For two days I worked for 9 hours straight without proper meals, proper drinks and not even the chance to go to toilet!!!

Last week, the ward was exceptionally quiet; it made me even more suspicious what’s happening. But sweet times always ends early, this week we’re back to the hectic workload, even worse than before.

The only snack I had was Jacob biscuit. I sneaked into the pantry and put one in my pocket, sharing it with my other colleagues, while preparing medications. While my colleague made a quick run to the vending machine outside to buy us coffee, but by the time I had lil spare time to take sips of my coffee, it already turned cold.

Patient A

Had heart bypass done, on telemetry monitoring. I received call from ICU telling me that the patient is having fast premature ventricular contractions and heartbeats are very irregular. There and then I need to call up the cardiologist, (even though I was half way serving my meds, we need to prioritize what is important, and anything regarding the heart is important).

True enough, I know Dr M is very hard to be reached. So I need to call the cardiac surgeon instead when Dr M did not pick up his phone. Dr T the cardiac surgeon ordered to do a potassium blood test and to run IV KCL slow. Remarks * KCL aka potassium chloride can cause cardiac arrest if given too fast

Patient B

Is to be discharged. So I need to off the abdominal drain connecting to the suction bottle and clean the wounds and also all the nonsense discharge procedure.

Patient C.

Kidney transplant done. She’s pretty fine to me except she cant pour water herself, I don’t know maybe her hands are made of gold or what, she wants the nurse to pour water for her, to bring her out of bed. Even though you may think this is ridiculous, but to me, she’s actually not that troublesome to me, all her nonsense I am still able to take it.

Patient D

He had been on fluids for days and when the doctor finally allows him to eat; he pressed the call bell for nothing except for food. I told him to go slow with his intake of food still he swallow up everything, despite the fact I told him if things go wrong he might back to square one he still want more food more food. Urghhhh.

Patient E

Transferred in from ICU. Had burr hole drainage done, meaning the doctor drill a hole at his head to drain out the excess blood that cause pressure onto his brain. Neurological wise he’s doing fine, he’s one fine patient to me as well.

……

Other interesting stories?

Hmm Patient Z had heart bypass done, ICU rushing to send him to general ward, and when he was transferred to us, he was on Ativan Img BD!! I was oh ohhh… wayang sure happened!! True enough, he stared to get so damn restless, trying to jump off the bed, shouting and cursing other people. It took four of us to pressed him down. We called in the medical officer and need to transfer him back to ICU again. I heard the ICU stuff got a nice blasting from doctor because this patient is so not fit to send to general ward yet they send it to us.

And in the midst of mass, I need to be the translator for doctors, pharmacist and for my colleagues as well. Initially was ‘讲华语！！！！。。。。then malay..And even Japanese!!! Haha but I like the jap thou, it was something new to me, I tried to use my very limited Japanese to communicate with my patient. Okay it goes something like this..sorry I can’t type jap..i’ll just type like this

Me : kyowa jibun no kusuri o nomimashitaka?

Patient :eeii nomimasen

Me : jya, jibun no kusuri wa doko desu ka?

Patient : Sochi

Me : koko?

Patient : hai

Me: hmm, jibun no kusuri ima nomimase mo daijoobu yo

Patient: yisyuukan yikai nomimasu

Me: hontto? Senshui no do yoo bi?

Blablabalbla

Fine actually I wasn’t in charge of this patient, because my colleague cant understand at all, so SOS to me.

And after my work I need to attend stupid seminar til 4.30pm. Meaning from 6am til 4.30pm I did not have any proper meal nor drink!!!!