I was not keen on the clinical attachment at Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL) in the first place. Re-living hospital visits was certainly the last thing I wanted do during my break – the ward rounds, unfriendly hospital staff, the constant clerking, the high expectations we must live up to during bed-side teachings, and not forgetting poor, agitated patients who had been clerked by medical students for the umpteenth time since admissions.

So there you have it, a “confession” from a 3rd year medical student who (ironically) detests hospital rounds.

After discovering that Boon Hui, Thaven and Kian Boon had been attached to HKL in October, Dad persuaded (or rather pestered) me to join the crowd. So there I was, reluctantly posted to a paediatric ward in HKL on 1st Nov. 2006, and despite the fact that my father is a paediatrician, I am completely clueless when it comes to sick children. -_- "

Thaven and Kian Boon had completed their attachments by the time I came into the picture. Boon Hui, on the other hand, had another two weeks to go. I was glad – HKL was much bigger than what I imagined it to be, and since he had been around for quite a while, he knew the place pretty well. So he showed me around, which helped me a great deal in the first place. =)

It so happened that a houseman (HO; Dr. Rizky) was also posted to the same ward on that very day (another one, Dr. Manirajan, came in two days later). Aha, so I was not the only lost lamb in vicinity! =P And to make things even better, the consultant specialist (Dr.Lim), specialist (Dr. Zurina), registrar (Dr. Choo), medical officers (Dr. Wan Arfa & Dr. Mazwin) and staff nurses (Kak Maimoon & co.) weren’t bad at all. Come to think of it, this IS the best medical team I’ve ever seen so far. =D

To sum up, the whole experience was quite an eye-opener. I've learnt:
1. about diseases commonly seen in children
2. how to differentiate between acute bronchiolitis, AEBA and bronchopneumia on clinical grounds
3. how to deal with crying/screaming kids (it was difficult initially o_o)
4. how to handle anxious/fussy parents XD
5. how to educate patients on numerous health issues (especially on hygiene, and management of asthmatic and epileptic children)
6. how to draw blood via the drip method (theoretically; attempted once but failed - need more practice what...)
7. what do GRAND ward rounds really mean.....the hard way ><"
8. what HOs do when they are on duty
9. what HOs normally do when they are NOT on duty =P
10. PROFESSIONALISM, PATIENCE, COMPASSION and HUMILITY

And yes, my perceptions (on ward rounds) changed in just two weeks.

Currently posted to an internal medicine ward, and there shall I be for another two weeks. I hope the experience gained will be just as good, if not better. =)

I'll definitely miss my new-found friends at Paeds...