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Being a Resident in the COVID Era: It Changed Everything
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Indian J Med Paediatr Oncol 2020; 41(02): 161-162
DOI: DOI: 10.4103/ijmpo.ijmpo_154_20
Sir,
I was so used to the long and busy days at a bustling oncology center, starting my rounds early, preparing for the class, getting ready for the consultants rounds, and so on. And, one fine day, the coronavirus struck the world and little did we realize that everything would suddenly change. I had to be equipped with a different set of skills and methods.
Our usually very busy hospital was less crowded and looked very different. Apart from the new patients, only those who were on active anticancer treatment and the ones whose symptoms needed immediate attention were attended to. Residents along with consultants were divided into teams. From working 7 days a week and being on call 24 h, now it became one half of the week.
As physicians, we are taught to talk to patients and examine them. With COVID looming around, social distancing became the buzz word. We had to physically distance ourselves from our patients and examine them only when it was absolutely necessary. The doctor's healing touch which was so important was forbidden now. We had to protect ourselves and our patients from the virus.
Initially, it was time-consuming to counsel the patients about self-protection and hand hygiene, but I adapted to it soon. I remember one of my patients asking me whether this virus is more dangerous than cancer and I had no answer. I had to answer many phone calls from patients and their families regarding availability and access to medicines, especially morphine. After completing my duty, my thought and prayers used to be with the patients, their family members, and caregivers. I am sure this feeling must be reverberating in the mind of every person involved directly or indirectly in fighting this pandemic.
Regular classes and bedside clinics were suspended. Online platforms gave us an opportunity to attend lectures on cancer treatments in the COVID era. We miss our regular academics at the institute, but the IJMPO online lecture series every Tuesday has been a silver lining. We wait for it to be 8.30 p.m. every Tuesday like we used to do for our favorite programs on television.
Never have I seen and received so much of information on a single subject in such a short period. It is just a grim reminder that we have very little knowledge about this virus and its treatment. It is so much imbibed into my brain that every patient I examine with cough and sore throat is now COVID, unless otherwise proved.
It gives me a sense of great pride when doctors are considered like soldiers on the war front. The claps and appreciation of the public make me work with a great zeal and enthusiasm. As a Corona warrior, I have also made up my mind to work without any worry like a soldier who doesn't think of anything else except winning the battle. However, I also make sure that I am adequately prepared to protect myself and ward off the enemy.
As I await my practical exam, the COVID pandemic has taught me so many lessons. It has exposed my weakness and vulnerability, smashed my ego, and made me feel even more humble in front of the mother nature. I hope that it will pass away soon and pray that the future generations will never have to experience something like this.
I am just waiting for this lockdown to get lifted, this pandemic to get mitigated, my exams to be completed, to meet my parents and most importantly, see my patients with a smile on their face, indicating that we all have won this battle together. I wish it was just a bad dream.
I salute everyone working tirelessly to serve their nation during these difficult times.
Publication History
Received: 12 April 2020
Accepted: 26 April 2020
Article published online:
23 May 2021
© 2020. Indian Society of Medical and Paediatric Oncology. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial-License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/.)
Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Pvt. Ltd.
A-12, 2nd Floor, Sector 2, Noida-201301 UP, India
Sir,
I was so used to the long and busy days at a bustling oncology center, starting my rounds early, preparing for the class, getting ready for the consultants rounds, and so on. And, one fine day, the coronavirus struck the world and little did we realize that everything would suddenly change. I had to be equipped with a different set of skills and methods.
Our usually very busy hospital was less crowded and looked very different. Apart from the new patients, only those who were on active anticancer treatment and the ones whose symptoms needed immediate attention were attended to. Residents along with consultants were divided into teams. From working 7 days a week and being on call 24 h, now it became one half of the week.
As physicians, we are taught to talk to patients and examine them. With COVID looming around, social distancing became the buzz word. We had to physically distance ourselves from our patients and examine them only when it was absolutely necessary. The doctor's healing touch which was so important was forbidden now. We had to protect ourselves and our patients from the virus.
Initially, it was time-consuming to counsel the patients about self-protection and hand hygiene, but I adapted to it soon. I remember one of my patients asking me whether this virus is more dangerous than cancer and I had no answer. I had to answer many phone calls from patients and their families regarding availability and access to medicines, especially morphine. After completing my duty, my thought and prayers used to be with the patients, their family members, and caregivers. I am sure this feeling must be reverberating in the mind of every person involved directly or indirectly in fighting this pandemic.
Regular classes and bedside clinics were suspended. Online platforms gave us an opportunity to attend lectures on cancer treatments in the COVID era. We miss our regular academics at the institute, but the IJMPO online lecture series every Tuesday has been a silver lining. We wait for it to be 8.30 p.m. every Tuesday like we used to do for our favorite programs on television.
Never have I seen and received so much of information on a single subject in such a short period. It is just a grim reminder that we have very little knowledge about this virus and its treatment. It is so much imbibed into my brain that every patient I examine with cough and sore throat is now COVID, unless otherwise proved.
It gives me a sense of great pride when doctors are considered like soldiers on the war front. The claps and appreciation of the public make me work with a great zeal and enthusiasm. As a Corona warrior, I have also made up my mind to work without any worry like a soldier who doesn't think of anything else except winning the battle. However, I also make sure that I am adequately prepared to protect myself and ward off the enemy.
As I await my practical exam, the COVID pandemic has taught me so many lessons. It has exposed my weakness and vulnerability, smashed my ego, and made me feel even more humble in front of the mother nature. I hope that it will pass away soon and pray that the future generations will never have to experience something like this.
I am just waiting for this lockdown to get lifted, this pandemic to get mitigated, my exams to be completed, to meet my parents and most importantly, see my patients with a smile on their face, indicating that we all have won this battle together. I wish it was just a bad dream.
I salute everyone working tirelessly to serve their nation during these difficult times.
Conflict of Interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
Address for correspondence
Publication History
Received: 12 April 2020
Accepted: 26 April 2020
Article published online:
23 May 2021
© 2020. Indian Society of Medical and Paediatric Oncology. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial-License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/.)
Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Pvt. Ltd.
A-12, 2nd Floor, Sector 2, Noida-201301 UP, India