We were on graveyard shift yesterday and when we arrived the resident pulmonologist was at the ER already. He came and went most of the time which means that he was on call.
I do not know how long has he been on duty but it is hard to disregard his attitude towards distressed patients. He was so grumpy and made faces when patients were not looking.
I feel sorry for the patients.
Around 1:00 a.m. the patients has stopped pouring in the ER and after attending to a patient who has a brain attack, the resident vanished. I suppose he went to the on call room.
At past 6:00 a.m. a woman came in with stomach ache complaint and after the initial assessment has been made the nurse-on-duty phone the same resident. A few minutes has past and the doctor has emerged and I am surprised that he is calmer and accommodating considering that the patient who came has a complaint which is not a pulmonary case.
After another few minutes, another patient came in with yet again stomach complaint.
If lack of sleep really affects one’s attitude maybe it is about time that revision on the stretch of duty should be made. It is for the sake of the patient and the health of the person involved.
