The ideal house officer: Trainee’s perspectives

Abstract

Introduction: The housemanship period is a peculiar time in a doctor’s career, and some have described it as a “Nuisance year” during  which the junior doctor assumes many roles at the same time - as a doctor of his patients, a student of his trainers (Resident doctors and  Consultants) and a teacher of medical students. He is also at the same time undergoing training and research to practice as a  professional in an increasingly competitive society-https://youtu.be/SaaQmMHy_qI.

Nigerian perspective: A typical House officer is seen  neatly dressed with black circles around the eyes depicting tiredness, ward coat pockets stuffed with enough materials to start up a new  ward; ranging from continuation sheets, syringes, water for injection, capillary tubes, hand gloves, investigation forms, commonly used  drugs, cannula, torniquet et cetera, smart shoes and feet ready to move on large doses of caffeine, and with carbonated drinks at arm’s  reach for a quick glucose rush for the day. He or she is faced with institutional problems, staff and workplace disharmony ranging from  lack of adequate residential apartment for interns, early daily resumption and retires much later than the team to effectively carry out the  work plan among acute shortage of staff. Majority of interns also try to adapt to the internship workings because they are new to the  system, and some health workers typically try to take advantage of them which sometimes interfere with their work and the intern  struggles to give the patients his best. Despite all these, the house officer interacts with the patient and relatives more often than the rest  of the team. He builds the trust, respect, and confidence the patient has for the team as he represents not only himself but also the  team.

Conclusion: As once said by Sir William Osler - the great physician whose name is still being invoked in modern day medicine - that  “his time was ripe for him, and he was ripe for his time”. Trainees must always make themselves “ripe for their time”, and the relevant authorities must also make time “ripe for trainees”. The ideal scenario will then be a nexus of an ideal trainee and an ideal work  environment.