DR. WAJEEHA ISSUES

   I  struggled to a complete my ALS bit more than ACLS. ALS and ACLS are advanced lifesupport courses. "ACLS was a cakewalk , why are you struggling here? "Voice in my head kept playing.My mind was a bit more confused . I wondered why my flow was not smooth. We were allotted mentors during the session , they took some time out to practice with me separately where I realised I was mixing subtle things from ACLS with ALS. The defibrillation steps, some of the management. The defibrillator we used back in India was different and the safety issues there were different. Despite having cleared MRCEM OSCE where you do ALS , this was different.Probably because it was appropriate in that setting and the machinery there was familiar. Reflecting from it I realised that my mind was UNLEARNING and RELEARNING. There were times where there was a shortcircuit and fireworks. There is no perfect way of doing things, its what works as per your situation and setting.

  Two moments in the ED this week made me realize that I come from a parallel universe. One involved a teenage patient who had applied bronzer that I found while cleaning her skin for a IV cannula which left me surprised as I come from a part of the world where teenagers paint their skin with whitening agents to look more attractive. The second moment was during my teaching session on Organophosphorous poisoning, where I wondered if my accent was causing disengagement . However, I learned that it was simply a rare presentation of organophosphorous poisoning in this part of the world. It felt like I was narrating my adventures from a tropical trek! Have you ever had a moment where your cultural background clashed with your environment ?

  "Experience-Based Co-Design" we have all witnessed its essence unknowingly . My family home is the example I can reflect on .Growing up I didn't like how my house was designed. We (the whole extended family) wanted my dad to sell the house . Dad let his architect friend design our house and would not sell his house (for obvious reasons!). Mum had to balance out the situation so she decided to make small changes. So, it was one change idea each year .She would talk to us individually and listen to our perspective and review her sphere of influence and the impact /utility the idea had.For my siblings the colors were not welcoming while I pointed the flooring. Mum wanted the stairs to be personalised. My grandparents wanted certain conveniences around the toilets. It took her about 4-5 years to make the house a home that was acceptable . From color preferences to spatial arrangements, each family member contributed insights. The lovely thing about it was , the keystakehold