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The Theoretical Doctor @[email protected] · 2026-01-14 · 01:00 UTC

12 Hours Shift – Counting Down My Hours Each Time At Work

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How do you waste the most time every day?

At the time of writing this article, which was back in June 2025, I was going through my 6th Rotation of my Housemanship which is in the Department of Emergency and Trauma. As a House Officer in the Emergency Department, we go by the 12-hours shift.

This meant, our shift is from:

AM Shift: 7am till 7pm
PM Shift: 10am till 10pm
Night Shift: 10pm till 10am

In this department, they are strict in regards to adhering to a minimum of 60 hours per week in total. Thus, in a week, our schedule is as follows;

A total of at least 4 daytime shifts (AM or PM Shifts)
One night shift
One off day

That is provided one has off-tagged of course.

Perhaps, it is the “last paper syndrome” that I was experiencing being in the 6th and final rotation, I would be counting down my hours each day at work. Thus, upon arrival at work, I would start my “12-hours countdown“ on my phone.

On slow days, I made it a point to go to toilet every hour, technically my so-called “hourly break” whereas on busy days, the toilet break is the only time I could take a break. This is followed by ensuring I have at least one meal per day during my shift.

Otherwise, the schedule in the emergency department is relatively better as compared to my previous rotations. Nevertheless, the tiredness is still there.

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The Theoretical Doctor @[email protected] · 2026-01-06 · 01:00 UTC

My First Day Of Locum And As A Medical Officer

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A locum or locum tenens, is a person who temporarily fulfils the duties of another; the term is especially used for physicians or clergy.
– Wikipedia.

The first time I ever tasted or ventured into locum or a so-called “part-time doctor” was on the 3rd of August 2025.

At that time, I was back in my hometown and on a 3-weeks-break post housemanship / internship at a small private clinic, yet to officially begin as a Medical Officer.

While I was in medical school, I would occasionally hear this term “locum” from my fellow seniors or batch mates, lecturers, parents or even friends of my parents. However, in order to locum, one would need to be fully registered with the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC) and possess a valid Annual Practicing Certificate (APC). In short, I had to graduate medical school, finish my internship or housemanship first, then only am I able to dive into this.

Thus, upon acquiring my full MMC and APC licence, I was looking forward to locum. Looking forward to it as well as nervous to dive into this. Thankfully, I had just completed my final rotation in the Emergency and Trauma Department.

In the Emergency and Trauma Department, there are various zones in which the patients would be triaged into in terms of presenting complaints, severity and their vital signs. The least critical in severity would be triaged into Green zone. The Green zone is similar to a clinic setting, thus, it gave me some idea on the type of cases I would be expecting.

My first locum was just 3 hours long, from 7pm till 10pm. I figured that since I am just starting at that time, it would be better to start with minimal hours in order to get used to it and also.. if I would enjoy it.

The clinic was quaint and small but equipped with basic necessities and a scan machine. The only thing that it did not have, was an x-ray facility. The moment I sat down, the patients kept coming back-to-back. As soon as I was done with one, another came.

For a first-timer, I felt it was equivalent to the Green Zone in General Hospital whereby the cases were always there but the patient load was manageable.

However, I was extremely scared.

Mainly afraid that I might accidentally jeopardise the patient’s safety in terms of mismanagement. Thankfully, by 9:30 pm, the clinic assistant stopped accepting new patients and prepared to close the clinic.

For a first experience, it was a good one despite it being rather terrifying for me.

But, we all have to start somewhere and build our confidence, don’t we?

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The Theoretical Doctor @[email protected] · 2024-09-25 · 01:00 UTC

The House Officer’s Dilemma | Housemanship Diaries

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While growing up, when I was asked regarding what I looked forward towards in the future, I always had the answer.

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The answer was simply, I wanted to be a Doctor (coz that’s what I knew my whole life and indirectly working towards albeit having other interests).

Thus, from primary school, next would be high school, moving towards science stream in school and pre-university in a course which would serves as a prerequisite into entering medical school.

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In medical school, my focus was always on the exams, completing that particular posting, completing that year, completing preclinicals and moving onto clinicals, studying for the grand finals, completing medical school and graduating.

Upon graduation, applying for housemanship to start practicing. I always knew that I wanted to practice in Sarawak General Hospital. Thus, that didn’t require much thinking. Working my way there, and finally, starting housemanship.

Now that I’m a House Officer, completing each posting, working towards completing a year, now focusing on completing the whole journey.

But after that? I feel lost and aimless.

Previously, when asked regarding my need to have a family, I would brush it off. Not that I didn’t want to but I’ve yet to meet the person that I would want to spend the rest of my life with and build a family.

My aim was mainly catered towards my parents. But they’re doing just fine on their own. Thank God for that. I don’t see my purpose anymore actually.

In regard to post-housemanship, I have no idea of which speciality I would like to dive into. In terms of being surgical based or medical based, the thing I learnt over this past 1 year is that I’m definitely a surgical based person. Though, I have enjoyed paediatrics very much (which I supposed is a very much toned down version of the chaotic medical posting).

I wouldn’t know, as upon writing this article, I’ve yet to complete my medical posting.

The medical field is not just tied to 6 different postings. As a House Officer in Malaysia, we are required to rotate to 6 different postings throughout our 2-year-duration in housemanship which are, Surgery, Medical, Orthopaedics, Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Paediatrics. The sixth posting, we have the privilege to choose among Emergency Department (ETD / ED), Anaesthesia, Klinik Kesihatan (Community Clinics) and Psychiatry.

However, in reality, the clinical field is vast and there are other specialities that we as House Officers have yet to enter. In terms of non-clinical field, it is another vast category.

Which of it am I?

At times I wished that I always knew of what I wanted to be, such as a Cardiologist or a Surgeon but after assisting in the operating theatres and working as a junior doctor, none of it appeals to me 100%. Sure it is interesting but is it something I would want to be doing for the rest of my life?

Having completed a year of housemanship, I thought that the answer would be clear to me by now. Yet, I’m still as unsure as I had been before. I’ve approached multiple seniors, medical officers and specialists and talked to various doctors from different fields regarding their experience. I seem to have the information but my heart was not fully captured by any of it.

Everything seems nice and interesting. I hope that in time to come, the answer would be clearer. The least I could do at the moment is to put my best foot forward in whatever department or sector that I go through.

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The Theoretical Doctor @[email protected] · 2024-09-24 · 01:00 UTC

My Top 5 Grocery Store Items

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Daily writing prompt List your top 5 grocery store items. View all responses

Working as a House Officer, I do not go out to eat much. Mainly because our days are mainly occupied with work and after work, we would be drained. Well, most of the time.

Thus, if I were to really go out, it would be during my long breaks which is when I apply for leaves.

In terms of acquiring groceries, I rarely go to the grocery store myself as I do not have a car of my own in Sarawak. I am extremely dependent on Grab and overtime can be expensive as well.

Hence, I make do with the convenience store downstairs at my apartment which doesn’t really have much in terms of fresh foods or ordering online.

Here are my Top 5 must haves in my grocery list which is available in the convenience store if I were to just shop there.

1. Coffee

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As I mentioned in some of my previous articles before. It is a must have drug in my system. Personally I think I have grown rather immune to the effects of caffeine over the years from overconsumption. Thus, if I’m unable to get my grounded coffee beans, usually I’ll make do with some freeze dried coffee or a regular black coffee powder.

2. Oats

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I replace rice for rolled oats when I’m living alone. Back at home, my mother would always cook rice as my parents love rice. However, I noticed that I easily crash or get sleepy easily after consuming rice. Thus, I substitute it for rolled oats and usually I would cook soups or curries and pour the oats over it and consume it just like regular rice.

3. Eggs

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It is easily available. When there is nothing else stored in my pantry and everything else is closed, eggs go about well with almost everything.

4. Noodles

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Well, I’m not exactly healthy per se all the time, and I do enjoy my occasional instant noodles. Especially after work and not having a meal the whole day, I’ll just whip up a quick dish of curry instant noodles with eggs.

5. Sausages

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Personally, I prefer chicken over sausages and as mentioned before, I rarely go out for my groceries. Hence, I’d go for sausage since it is easily available at the convenience store downstairs. In addition to that, I can be versatile with cooking them.

Thus, if I had to list 5 of the hat, these are my top 5 that I would shop for in any grocery stores amidst working as a House Officer.

Again, sadly, it lacks nutrition. But, oh well.

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The Theoretical Doctor @[email protected] · 2024-09-23 · 01:00 UTC

Reflection of the Paediatrics Posting

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Paediatrics Posting. The posting of tiny human beings.

Looking back, I feared entering into the Paediatrics posting. I think I say that for almost every posting.

However, it was one that I fell in love with before I even off-tagged, as mentioned in one of my articles previously.

The stress level was not as bad as it was in other postings mainly because we were dealing with children. Not to say that treating them is easier, in fact it isn’t as they tend to fight back, scream or cry a lot.

I mean they’re just children.

But perhaps when I do come to work, the smile on their cute faces were enough to alleviate some of the stress and checking them clinically involves a skill as they are easily triggered.

I would find myself playing with them or calming them down. Most of the time if I were to auscultate them, they would either start playing with it, swat it away or start crying.

The Paediatrics posting is the place I started eating again amidst the stress. Irregardless of the amount of patients and work to do, there is always time for lunch or at least our superiors will make sure of that.

It was also the place where I enjoyed the long rounds in the morning and afternoon as well as I would present to specialists.

I made a good friend with a medical officer who I still keep contact with albeit having left the posting. I enjoyed the days where I would be allocated to work with him.

Having worked both in the general ward and nursery ward, the experiences were different but enjoyable nonetheless.

If there is a posting I wouldn’t mind repeating, it is the Paediatric Posting and I hope you do or will or had enjoyed this posting just as much as I did.

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The Theoretical Doctor @[email protected] · 2024-09-22 · 01:00 UTC

Surviving A Month Of Tagging In My Fourth Posting – Surgery | Housemanship Diaries

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I tagged for almost a month here.

The tagging timing in the Surgical Posting is from 7am till 10pm which is same as with other postings, except Obstetrics & Gynaecology (O&G).

In the Surgical Posting, we all have to complete a compulsory 14-Day-Tagging period irregardless of having “off-tagged”. Entering the Surgical Department as a senior or fourth poster, we are allocated to special shifts such as night shifts in ward or night shifts in ethe emergency department (ETD).

This serves as an advantage to us seniors as we do not have to work the morning shift for one week straight prior to having an off day. It is also better as it allows us to recuperate in between by not having to go to work extremely early.

However, the disadvantage is that our tagging period is somewhat extended.

As I mentioned before, we are required to complete a 14-Day-Tagging period. The night shift is not counted. Hence, the tagging duration can go up to 3 weeks.

For me, it extended up to 4 weeks due to my medical leaves (MC).

During my first week of tagging, I took a day of medical leave due to extreme fatigue and in the second week, I took 3 days of medical leaves due to extreme fatigue and COVID-19.

At the time of writing this article, I am on a 6 weeks medical leave due to my ATFL injury.

Sometimes I wonder, if I will ever exit this posting and proceed with my last which is medical.

Back to the tagging part, thus my tagging period lasted for a month.

Going to work as a tagger, I would leave home around 5:45am – 6am. Partly because I’m just tired and felt like I needed more rest because there will always be an active issue in ward and I am only able to return home at 10pm.

In the evening around 7pm, I would go for dinner after handing over to the night colleagues and completing my tasks and on-call reviews for the day. Most of the time, it would be our first meal of the day.

Some days, we would be done by 8-9pm and on some days, earlier. Most of us, upon completing, would head for dinner and head home or to just head home straightaway.

This is wrong of course but we were simply exhausted and burnt-out during the tagging period. Thus, we grab the opportunity while we could.

Towards the end of my tagging period, I started bringing packed dinner boxes and reheating them as work prior going back.

Surviving the tagging period in the Surgical Posting was hard and tiring but eventually, it did came to an end.

Thus, if you have yet to enter the Surgical Posting, the tagging period is indeed tiring as with any posting. However, try to learn as much as you can and take comfort in the fact that it does come to an end.

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The Theoretical Doctor @[email protected] · 2024-09-17 · 01:00 UTC

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“You Guys Are Angels”

This may be a biased statement and it differs according to the individual’s experience. Thus, although I do know of the controversies I may ignite. I am merely saying this out of my own firsthand experiences and as mentioned before, each person’s experience differs greatly.

MOs, short for Medical Officers.

First of all, I don’t know how do you guys (medical officers) do it, pulling through an oncall shift, just to return for another oncall duty the following day after postcall. Perhaps it is because during my current batch, we have shifted fully to the “shift system”. Thus, we have yet to experience the “oncall” system which was experienced by the older house officer batches.

I am in awe and I appreciate the determination and discipline that goes with it. Most of the time when an oncall medical officer is on duty, they solely handle the referrals from emergency or ward and sometimes both. This goes on from the start of that day till the following morning and after which they would have to help out in clinics during their postcall, wards or even in operating theatres (OT).

Most of the time, they are alone unless they are lucky enough to have a “tagger”. Thus it is them, the house officer, the registrar and the specialist that forms the oncall team.

That is if they are oncall. In the wards, they rely on the house officers to carry out the active joblists, to take the bloods, request necessary scans, to resuscitate the patient first and inform if there are any acute issues and to carry out the morning, evening and oncall reviews while they are in the clinics or operating theatres or helping out in other places.

I used to think that once we have completed housemanship, life will be better. However, after observing my medical officers and registrars, it does not actually get better, the stress is on another level, the responsibilities increases yet they pull through it with jokes and smiles. I used to think that, perhaps they have gotten used to it. On the other hand, I’m still struggling.

Medical Officers are in charge of the House Officers as well. Thus, if any pitfalls were to occur, of course we do get scolded but they are the ones who get reprimanded as well. I’ve lost count of the times when the medical officers have backed me up. Although I do know that, that is their duty but albeit the responsibilities and the stress, I’ve experienced it first hand multiple times when they would take the fall instead when it comes to answering the specialists.

There are times when I do feel their anger were uncalled for. However, most of the time I understand that it mainly stems from tiredness. The patience really wears thin and snaps easily when there is lack of proper rest.

A lot is expected of them from the specialists and on top of that, taking care of us, House Officers too and teaching us what we do not know while trusting the patient’s care into our hands while they are off to help out in a different place. They are always a call away even if we are placed in the night shift. Thus, should there be any issues, they are always nearby and there.

Yet, after work, after the tiring day and issues that occur in ward, they return home to their families and loved ones and try to go about their life, only to return and repeat it again the following day.

Some might say, well, it is their duty isn’t it? I’ve heard it before.

It is true and personally I feel that we as House Officers, although we are tired, and on top of that being tested emotionally, they are even more tired.

Thus, if there is anything at all that stems from this article, it is my deep and heartfelt gratitude and appreciation towards the Medical Officers, which are rarely said.

My dear readers, if you are beginning your journey as a House Officer or is currently going through your housemanship or internship journey, have faith, patience and to always remember to be kind. Remember that as House Officers, we serve to ease the burdens of the Medical Officers on top of learning on the job, for we will one day take their place.

A fellow colleague always mentions this sentence while I’m in my Surgical Posting, “Don’t do unto others what you don’t want them to do unto you”.

This wise line by Confucius has a special place in my heart and I hope it does for you as well. As you become more senior and familiar with the work at hand as well as build good relationships with your superiors, always remember to be humble and kind.

Do not let cockiness overcome you nor be easily angered when a fellow junior makes a mistake or asks for guidance.

We were all once in their shoes as well.

Always remember to take care of yourselves first, so you can serve others best.

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