Kgothatso Legong, fourth year student at Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, offers advice to fellow students following his first experiences of working on a block. 

If I had to summarise this block in one sentence it would be: mothers have to go through the most – appreciate them. Because this was my very first block, I had to find my feet very fast from day one when I began my very first clinical call.

The following I wish I knew before going for my call:

1. Your feet will kill you

Never ever go on a call with shoes which are not comfortable. Invest in good footwear. Shoes which offer you good leg support. If it was possible to buy a cloud so that you can walk on it the whole day, I highly recommend that you do so because if you take chances with not so comfortable shoes, your feet will make you pay for the whole week. It is also highly recommended that you secure yourself some compression socks to prevent varicose veins. You will be on your feet the whole time during a call, when you get a change, even if it is 2 minutes, please rest your feet by seating down. With time, the long-standing hours get less painful, but I never got used to it.

2. Prepare your meals

My call in fourth year was 14 hours, from 8am to 10pm. In those long, gruelling hours your stomach will disappoint you in front of the patients if you neglect to take care of your nutritional needs. Breakfast could not be more important before you attend a ward round which can take up to two hours. It is not easy to pay attention when the consultant is asking undergraduate students, interns, and registrars difficult questions whiles you are hungry. Your lunch is also just as important. Make sure you have eaten a good full meal as your lunch might be your last meal of the day. When I attended my call days, I would come back to my residence too tired to even cook or too tired to warm some leftovers to eat. I would take off my scrubs, take a shower barely awake then fall asleep immediately I see my bed.

3. Charge your phone

Never attempt to attend a call with battery percentage bellow 20%. This is because you phone will come very handy during the call. You will find yourself in need of using internet services to seek clarity to a condition your patient might be having or need to consult with someone who might be more knowledgeable than you. If your phone dies on you whiles in the wards, it might be a very long call. Longer than it is supposed to be.

4. Bring a book if you can

Sometimes calls get so hectic that you will barely have time to step outside of the wards. But at times, on very rare occasions, a call can be ‘quiet’. Therefore, at that moment, it will be a very good time to take out your textbooks and try to catch-up or read more on conditions you have no clue of. No time is to be wasted in medical school.

My stay in obstetrics wards was pleasant. I am thankful I got to meet caring doctors who made the journey a memorable one.