Belated Spring Report

Hi and apologies for having kept silent.

There is plenty of interesting stuff to write about, but I won’t spill it all just yet. First of all, a short report on the psychiatric clinical practice that I survived a few weeks ago.

Never in my entire education have I had such an enlightening experience than during my practice at the psychiatric ward. Compared to the trauma and stress of the surgical ward, this ward was a student’s dream. Every question I asked was heard, and not just cast aside, but answered. Everyone magically understands the word ‘team’, and this can be witnessed in many ways. I have only good things to write about psychiatry at the moment, because I don’t have time to think about the bad side. however, I received the best feedback I have ever had, which was very flattering. I had two wonderful mentors that I have a lot to thank for. I still don’t know whether psychiatry is the place for me though, but it has definitly left a mark on me.

On another note, Summer is in its full swing here in nordic Finland, with very very long sunlight hours (actually at the moment, it does not get properly dark at all in Helsinki, and in Lapland, the sun does not set AT ALL). I had a one week holiday with my family and friends, and then on Monday the 9th I started work as a practical nurse at orthopaedic rehabilitation centre in Helsinki. When I started, I was quite unhappy for having chosen my summer job so imprudently, but with time I got used to the characters, the slow-paced work, and the grittiness of the ward. To be honest, the ward is very ugly and chaotic, the workers fight and gossip against each other and the uniforms are uncomfortable. But I can see that its slowly changing. I guess all the problems are due to changes in administration, and I was told that decoration and other stuff is to still be installed. I hope to see this happen though. Nevertheless, I get along with the staff quite well.

At the moment I am trying to deepen my understanding of somatoform disorders, which I shall be writing more about in my next post.

I sincerely hope everyone is having a fantastic summer!!!

Health tip: It is quite, but only quite detrimental to your health to spend a beautiful summer day indoors.