on morning shift 8am-6pm yesterday, therefore as usual I reached OT at 730am.
I happily enter OR8 as there's a liver transplant ongoing there, hopefully I got to scrub the liver benchwork! So when I started to help circulating, Brother came in asked me if I could do on-call duty today when today is the beginning of my Annual Leave. After what I heard about them commenting that I didn't stay for the previous hepatectomy, I accepted their sudden change of assignment. Partially is because Brother is the one who approached me, and he has been so nice to me so I did him a favourite.
I can tell you frankly, if Brother wasn't the one who approached me, I couldn't see any reason for me to do on-call duty yesterday!! I'm doing it for Brother only.....
Also, I want both of you to feel GUILTY that you perceived me that way~!!!!!!!
All bullshit.
You tell me, why should I work that hard..??
One more time, just one more time.....I will explode.
Totally engrossed,
Scribbled by Valerie, pen down at
1/17/2008 12:25:00 PM
Tuesday, January 15, 2008♥1/15/2008 09:03:00 PM
Wah Wah Wah Wah Wah~!!!!!
A superb day for me~!
Scrubbed up for hepatectomy~
Yippee~ Finally you know...after 2 months of waiting. Each time I wanted to scrub for hepatectomy, it's either no ICU bed available or patient unfit for operation. There was one time I was fully prepared and the laparoscopic hepatectomy was in progress for about 30 mins only before the surgeon decided not to proceed. Also, I'd encountered a case whereby the four lobes of liver were all affected and there would have no chance of survival if the patient undergone the resection, so they did a bypass instead. In summary, I've not done a full hepatectomy before today.
Therefore, today is a GREAT achievement!!!!
Although my assisting wasn't fantastic as I was forced to stand quite far away from the sterile field, but I'm still feeling satisfied despite the sacrifice of lunch and toilet break. Haha....
Totally engrossed,
Scribbled by Valerie, pen down at
1/15/2008 09:03:00 PM
Sunday, January 13, 2008♥1/13/2008 06:26:00 PM
My friend is getting married.....
She's same age as me, and her fiance only 2 years older...
When I looked at the wedding band... I felt really happy for them...
At the same time, feeling down and lonely..
Not that I'm in a hurry to get married, but i just have so much thoughts flooding in...
For so many years, I've been searching....for the man I would spend the rest of my life...
Once, I met him.....
but we were not fated.....it's hard for me to explain....
I thought I would be his wife..and seriously we planned to exchange our rings half a year after I graduated from NYP..
It was all in past tense.......
Now, I'm still looking for that someone...
but I'm not in a rush..I know I still have the time..
hee...
Totally engrossed,
Scribbled by Valerie, pen down at
1/13/2008 06:26:00 PM
♥1/13/2008 11:26:00 AM
Just reach home after my call. It wasn't a good call though.
Not that I still have high level of stamina, but i just so eager to blog.....suddenly have the mood to write something.....
Okay. I can tell you luckily there were two GS girls on call yesterday, if not I couldn't imagine how bad was the situation going to be!
Right after we took over from previous shift in charge, immediately they sent in a plastic case -- Split skin graft. So as usual la....we are always being kiasu in preparing plastic case and die die would have two circulators to run the case. Luckily Sister Shirin was on yesterday, so she helped to prepare the case while I was preparing for ANOTHER GS case -- Laparoscopis I&D liver.
Well, because the liver abscess was quite bad....hell loads of pus was drained out....
Just when I finished my case and going to clean my instruments, I heard there was another laparotomy -- Anterior Resection....Gosh...non stop GS cases floading in....
However, me being a colorectal girl, didn't offer much help. Not that I didn't want to, but I'd no time! As I unscrubbed for the liver case, it was already 2pm and I was dying for my delicious lunch!! I could see only my lunch box waving at me.......
So Ruby helped to run the case.....
Do you think that's the end..?
NO WAY~!!!!!!!
Another plastic case occupied the theatre with the ORIF mandible. Luckily Prof had a good mood, singing in the theatre...hahaha......
Concurrently, another Urology case was in progress.....and as you guys know, urology is highly specialised, they have lots of funny looking scopes and forceps which non urology girls would not normally know. They were having a hard time to search high and low for the required instruments! But no choice lor....you can't expect too much during on calls......!
I&D abscess and appendicextomy were in queue while we were busy hunting for urology instruments......
By the time we managed to take a deep breath from GS cases, it was almost 9pm I guess..?
So GS stopped, and Ortho began!!!!
Full of ortho cases throughout the night......
LUCKILY, we had two ortho nurses, too!
Alright people, I'm going to hibernate.....See ya...and "good night" to me... =)
Totally engrossed,
Scribbled by Valerie, pen down at
1/13/2008 11:26:00 AM
Wednesday, January 09, 2008♥1/09/2008 10:58:00 PM
On afternoon shift today. Did nothing much except helping colleagues running for their cases for the whole afternoon. It was 6pm only when I scrubbed for case.
Again, it was an ortho case, awound debridement. It may sound simple....just wound debridement only ma.........
I thought it should not be complicated, too. The wound was initially 10 cm in length and shallow in cavity when we unwrapped the crepe bandage. Practically, the wound was covered by yellowish pus, no sign of reddish flesh at all!
So, the case started. Surgeon debrided the wound and keep on extending the surgical site as they explored the condition. They almost reached the posterior site of the knee cap. In short, they're almost digging up the whole knee cap.
I think this is the most disgusting wound I ever seen.
But no worries, I can still take my meal happily even though I may be chatting with my frenz about this incidence....
That's the power of nurses!
Totally engrossed,
Scribbled by Valerie, pen down at
1/09/2008 10:58:00 PM
Tuesday, January 08, 2008♥1/08/2008 09:01:00 PM
Hai..being reprimanded by sister again.
AGAIN~!!!!!! REGARDING SPECIMEN AGAIN~!!!!!!
What the f**k!
I am so trying my very best to prevent myself from erring, yet it somehow still happens.
This time, is formalin leaked out from the specimen bottle.
Although I know I'm not the only one, but still I'm very upset.
I do all the checkings, be extra cautious, take more time to check specimens.
Furious!
Feel like killing myself.......it's like somebody has spelled a cast on me.
Totally engrossed,
Scribbled by Valerie, pen down at
1/08/2008 09:01:00 PM
Monday, January 07, 2008♥1/07/2008 11:59:00 PM
Hmmm...
I guess I should be asleep at this hour, but I still stay up...
I guess I should not be waiting blindly for something that doesn't belong to me, but I insist...
I guess I should be thinking too much, but I am obviously overloading myself...
HOW COME?!
Hai...I couldn't understand....BUT, what to do...??
Anyway, I just met my wonderful women in Jurong Point!
The aim for this meeting is for our belated X'mas gifts exchange~~~~~~~!
And guess what..?? Thousand thanks for my absent-minded character that I've forgotten to bring their gifts along with me!!
*shaking my head*
They gave me something sweet which I really really love at the first sight.
It's a Hello Kitty Jewels BOX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I can't describe how cute and feminine it is.....
*Sorry guys, too lazy to upload the photo now..*
THANKS belinda and eileen for giving me such a sweet present...
Totally engrossed,
Scribbled by Valerie, pen down at
1/07/2008 11:59:00 PM
Saturday, January 05, 2008♥1/05/2008 07:15:00 PM
Upset. But I couldn't tell you why.
I would rather keep it within me... it's a shame to share.
Yes, I realizes....how stupid am I....
Totally engrossed,
Scribbled by Valerie, pen down at
1/05/2008 07:15:00 PM
Thursday, January 03, 2008♥1/03/2008 11:07:00 PM
Feeling satisfied today~!
As I managed to enrich my knowledge to be posted to EOT (emergency operating theatre). Of course this isn't my first time in EOT, in fact I've been assigned to EOT several times. However, today is the most fruitful one.
I learnt lots of Ortho (Orthopaedics) skills~! Wahaha....I was like a part-time ortho staff that I've been scrubbing and circulating for ortho cases for the whole day~! Yes, EOT was occupied by ALL the ortho cases, from abscess, to IM tibia, until DHS......hahaha....very happening in EOT.
Fortunately, Sister Joann offered me plenty of opportunities to scrub for those new cases and I guess she would need to replenish herself with loads of water, because she's really using up all her saliva to teach me.
So, the first case is Intramedullary Nailing (IM nailing) of tibia. Oh gosh, that is so so so DIFFERENCE from the Open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) that I've known upside down. Thanked god, I've got an excellent surgeon Dr. Bryan Tan who guided me throughout.
In fact, he asked me:" hey, Valerie, why not you quit GS (general surgery) and join ortho instead?"
I was like:" why lae..? you wanna see me is it..? then you do more calls and you will be able to see me scrubbing for your case lo..."
Then he replied:" Ey ye...how come you so thick skin one..? GS a lots of handsome surgeons is it?"
I said:" No la, you're more handsome la..."
Hahahaha...we laughed.
As time passed by, suddenly he asked about the time and he felt that it's too fast the surgery progressed. Great~!
So sister Joann was saying:" Of course la...you've got a good scrub nurse lo...right..?"
Dr. Bryan hesistated:" erm...she's good...only thing is a bit thick-skinned. That's all."
We burst into laughters again.
Second time I scrubbed for him, the Dynamic hip screw (DHS).
He asked:" eh, how come you're so good in DHS har..? you know what I want the next!"
So I told him:" hmmm...I did DHS before, but not the IM nailing. That's why.."
He continued to coax me:" eh, come ortho la..."
"Talk to my Sister in-charge lor...I cannot decide on my assignment."
I'm so sorry about that. But I would be pleased to assist Dr Bryan in any ortho cases when I'm on call or posted to EOT.
He's a great registrar! Of course, his medical officer, Dr. Hey too.!
I'm willing to take up the challenge to adventure ortho surgeries~!
Totally engrossed,
Scribbled by Valerie, pen down at
1/03/2008 11:07:00 PM
