I wish someone sat me down and explained housemanship like this before I started.
The impostor syndrome is real, but here is the truth nobody tells you: it's not about how much you know, it's about how you manage the chaos.
Here are 12 things I wish I knew before starting house job:
1. Your pen is more important than your stethoscope.
If it isn’t documented, it never happened. In a lawsuit or a panel, your "good intentions" are irrelevant without a clear, timed note in the folder.
2. Senior Nurses are your greatest allies or your worst nightmare.
They have seen hundreds of HOs before you. Respect their experience. If they like you, they’ll save your skin; if they don’t, your calls will be a living hell.
3. Sleep when you can, eat when you see food.
The "HO Hunger" is real. You never know when a 5-minute break will turn into a 6-hour emergency. Treat every meal like it’s your last for the day.
4. Samples don’t walk to the lab.
Never assume a test was run just because you wrote the request. If you don't physically verify that the sample left the ward, consider it not done.
5. Clinical confidence is a necessary camouflage.
Even when you are panicking inside, stay calm for the patient and the relatives. A panicked doctor creates a chaotic and dangerous ward.
6. There is no trophy for struggling in silence.
If you can’t get a line after 3 - 5 tries or the patient is crashing, call your Senior Registrar. Admitting you need help isn't weakness; it’s professional maturity.
7. Your co-HOs are your oxygen.
The colleague on call with you is the only person who truly understands your stress. Cover for each other. One day, you’ll be the one who needs that 30-minute nap.
8. Treat the patient, not just the lab result.
Results can be wrong; the clinical state rarely lies. Always examine the person in the bed before you blindly adjust a prescription based on a printout.
9. Communication is 90% of the job.
How you talk to grieving or frustrated relatives determines whether you get a "thank you" or an assault. Empathy is just as important as your surgical skills.
10. Don’t carry the system on your back.
You will see death and you will see a broken healthcare system. Do your absolute best, but don’t let the weight of things you can't control break your mental health.
11. Master the "Emergency Tray."
Know exactly where the adrenaline, hydrocortisone, and oxygen keys are kept. Your life becomes 100x easier when you don't have to hunt for basics during a crash.
12. You are the doctor now.
The "Student" shield is gone. Own your decisions, learn from every mistake, and never forget the discipline it took to earn that "Dr." prefix.
Subject wise best YouTube channels for all the 19 subjects of MBBS.
1. Anatomy – Dr. Najeeb
2. Physiology – EZ MED
3. Biochemistry – Dr. Vishal Panchal
4. Pathology – Dr. Sparsh Gupta
5. Microbiology – Dr. Preeti sharma
6. Pharmacology – Dr. Gobind Rai Garg (Dr. GRG)
7. Forensic Medicine – Dr. Nupur Goel
8. Community Medicine (PSM) – Dr Arpit PSM
9. Ophthalmology – Ophthalmology by Dr. Akshay Gopinathan
10. ENT – Dr. Krishnakumar ENT
11. Orthopaedics – Ortho TV
12. Dermatology – Dermatology by Dr. Manisha
13. Psychiatry – Dr. Praveen Tripathi
14. Radiology – RadioGyan
15. Anaesthesiology – Anaesthesia Made Easy
16. Paediatrics – Dr. Meenakshi Bothra
17. Obstetrics & Gynaecology – Dr. Surbhi Bansal
18. Medicine – Medpeople
19. Surgery – Dr. Pritesh Singh Surgery
Dear Medical Student,
Once again I tell you this; please try not to put all your energies into passing exams only.
Make sure you use the next 2-3yrs of medical school to build your social network and your other skills & interests also.
The life outside here is more than just medicine.
While I was a House Officer, I tried very hard to learn the basics of managing HCV and HBV. I was never fully satisfied, but now I'm
Here’s a thread on treating HCV and HBV
(If you haven’t learned how to treat Hepatitis and TB in medicine, then what have you really learned?)
Sharing my med ebooks gdrive links again. ❤
1ST YEAR MED: https://t.co/265lYzhKev
2ND YEAR MED: https://t.co/Dw5sOCD9oD
3RD YEAR MED: https://t.co/EAkuYrHJOL
You’re NOT a failure just because things are not going your way. Instead of worrying, pray. Turn to the Almighty & pour your heart out. Let Him know your concerns. Let Him give you a sense of purpose. He will steer your heart in the right direction. Trust Him.
Angry :-> Hit The Gym
Uninspired :-> Take a shower
Anxious :-> Take deep breaths
Sad. :-> Reflect on past victories
Irritated. :-> Reflect on past victories
Tired :-> Go to bed
Doubtful :-> Remember why you started