You could argue that this whole trip has been an exercise in leaving my comfort zone, which is true. My slightly neurotic need to plan has been tempered by elements of the trip that have been totally beyond my control, such as the weather.
From a medical point of view, this week has been fabulous for procedures, but also an exercise in leaving my comfort zone and trying not to show how very nervous I was! I have put in an arterial line, which is a bit like putting a venous drip in a patient but is in the artery instead to allow regular blood gases to be taken and a beat-by-beat blood pressure recording to be made. I have also intubated a five year old and a three year old (with a lot of help). I can definitely see myself doing this sort of practical thing in the future. I have also done another viva practice this week, on lung compliance, which had been good for improving, at least in theory, my ability to communicate physiological principals.
I have been joined in ICU by two medical students from UNSW, which is good, although they are both cramming for finals, while I have at least 10 months to go so can’t really motivate myself in a similar way. We are, however, going out for tapas and sangria tomorrow, which should be fabulous
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