Weekly update 9/9 to 13/09
Hope everyone had a great weekend and is feeling refreshed and ready for the week ahead! Just a quick note — I’m on call tonight and realized a couple of weeks ago that my trusty sleeping bag has gone missing. If anyone has seen it or, by chance, it ended up in your possession, please return it ASAP! It’s a ticking time bomb of germs, due for its "yearly" wash... two years ago! Help a colleague out before the germs take over (And I need a place to sleep!)
Monday Motivation
Let’s start the week with something motivational: finding hobbies that help us relax and recharge. We all need an outlet outside of work, so perhaps it’s time we start a knitting or crafting club at the hospital! It’ll be a great way to get our minds off work and away from endless scrolling. Who’s in for some yarn therapy?
Thinking Tuesday
It’s "Thinking Tuesday," and today we’re tackling perioperative fluid management. What’s better: a very positive fluid balance or being more restrictive? Should we be running for phenylephrine or fluids first when blood pressures drop? (Patient and comorbidity-dependent, of course!) Also, are our fasting guidelines outdated? Should we allow patients to have clear fluids up to four hours before surgery? Let’s start a discussion and share some insights!
Wednesday Reflection
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/CtedV7YY2xzYgptz/?mibextid=WC7FNe
Over the weekend, a patient posted a heartbreaking story online about their experience at Helen Joseph Hospital (see link above) . It was deeply upsetting—mentioning how doctors didn’t greet them, laughed, and openly chatted about cars and clothes while performing procedures. Watching the video struck a nerve, especially because we’ve all been there—exhausted, overwhelmed, frustrated—and sometimes we forget the basic kindness and care we should be extending, even when it’s 3 a.m. on an ortho call, and your spinal patient is complaining of pain.
We work in environments that can make us feel detached, and survival sometimes seems easier when we switch off emotionally. But this isn't an excuse for losing our humanity. I recently met a patient with a massive SCC on his nose—his story, filled with desperation and a system that failed him, stayed with me. I was scared to check on him post-op because of the fear that his flap might fail, or worse. But this fear can’t be my default. And like mentioned before I am avoidant and it’s how I deal with stressful situation.. but I guess I owe it to my patients—and myself—to find a way back to compassion, no matter how tough it gets.
Thursday Heritage Day Prep
We’re thinking of hosting a Heritage Day breakfast in a few weeks, and we want everyone to start planning their contributions.
Think about a dish that reflects your heritage, and let’s come together to share some delicious food and celebrate our diversity as a department!
Friday Feature
Keep an eye out for more information about our upcoming academic activities. There's a lot to look forward to, and we hope everyone will join in. Have a fantastic Friday!
Let’s make it a meaningful week, and if you see my sleeping bag, please, for everyone's sake, return it before it reaches critical germ mass!
