Fresher's week # 2

I'm now well into the clinical course at Oxford, coming up to 4 weeks since I started in early September. At the moment it's Oxford freshers, and it's great for us clinical medics as it gives us another 2 weeks of fun!

So to bring you up-to-date with what I've done so far at clinical school... I'm currently coming to the end of a 3 week introductory attachment - I've spent a week and a half in an oncology ward and another week and a half in renal medicine.

So, yesterday I decided it might be worthwhile spending an afternoon with the phlebotomist to brush up on my blood taking skills. This was definitely a good choice and I learnt loads from one of the most experienced phlebotomists in the hospital - thanks fit Rach :-). My technique has improved so much that i can now get blood out of almost anything (maybe even a stone!) - maybe now, Dave, one of the other medical students might let me take blood from him again! I made a bit of a mess the first time I did - was a bit of blood fountain - lol. I've told Davinder (who's in my group) that he should definitely go and do it for an afternoon and then he might have the competence that Dave and I now have...! But then again, who knows with Davinder (only joking mate, if you're reading this).

I'm also learning a lot from the other medical students I'm working with... for example, Dave, a star pupil in our attachment, in one of our communication skills sessions went up to the patient and said (I quote) "Hi, my name's David, I'm a medical student. Is is OK if I practise my skills on you?!" - at which point the patient actor was like "What skills?!?!" and we were all in fits of laughter on the floor. The other medical students in my attachment group are all really cool, but some are definitely keener than others (there's this girl called Anna who demands to be on the top of every sign-up sheet). Hopefully she isn't reading this blog.


Anyway, that's all I have to say for now, I'll hopefully update you in a week on what I've been up to!

Kirthi