Chapter 7 Promotion in Status

"Mm, the stitching is quite alright. To perform this well on your first time on stage is indeed commendable."

Director Liu first affirmed his suturing.

Then, changing the topic, he said, "However, there are some areas that need improvement. For example, this stitch could be closer together, making the skin layers bind more tightly after the knot is tied. Right now, to the naked eye, it looks tightly bound, but actually, there are small gaps in the dermis layer, which is not conducive to wound healing."

Only someone with Director Liu's immense surgical experience could spot the tiny gaps beneath the skin layer at a glance.

"And here, when choosing the needle placement, it can be closer to the incision edge. As The Analects says, 'Too far breeds resentment, too close breeds disrespect.' If the needle position is too far from the incision edge, it will lead to overly long suture tension and loose force. If it's too close, the suturing will be tighter and the force stronger, but too likely to tear the skin. This balance can only be managed by yourself."

Director Liu seldom explains these basic suturing details.

He went into detail precisely because he saw Zhou Can as good potential, worthy of cultivation.

"Right, the selection of needle positions for suturing isn't one-size-fits-all. Some areas of the skin are more resilient and can be closer to the incision edge. Some areas with fragile skin need to appropriately increase the distance from the incision edge to ensure it does not tear apart."

Simple as skin stitching may seem, it turns out to have so many profound techniques.

"The student has remembered all your teachings and will definitely gain a deeper understanding in practice."

Zhou Can nodded very sincerely.

Which areas have delicate skin, which areas have strong resilience, can only be gradually explored in surgical practice.

Moreover, the skin's strength varies with age and gender.

Children's skin is certainly softer than that of the elderly. Women's skin is more delicate than men's.

These differences can only be understood and accumulated personally.

Director Liu saw his humble learning attitude and grew even more fond of this student.

"Your potential is very good. In this recruitment for the Tu Ya training program, you should give it your all. If you can stay, I can make a proposal to the hospital to have you under my tutelage."

Hearing this, the envy of the other interns was visible, their eyes turning red with jealousy.

This was an enormous opportunity.

It is known that Director Liu holds a position at the deputy director level. If not for a slight gap in academics, he would already be a director.

Among the associate chief physicians in General Surgery, Director Liu's skills are absolutely top-notch.

There are countless numbers of training doctors and resident doctors who wish to be mentored by Director Liu. Even many attending doctors vie to become his students.

Now, Director Liu was extending an olive branch to an intern like Zhou Can, how could people not be envious?

"Dr. Zhou, you've hit the jackpot, a stroke of luck meeting a noble person!" A resident doctor said mockingly.

Sour as his words were, his address for Zhou Can had subtly changed.

From Xiao Zhou to Dr. Zhou.

There was a hint of respect.

"Thank you, Director Liu, for your appreciation!"

Zhou Can wasn't a fool; with such an opportunity, he quickly expressed his thanks.

Director Liu smiled and nodded slightly.

His gaze then turned to the anesthetist.

"How's the patient doing?"

"The patient is waking up, vitals are stable. Blood oxygen is a bit low, but within normal range."

"Mm, I'll leave it to you guys from here," Director Liu said, looking at the first assistant. "Dr. Hee, please make sure to keep a close eye on the patient in the twelve hours post-surgery, and feel free to call me anytime if there's any anomaly."

Such a major operation carries great risks.

The twelve hours after surgery are known as the critical period.

During the entire perioperative period, its risk factor is second only to the surgical phase.

"Sure. You can go ahead to the symposium without worries!"

If this group were compared to a small sect, the position of the first assistant would be like that of the eldest apprentice.

When the master is away, it's the eldest apprentice who takes on the master's duties.

It wasn't long before the patient woke up, showing normal post-operative behavior.

After observation deemed it problem-free, medical orders were given, and the patient was sent back to the ward for recovery.

...

Back at the office, interns who usually had little interaction were suddenly warmly approaching him.

The cool and serious resident doctors' attitude towards him also became much more polite.

His status in the department had clearly risen.

The feeling of earning respect through real ability was truly delightful.

It also strengthened his resolve to continue improving his medical skills.

After finishing the medical records and his tasks on hand, Zhou Can began to ponder how he could possibly advance one or two medical skills by tomorrow.

Currently, suturing and ligation skills had both been raised to the resident doctor level, so there were no worries there.

Hemostasis skills could only be practiced after work by buying mice or rabbits to practice back in the dormitory. Being just an intern, hoping to seize the opportunity to perform hemostasis on patients in the operating theater was wishful thinking.

Anatomy skills also could only be practiced at home.

Originally, Zhou Can didn't expect to raise his anatomy skills to Level 3 before the training program recruitment began.

Because there were so many medical skills he needed to improve and with limited time, he could only prioritize suturing, ligation, and pathology diagnosis.

But now, he suddenly had great ambition.

With proper planning and rational use of all resources and time, he might manage to raise all four basic surgical skills and pathology diagnosis to Level 3 before the training recruitment.

To ensure that all five medical skills are elevated to Level 3, applying for a standardized training doctor position would almost be a sure bet.

By then, it would be the others who should worry about being left out.

Pathological diagnosis is the hardest medical skill to improve.

But among all medical skills, it ranks at the top, with no other able to shake its status.

The reason Zhou Can received Director Liu's favor today, jumping from an unknown intern to a key training subject, owes much to his skill in pathological diagnosis.

Its importance is evident.

Now he's ready to level it up first.

He checked the experience points for the pathological diagnosis, Level 2, 90.6/100. Outstanding standard for standardized training.

Just 9.4 experience points away from reaching Level 3.

If he were to level up by reviewing cases, each case completed would only add 0.1 experience points. He would need to review 94 cases, which could take several days at least.

In the operating room, a successful diagnosis for a patient added a full 1 experience point.

After tasting such a great reward, he began to set his sights on this opportunity.

Where is it easiest to get a chance to diagnose? It's certainly the outpatient clinic.

He checked the duty roster.

He was surprised to find that Dr. Hee was scheduled for the outpatient clinic that afternoon.

Zhou Can's thoughts became active.

Using the connection of Director Liu's favor, he might have a chance if he cheekily asks Dr. Hee, perhaps an opportunity for an accompanying assistant in the clinic could be offered.

At this moment, Dr. Hee was diligently reviewing written cases.

Zhou Can stood up and walked over.

"Dr. Hee, may I refill your tea cup?"

Not only is Hee Hansheng a chief physician, but in terms of seniority, he has the highest status among all chief physicians in this department.

Many speculate that next year he is very likely to be promoted to associate chief physician.

He is usually pretty amiable to these junior doctors.

Dr. Hee glanced up at Zhou Can.

"You don't give out favors for nothing, so you must want something. Out with it, what do you want?"

Zhou Can's little trick was seen through, and he couldn't help but grin sheepishly.

"Heh, I didn't expect that not only is Dr. Hee's surgical skill exceptional, but his psychological insights are also quite profound. You've caught onto my little trick instantly."

Zhou Can started with some flattery.

Nothing slips through like a bit of flattery.

Everybody likes to hear nice things.

Especially in front of leaders, saying a few flattering words now and then can greatly enhance the impression one leaves on a superior.

The work following becomes much easier to handle.

"The standardized training recruitment is happening tomorrow, and I lack practical experience in pathological diagnosis. I just checked the duty roster and saw you'll be at the outpatient clinic this afternoon. Can I join you to lend a hand and accumulate some practical experience?"

Zhou Can cheekily stated his request.

"Um… Alright, this afternoon follow me to the outpatient clinic."

Dr. Hee hesitated for a moment before agreeing promptly.

"Thank you! If I make it through the standardized recruitment, I'll treat you to a big meal."

Zhou Can thanked him profusely, clearly overjoyed.

One must seize the moment—when it's time to compete, you have to have the gall to fight for it.

See, he got his chance at an assistant internship, didn't he?

He calculated; for 9.4 experience points, if diagnosing one patient could yield 1 point, he would only need to diagnose 10 patients to raise his pathological diagnosis skill to Level 3.

"Dr. Fang, assign someone else to Xiao Zhou's duties this afternoon; he's joining me in the clinic," Dr. Hee told Resident Doctor Fang.

Most of the general surgery intern tasks were managed by Dr. Fang.

"Okay!"

With Dr. Hee himself asking, all Dr. Fang could do was agree.

He pulled out a duty roster and began to overload other interns with augmented tasks.

"Xiao Gao, you take care of the patients in beds 21 to 26 this afternoon. Xiao Wu, you are responsible for the surgical follow-ups for patients in beds 29 and 31…"

Zhou Can's afternoon duties were thus cleanly distributed by Resident Doctor Fang.

For those interns who were loaded with extra tasks, although they were reluctant, no one dared to challenge the authority of the Resident Doctor.

They could only mute their complaints and agree.

Competition is omnipresent in society, survival of the fittest.

The stronger rise, the weak fall—it's the law of nature.

Dr. Hee was willing to give Zhou Can a training opportunity because he saw Zhou Can's potential as worthwhile to cultivate.

As for the other interns getting squeezed out, this is the result of fair competition.

Everyone has opportunities; those who can seize them will climb higher.

And those who seize them have the chance to become even stronger.