Troubleshoot should I quit housemanship

Assalamualaikum and hi there!

This time I'll write on a more serious topic as per the title. Based on stories I heard from those who studied medicine abroad, I can say that housemanship in Malaysia is kinda tough. But at least nowadays housemen working schedule is in shift system, no more oncall system. Mind you certain hospital still using oncall system and in Sg Buloh, anaes department also trained all the HOs to work in oncall system. Being a houseman is really not easy as it is a transition from an enjoyable student lifestyle to an unimaginable hectic working life.

It is normal to feel so overwhelmed, down and wanting to quit housemanship especially those who are very new to this job. For the first posters, you must be shocked, emotionally and physically tired after at least 14 days of working for more than 15hours per day. Plus, you are adapting with the new environment, new people e.g. senior HO, MOs, specialists, nurses etc as well as coping with the working system (review patients, familiarise with writting notes in PC or on papers and taking bloods).

Me being a houseman for 722days already (I have to be exact as I'm counting days to finish really soon hewhewhew), I observed so many trends and behaviours of my housemanship colleagues. Some really work so efficiently and diligently, some work smartly (do work fast & go back home early), some just likes to take their own sweet time to finish carry out plan and dont mind getting home late at night. I am all of the above, it really depends on my mood though hiksss! Not forgetting those with attitude problem MIA and not doing work properly, I can just pray they change to be better.

Lemme stop making this entry so lengthy and just straight to the point. Here are questions I prepared to help determine whether you should or should not quit housemanship:

1. Is medicine is your choice or your family's?
- if it is your choice , add 1 point
- if its your family's, minus 1 point

2. Do you have some liking in this field?
- if yes, add 1 point
- if no, minus 1 point

3. Can you stand with humiliation, scoldings and working without seeing sunlight for at least 2 weeks?
- if you think you can, add 1 point
- if no, minus 1 point

4. Are you afraid to quit because of yourself or your family?
- if its because of yourself, add 2 points
- if its because of your family, minus 1 point
- if you are not sure, add 1 point

5. After start working for 14days, are you surviving well means you dont have to fake illness or take mc or el?
- if yes, add 3 points
- if no, minus 3 points

6. Do yo always feel afraid to go to work until you have to take mc or el?
- if yes, minus 1 point
- if no, add 1 point

After all the above questions, if your mark is negative, you should rethink about being in this profession. If you get positive marks, you should just continue this housemanship journey. Its just for a short time, once you become more senior you will be able to cope better.
Below are additional questions to help you decide.

7. Do you think you can cope with this kind of no-life life?
- if your answer is no and you are really not happy, my advice is you should consider quitting and do something you like. Dont torcher yourself to achieve your family's ambition because you deserve to be happy and achieve your own ambition.
- if you are not sure or your answer is yes, go to the next question.

8. Do you feel happy saving people and make other's smile after they recover from their illness?
- if yes, please do not quit. This is your ambition and your passion. You can survive this. Be strong!
- if no or you are not sure, go to next question.

9. Is being a doctor is your ambition?
- if yes, STRICTLY DO NOT QUIT!!!
- if no and you have other things to do in your mind, you should just quit and do what you like.

These are rough guidelines to help you make decision. After answering these questions you still not sure of your decision, do istikarah prayer and ask around-your colleagues, batchmate, family and even the bosses. Their opinions are really helpful.

I think that is all for now. If you decide to continue being a doctor, do not settle for average, do your very best and serve the patients the best you can. Because if the patient is you or your family, you would choose to be treated from a good doctor right?

Toodles peeps... xoxo