Wednesday, May 24, 2006

The Cuckoo's Nest??

Started Psychiatry early this week. Had lectures the past 2 days, and today was my first day on the wards.


2 students per firm, and I was assigned to the Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (with another guy who's to be my firm partner).

Initial thoughts within 5 minutes of arrival on the ward:


"Double doors? Locked all the time? Hmm...."

"Where are the beds? Single rooms? Darn, they have it good here"

"Oookay...they are all males.."

"Ermm..why is that guy staring at us from outside the locked office?"

"What IS he doing?"


Had a tour around the ward, we were told to carry bleeps with alarms whenever we're there (security reasons, just in case..apparently the patients can get violent if you're not careful). Were told to always go in pairs whenever we wanted to see a patient.


Talked to a schizophrenic patient just now. Has quite strange delusions. He was found walking aimlessly by the policw on the motorway. He claimed he was 'on the way from Hell to Heaven'.

Mental illness aside, he was a really nice person to talk to. But dear God, I was trying so hard not to giggle or laugh. The other patients were really 'keen' to talk to us too...one guy actually requested to be interviewed.

I don't think I'd choose Psychiatry as a career, but this coming 6 weeks will surely be interesting...



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