For almost 1 year we have been taught through virtual means (Google Meet, Zoom) that we called ourselves Google Docs.
For almost 1 year, our skills training were lifted from Youtube and other audio-visual sources.
For almost 1 year, our return demonstrations have been either with other members of the family or stuffed toys acting as our patients.
For almost 1 year, we were limited to only our imaginations and theory. We make do with what we have.
The wait has been draining. The uncertainty of things has been exhausting.
Supposedly we would have started having our skills training last June 2020 and would have gained skills required by this time, had it not been due to this pandemic.
After almost a year, although COVID-19 infection rate and response seemed like we're back at square 1, we are finally granted to have our clinical training in the premises of the hospital- of course, following extra precautionary measures to avoid getting infected (i.e., PPEs, social distancing, proper sanitation, etc.)
Prior preparations have been implemented: proper donning and doffing of PPES, vaccination, swab testing, and negative PCR test.
And finally, Day 1 has finally come! Google Docs no more!
Day 1
For 1 month, we will be rotating in the OB-GYNE Department. Our first assignment is at the Labor room and delivery room. I think it's normal to feel lost during your first day, right? Especially after being sedentary for 1 year, everything is unfamiliar. *trying to justify here my shifting dullness. Wink.
To start, we were oriented with the different services in the department at around 7 am, and we went to our respective stations thereafter. Although we have had our clinics before pandemic, I still lack the skills and experience a clerk should have so I feel anxious. However, with the help of our resident Doctors and my co-clerks, I felt at ease after a while.
Learnings:
We were taught some bedside procedures like IV insertion, blood extraction, CTG monitoring, Foley bag catheter insertion.
If this was pre-covid, we would have had proper training on how to go about these procedures. However, we were only limited to the video presentations to visialize the procedure.
CTG (cardiotocography) monitoring
- this machine helps monitor the status of the fetus and the mother. It plots the heart rate of the baby inside the mother's womb. It also records and plots any contraction of the mother's uterus.
Since it is still pandemic, we only have very few patients. The bulk of the patients are brought into another building which served as holding area for patients still with no swab test. Most of mothers delivering are handled in the other facility. What's brought only to our station are those who have negative swab test for Covid. And so we haven't had any deliveries yet. We were mostly idling in our station.
So our first day of duty actually has been very idle. Well, except for the only male member of our group who had the chance to assist in a Caesarian section delivery. Lucky him, he's got 1 box ticked off our quota. Few tasks here and there, few questions, and a lot of learnings (and napping at corners 😅) My sleepyhead still couldn't adjust, I'm having a hard time staying awake.
Day 2
During the early part of the day, we were just idling, again. We had no patients until late into our duty time when real action began. A patient was scheduled for a procedure and I was the assist clerk in the operating room! This is my first ever legit event! The procedure done was Total Abdominal Hysterectomy- Unilateral Salpingo-Oophorectomy, or in layman's term is the the removal of the Uterus and Fallopian and Ovary of the patient. This post would be just a little update. I will be maki g a reflection paper about my first ever operation assist, soon if I had the time 😬
That's it for now.
See you! 💕
Ps. Will be updating this with pictures when internet is stable.
