Diary of a Trainee Biomedical Scientist 🔬🧪

  I have tried to attend The Biomedical Scientist Live virtual event.. although I was not able to attend the event as I am not a IBMS member.... instead, I watched the recording of the event (free of charge!) on IBMS Support Hub. In the session, examples of CPD were discussed throughout the workshop and reflective writing was also talked about in terms of how it can be challenging to get in the habits of writing reflectively as a Scientist.  It was also mentioned that the IBMS CPD scheme is not used by all members... I never even knew that such scheme existed..if I am being honest!  I should start using the CPD scheme!

 This pandemic has really messed up my plans for completing this portfolio properly, I am currently in my final year and still... the portfolio is not done... I mean it is done but I am.....IDK I feel so lost. My training officer is not replying back to the one email I sent him with my final evidence and I think I been booked for the verification but apparently there is a waiting list of 70 people on there?! and I am supposed to produce a presentation for my IBMS verification which I have not started... as university work has taken over my life.

Not sure if I should continue with my blog entries, does anyone even care? I need to remind myself that this diary is not about the views I gain on here but for my own personal use to record my CPD activities which I have been slacking recently. To be honest, I have been quite discouraged these past few days, but I shall not lose heart and just keep carrying on, the portfolio will be done eventually.. 

Patient Story: 70 years old male Upon seeing the GP (On  01.05.20 ), the patient presented with persistent cough,  rash, and shortness of breath, and feeling unwell. Previous medical history: asthma, nose bleeds, recurrent, nasal congestion, fatigue and rash since October 2019.  Patient was referred to a respiratory consultant (as an outpatient) on the  14.05.20 .  The patient was admitted to K hospital, with collapsed lung. Then transferred to another hospital as an inpatient on  21.05.20  with rapidly progressive pulmonary renal syndrome. On the  23.05.20  the patient began haemodialysis, given 3 pulses of IV methylprednisolone soon after and started on cyclophosphamide on  27.05.20 . GP Results:  Urea (2.5-7.0 mmol/L)   Creatinine (60-106 umol/L)   EGFR (>60 mL/min/1.73m2)   CRP (0-10 mg/L)  10.12.18: 5.4  67  >60   01.05.20 7.1 111   58 ...

I am going to put my ego to one side, and just be honest myself.. I can not pipette at all! yeah sure I have used a micropipette before in laboratory settings but all this time I was pipetting incorrectly and no one told me...(until my training officer told me to review my pipetting skills).. Anyway I found 2 useful YouTube videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEy_NGDfo_8&t=9s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05oolv_y4Pk  The videos shows the common "Don't" and "Do's" when pipetting. Visually watching someone pipette, I feel has helped me better my pipetting skills in a way. Things I did not know before:  When dispensing liquid into a well, the tip needs to be at an angle (10-45 ° ). Plunger needs to be carefully moved back to its resting position (and not too fast!). Pipette tip should not be immersed too far into the liquid (immersion to 2-3mm depth is suitable). If there is remaining liquid in the pipette tip, depress the plu...

Today I attended a teaching session on "Calibration, standardisation, and quality control"(lead by a consultant Clinical Scientist in our department), after the session I undertook a pipetting competency assessment (so I can use it for one of my evidences).                                                                                                     Reflecting on today, I feel that my pipetting technique was off which is why I didn't do particularly well on the assessment. Nevertheless, todays t...