Am I Up for It?

After tuition, went to Tan Tock Seng Hospital for a 4hour attachment with senior nurse, Sister Tan. She has been a nurse for 10 over yrs and now specialises as an Educator. She is one of the senior nurse for Ward 9B. Altogether, there are 3 senior nurse per ward. Each ward has at least 30 staff nurse, excluding the student nurses fr NYP and ITE. She showed me around the wards, medical ward and surgical ward. Pretty busy as it was abt 2.30pm and the morning shift staff nurses were passing down their duties to the afternoon shift staff. Basically, the staff nurses were those graduated from NYP, dressed in white gown with blue-printed florals. Those in white gown with pink-printed florals are their assistant nurses, graduated from ITE. Both have some job scope but the staff nurse has greater roles and responsiblities. They are required to write patients' report, administer medication and works closely with the doctors.

Most of the patients here are very old. Some even had their hands tied to the bed to avoid them pulling the tube out from their body. In cases like this, the hospital will have to inform the family members that the patient need to be tied. It is for their own good.

I was told that all nurses need to attend to patient's basic needs like cleaning , bathing and dressing them up. I saw some of the patients were on pampers and they have to sleep side ways, and every 1 to 2 hrs, they need to be repositioned from the left to right. These old-aged patients, their skin & flesh are thin. If they do not reposition in that manner, their butts will be sore and the flesh will be pressed down. At this point, Sister Tan asked if I'm up for it, to wash old man's butt, bathe and dress them up? Hmmm... shouldn't be too difficult... can do.

She told me that nurses fr China were shocked when they learn that they have to attend to the basic needs of the patient. Because back in their country, the cleaning was done by the patients' family members. No wonder I don't see many china nurses like before.

I got to know one matured 1st yr NYP student nurse. Today was an interest day for her cos' a patient just died. It is a lesson which can't be carried out in class. I was briefed as well on the usual procedure attending to deaths. The hospital will hold the deceased for 2hrs in the ward for family member to come see before moving to the morgue. The deceased will be cleaned and the face will not be covered, to avoid shock. All curtains will be drawn when the deceased are being pushed out of the ward. There a lot more to it .. but can't really recall. Sister Tan told me a lot of stuff which I need to know before deciding to become a nurse. She asked again & agan whether I am ready and will be able to take up the role and responsibilty of a nurse.

My answer: I'm looking forward to this and mentally prepared. If I'm not, I wouldn't have sign up for the course. There are opportunities where I can choose to specialise in. There are non-clinical roles too, like management and education. If I am a successful candidate, I wish to do well and be an Educator. It's not easy, I know.. I just have to work hard.

Tomorrow another day attachment to Sister Tan, This time it will be in the morning. After that, will go for my facial and then maybe aerobics, in the evening.