Paediatrics at a new level

Assessments

I had my Paediatrics mini-cex (mid-posting clinical examination) today and it was a relatively simple case of gastroenteritis in a 15 month old boy. I'm so glad its over, like a great burden lifted off my shoulders. I wonder when I'll ever grow out of this exam-burden syndrome. How much more can I be reminded that exams are but exams, that they come and they go? After 3.5 years in medical school, have I not grown used to the barrage of assessments and exams? Still, they never fail to impose this sense of dread and basal worry that keeps you from sleeping, studying and playing in peace. Over the long weekend, I spent a night over at Pulau Ubin for a youth group retreat. I had half a mind to excuse myself from it previously, in view of the exam today. Eventually I decided that it was not worth sacrificing an annual affair for, and headed for Ubin despite it. Over the course of the retreat, the thought of cex lingered, and ironically, I'd say that it occupied a significant proportion of my mind for a large part of the retreat. How do these things so plague me? It's so irrational and bewildering.

I wonder how this will play out when I finally graduate and become a real doctor. Every new patient I see will be an assessment in itself, just that this time there is no case file to cheat and refer to. Am I going to face each day with fear and trepidation? I'd most certainly develop an anxiety disorder.

I can't wait to travel Europe again!

Relative proportions of head size and body length and ratio of trunks to limbs

Figure 1: Shown from the fifth month of fetal life to adulthood.

A. 5-month fetus; B. birth; C. 2 years; D. 6 years; E. 12 years; F. 25 years. From Tanner: Human Growth, Vol. III. Pergamon Press, 1960.

Figure 2: Shown from the start of medical school to graduation of a regular Medical Student.

A. Year 1 Medical Student; B. Year 2 Medical Student; C. Year 3 Medical Student; D. Year 4 Medical Student; E. Final Year Medical Student; F. House Officer. From Tan S.E. Glorijoy: Human Regression, Vol. I. Funny Press, 2010.

Goo goo ga ga

Exactly how I feel 3 days into Paediatrics. (PS: I just realised that this random baby and I look alike! -see blog header)