Arrowed

My senior nursing manager(SNM) aka big sister big in my ward is one who believes in participation. She is always telling us that being a nurse is not enough, you have to devote your time to participate activities outside of your work to make your nursing life more enriching etc. In short, she likes to yank ppl to join all kinds of funny activities.

Being a new kid on the block, I was unfortunate to be the latest victim of her modus operandi. She asked me to join in a drama king & queen contest for the annual d&d and that it was fun etc etc. I think I was possessed that day or something, I said ok without checking with my seniors, surely they are familiar with her antics, and could warn me of it. But no, being idiotic, I actually said yes.

The dumb ass in me thought it was just some acting thingy, but boy was I wrong! I went for the audition a week later I found out that it is a beauty pageant! WAH LAU, CB!!! During the audition, they actually made me strut, yes strut not walking mind you ard the conference hall and striked a pose. I almost died in there, I mean, I know I'm not ugly lah, but I'm definitely not good looking! With my kind of face, how to take part? There was this guy who kept snapping pictures and told me to smile for the camera, I never never felt more uncomfortable in my life. I of course walked clumsily and awkwardly hoping that I wouldn't get selected.

After a few days, my SNM called for me and told me excitingly that I was selected fot the pageant! Huh? I almost went into seizure on the spot, I kept repeating to her that I just dun have the looks, but she was just kept telling me that they don't just go for looks.... sigh.....What have I got myself into???? The standard is so low meh, my kind of face also can get selected, is it the pet beauty pageant or what?

As if things couldn't getting any worst, I have to actually attend grooming classes to prep for the pageant! I'm so gonna die, I think I'll be the first contestant to get booed off stage or stoned to death. I better start praying, pls pls keep me in your prayers.... :(

Locker @ Work

I'm must be really bored, to think that I'll blog abt my locker room at work... heh heh.

Well, from the picture here, you can see how innovative I'm, ahem.... I added those hanging thingy myself, so easier lah, to hang my pouch, name tag and those micropore tapes which I often find in my pocket after work.

See the black pen with the blue ribbon, it was given by a group of students from Ngee Ann Poly, apparently they like our ward very much and gave all the nurses a pen each. They even had our name on the pen to individualise it for us, very sweet of them right?

My job

It has been 24 days since I've officially started work as a staff nurse, and since then I've lost abt 2 and a half kg. Hmmm.. much better than the diet pills eh?

For my friends who doesn't know how my work is; basically there are two nurse assigned to a room of 12 patients, one is the in charge and the other junior.

In charge - Basically, you are responsible of the 12 patients (two cubicles). Anything abt them, u r the facilitator. You serve them medication, your prepare their intravenous antibiotics etc. When the doctors sees the patient and make any changes, you facilitate them. You are the slave and the doctor is the master. And when master says jump, you say how high?
Pros - Hmmm...nothing much I think. Very subjective, some are happy they don't have to change diapers.
Cons - Hell of paper work, hardly ever get to go home on time, esp like when I'm new! Hardly ever get to go for break, which explains why I lost 2 kg +. The work is like never ending.

Junior - You will be doing more of the hands on work, like changing the diapers, serving the patient's diet, ensuring that the food/fluid consumed by the patient are documented. Routinely taking blood pressures, temperature, heart rate etc. I know, I know, it sounds like the domestic helper aka maid right? Well, take it as a glorified maid lah.
Pros - No paper work, get to know your patient more. And when anyone ask you anything, you can say, "Would you like to speak to my in charge?" Get to go home on time!!! Even when the in charge is struggling to finish the paper work. You can simply carry your bag, give a sympathetic look and tell your in charge, "Sorry hor I'm going off..." and shasay off. (only the old birds get to do this, of course.)
Cons - Have to wipe backside, and tahan the smell lor, and if your got 12 patients who can't walk and shower by themselves, start praying for miracles....

Of course there are more specifics lah, but generally these are the things we have to do. Moreover when you are new, you will always be "arrowed" to be in charge. More gripes the next time.

Xena Cat

The stray cats are really increasing around my area, now underneath a block there are at least 7 or 8 cats.

And they are very territorial too, almost every night I can hear the 'reigning' cat on my block's 2nd floor defending her 'turf' against an intruder. The slow purring....then escalating into the loud sharp pitch of screeching and scratching. I think she is quite the warrior cos in the mornings when I head to work she is always there, which means no intruder has yet managed to defeat her. Check out her regal pose.

I did it!

After 3 weeks of struggling and falling, I finally managed to windsurf! Yipee yeah! I'm so elated to be finally being able to move out into the sea joining the veterans cruising out there. Although after moving out, I will turned back to the shore just to practice my maneuvering skills, just in case I cannot get back to the shore. They will have to use the speed raft to go out to rescue those who got stranded out there, and it's quite 'malu' where they have to tow u and your sail back to the shore.

The feeling of moving out into the open sea feels damn good, relaxing and exciting at the same time. The sweeping of the wind across ya face and the sound of the waves, quite the tranquil feeling... :)