I am an orientee for almost a month now. Everyday, I get my share of learning experience that is in patient management. I was assigned to an American war veteran whose married to a Filipina. It is not the usual mail-order–bride or internet-hook up thing. The Filipina seems to be educated and at par with the American intellictually speaking. Actually she got the twang and was the one who interprets our message to the patient. It is not that I am not good at speaking the language but as I tried to sound professional, my English became business like which made it hard for the patient to understand. He’s used to slang. I could talk the talk but there’s a conflict within between professionalism and being comprehensible. Like saying throwing up instead of vomiting or saying cough out instead of expectorate or saying poop instead of bowel movement.
Talking the talk is one thing but walking the walk is another.
In my usual effort to help the patient “cough out” the phlegm, I had to tap his back to loosen it. Patient has an order of complete bedrest without bathroom priveleges so I had to do sit him up on my own. Well I asked for the help of his wife and other companion but the whole weight was on me. I was able to do the back clapping but I think I exerted so much effort I strained. He was apologetic to his wife for being a pain in the ass.
My duty has ended and after two hours extending finishing my tasks, I went home straight. As I lay my back in bed, I felt pain in my rear. I think I strained to much that I induced my hemorrhoid to come out. Literally a pain in the ass er rear.
Before I finally dozed off, it came to my senses that the American patient is just a taste of my future on the other side of the planet. I have to practice more.