Sigh

Two patients, at a time, told me that my blood-taking technique was good.

Repeatedly.

But if you've read any of my previous posts, you probably would have come across the post where I said blood-taking is highly dependent on luck, apart from experience of course. And that is what I tell any of my patients who would say that my blood-taking technique is way better than my colleague's.

1. It does not pay to downgrade your colleagues. Shifts change, and luck does, too. I had bad luck with several patients who are very easy to my friends, but with me were just simply difficult!

3. The same patient may prove to be difficult several blood-takings later- the vein mainly stays in one place, but complications do occur and running/easily-collapsible veins exist (especially in elderly patients). So it always helps, to me, if I tell the patient that the ease with which my blood taking is might change

2. They should expect blood-taking to be a difficult thing- that way, they're less inclined to go to the hospital. Hehe. I'm only kidding. OR AM I?!?

4. I switched 2 and 3 and you probably didn't notice. Shifts change and sometimes patients don't notice that you're a different doctor than your friend (particularly if you're wearing a mask all the time)... So that praise might not be aimed at you.

5. Simply for the sake of humility, never be too proud of your own skills. But be moderately proud and hold on to those praises because they might be the only thing to keep you smiling on busy tiring days.

This is turning into a 'How to Handle Praise Anonymously' post.

Anyway, I wanted to say that I have some reason to be proud, at least. Internally proud, that is.

I really should stop typing for an audience and type for myself.

I felt like crap.

Got some praise.

Un-feel like crap.

...

Don't know how to do certain stuff properly.

Get scolded by MOs/SNs.

Feel like crap again.

And the cycle goes on.

Life of a HO in a normal posting.

My previous posting was indeed heaven for HOs.