We now officially have a pre-resident who will start middle of the year, and by default, since I am the most senior resident still going on 35 hour duty, she is going on duty with me. It's an adjustment as I have been used to doing things by myself, and now I have to do my duties while teaching someone else to do my work. It takes twice the time working in a pair as opposed to working on your own. Then, there is calculating how much I should demand vis-a-vis knowing the limits of skills and knowledge I should expect of her. It helps though that I have known her personally for the past 13 years and we have been casual friends since then. No more surprises, I guess... Then again, the line between friendship and being one's senior in residency training also has to be drawn somewhere...

Note: An old poem, a cautionary tale, with a true-to-life basis, no other details to be provided.

I got a taste of what it's like to be the chief resident last week when our chief resident decided to take a few day's leave. I had to leave all my work and follow the most junior resident at her post.

The worst was when I had to get back to the hospital at two in the morning under the pouring rain to read an icu patient's abdominal ct-scan. It's a blessing that I live just a short 5 minute ride (or 8-minute walk) from the hospital where I work.

Going on duty is so much easier than being on call...

Kining bao

Nga nagatago sa suok

Dinhi sa amoang grotto

Kontento ba kaha

Sa ginagmay nga dahon

Na iyahang pagakan-on

Salin sa utan-monggos

Na ihagis kaniya?

-jara-

(c.2009)

I saw her

Cry

Not a sound as she

Sobbed

With that wistful

Look

On her ruined

Face

And I realized that

I

Was gazing upon

My reflection.

-jara- (c.2009)

After my vacation, I was especting to see the pre-resident... Unfortunately, it seems that the higher ups have yet to make a decision... and it has been passed to the hospital medical director to decide on the two remaining candidates... I don't know if we'll find out by tomorrow, but whe is actually supposed to begin pre-resicency tomorrow, Monday... looks like she'll be around until the third week of December for one month of pre-residency..