I will remember.

I will remember the day I received the first hug from my patient. She ran down the corridor just to give me a hug before she left. Exhaustion from a long day of work disappeared just like that.

I will remember the day I first received a 15month old baby to look after. She had such a complicated medical history and I hadn't heard of at least half of them before. She had O2 and ECG monitor attached to her. I was a bit scared because I didn't quite know how to care for her, and there she started crying in the middle of the night. I methodically checked her O2, sats, ECG, pain score...but found out that all she wanted was to be let out of her cot and to have a cuddle. She went back to sleep in my arms.

I will remember the day I did a body exam on a 6 weeks old baby while parents were away, because of ?child abuse. The little bub was so tiny.

I will remember the day I looked after a toddler whose parents spoke no English. With a little bit of charades here and there, we got through the day. At first she was scared of me, I'm guessing partially because everyone is scared of hospitals and partially because she couldn't understand me. But after a course of time, she smiled and held my hand.

I will remember the day I felt the strength of a mother who has twins and a husband who are all ill. She was strong and real, she knew she couldn't and wouldn't give up. She picked up the sick twin 1 and cuddled, and said everything was ok. That almost made me tear.

I will remember the day I received a transfer from the surgical ward. The patient was a teenager and of course, he had attitudes. The other nurses also had bad impressions of him. But parents left for the night, and after spending a little more time with him, he became more calmed down and seemed to have settled in. He talked, had good manners, and occasionally smiled. I learnt that everyone has the right to be scared, some just needs a little more time to warm up.

I will remember the day I really felt the power of being a 'professional'. A teenager came in with bowel problems and each time he went to the toilet he had to ring the bell so I can 'see' what he has done. Now, on top of being a total stranger to him, in 'normal' circumstances you wouldn't want anybody to just come in and observe your poop. I thought then, being a health professional is a scary thing. People have to come 'clean' in front of us because we need to ask everything about them i.e. health and social history, or any other private issues, and they also need to do what they are told to do. And besides, most people are actually compliant with everything we ask them to do. I find that a bit scary.

Time flies.

Time flies! - it's been almost 4 months since last post.
Lots have happened over the last few months: graduation, parents' visit, stepping into the working world.

Not being a student has a lot of significance. No more student bus fare, no more 3 months summer holidays, no more free labour!
I've been working for a month now and it's been such a learning experience.
I learnt:
- how to hold a 6 weeks old baby
- there are many teats to a baby bottle
- how to warm up and check temperature of baby milk
- how fast babies' heart beat is
- to wrap a baby/small child with bedsheet to 'restrain' them during procedure!
- there are many different families and parenting styles
- babies/young kids drink so much milk!
- kids run around - you cannot expect the person in bed is actually your patient.
- kids' oral meds are oh so colourful
- the importance of being trusted by babies and kids
- 5 min procedure can take 30 min
- almost all kids like wiggles

So I'm starting my first ever night shifts tonight. I've already put lots of chocolates and candies in my bag.
Wish me luck!