FoCP: The End

15 weeks! And they all went by really in the blink of an eye. Given the amount of knowledge we have to (soppossedly) learn and all the practical skill we need to acquire, pretty much all my coursemates expressed their surprise at how fast time had flown. It was hectic and really busy every single day but the fact that we all enjoyed the practical and clinical part of medicine (i.e. seeing real patients and doing proper examination and procedures) made the time just flew even faster.

I know I said I'd be posting weekly updates of my experience during the FoCP (that is Foundation of Clinical Practice if you guys are clueless as to what I'm talking about) but I stopped at week 11. As it was nearing the exam and since we had to keep a logbook as a proof that we've fulfilled all the requirements we should achieve in the FoCP, the last few weeks were a lil' more hectic (more than it already was) dedicated to completing the logbook and studying. And since the last few weeks were consolidation weeks in which we were just doing more practice to improve our skills at doing clinical procedures, there really was nothing new that I've never shared in the earlier weeks.

Having said that, I did see a couple few surgeries during the orthopaedic/trauma week. I've always loved orthopaedic and after seeing a tibial fracture nailing (which involved drilling a metal rod all the way from the knee down to the ankle) and two knee replacement (one of which went wrong causing the consultant to go ballistic), I really think I wanna explore more of the are. I also got to see a laparoscopic surgery to remove the gall bladder. Other than that, there was nothing significantly eventful except for when I didn't go to the hospital for an entire week due to heavy snowfall and snowstorm.

I've said many times, again and again, that I've really enjoyed my FoCP due to its hands-on approach. Finally being in a hospital setting to see real patients with real complications were like the best part of it because finally we could put those lengthy and wordy textbook descriptions of illnesses and diseases to flesh and see how those diseases affected real people with real lives. Aside from seeing surgeries and doing the clinical procedures, what I really treasure is the chance to interact with patients. Talking to them, aside from serving a learning purpose for me in terms of communication skills and all that shiz, made me realise the value of life and how important it was to live it to the fullest without wasting a single moment. No one knows what's gonna happen in the future and time and luck and health might not always be on our side.

Anyway, those learning weeks were over and judging by the exam and OSCE last week, nothing seemed to have registered in my lil' brain =) but let's not go there. I'm just gonna enjoy my Christmas break without thinking about the result that's gonna come out next year!



the hamper of chocolates and cookies and wines we got for the teaching team...they've been really amazing helping us and pampering us all



us the 'young doctors' =p

I'm sooo in the Christmas mood. Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!