Illness does not take time off. Every year, the return from the holidays is a critical time at the hospital. Some patients have waited too long, others are suffering from winter. All departments are overflowing. The flow is fast, the pace frantic. The lack of places, in all departments, creates a monster traffic jam. Staff work under pressure. Even though doctors are increasing their efforts and prioritizing the most pressing cases, patients continue to flock to the emergency room.

Stress and worry are inherent to illness, whether real or imagined. No matter what department they work in, doctors spend considerable time easing their patients' anxiety and reassuring them. They do this in different ways, by giving rational explanations, taking charge, offering them a clear treatment plan, and sometimes even just making them laugh.

The hospital is constantly in motion. Material and human resources are limited. So doctors need to have a clear plan for every patient, every day. Anticipating the unexpected is part of the job and becomes second nature. However, despite the best planning, it inevitably happens that they are surprised by emergencies or unexpected events. How do they react when plans A, B and C no longer work?

The hospital is a big machine designed to work as a team. All links in the chain are important and must be well synchronized. When every minute can mean the difference between life and death, team coordination takes on its importance. In emergency cases, such as a stroke or critical surgery, it is up to the doctor to play the role of conductor and mobilize the troops so that everyone works together, in the same direction.

Nurses and doctors constantly make decisions whose consequences can be extremely serious. When possible, the patient is part of the decision-making process. Once well informed, it is up to him to choose the care that will be provided to him. But how do professionals handle the situation when patients are unable to make decisions for themselves? What do they prioritize when they have no idea what they want?

At night, the hospital operates with reduced staff, but there is no less action. Apparent calm is often deceptive; heart attacks and childbirth don't wait for sunrise. When everything is closed, the emergency room also becomes the last safety net for those with social or psychological problems. The balance remains precarious. We do the impossible, we sometimes accomplish small miracles, but when lives are at stake, we also sometimes wake up colleagues...

Caring is above all a human relationship. Listening, including the family, using humor, the doctors relate each in their own way, with their own personality. The bond of trust they create facilitates their work and allows them to provide better support. And if, out of professionalism, they often avoid letting themselves be overcome by emotion, they nonetheless remain touched by what patients and their loved ones are experiencing.

When they are on call, doctors are extremely busy. Not only do they meet all of the hospital's demands for their specialty, but they must also ensure they are prepared for any eventuality. Flexibility is essential; the game plan continually changes. Some feel like they're going to war, others like being firefighters and putting out fires, but everyone seems to get immense satisfaction from these days full of twists and turns.

For many doctors, the mystery of death remains much more complex than the miracle of life. They must all, sooner or later, admit defeat. At this moment, when they have tried everything, they resign themselves to accompanying their patients towards death. They then make it their duty to prepare and relieve them, so that the transition is as gentle and respectful as possible, for the patient and their loved ones.

In a university hospital, teaching plays a major role in the professional activities of doctors. They are shaping the future of the profession, with the hope that students will surpass teachers and in turn make a difference in society. On a daily basis, training residents comes with immense responsibility, but also brings its share of rewards.