Next week will be doing attachment in Toa Payoh Polyclinic.
WEDNESDAY-
On wednesday 12/3/08, I changed from afternoon shift to morning shift because I have physical training in school in the afternoon. Because of the switch in shifts, cubicle 5 has no student nurse while my cubicle has 2 student nurses including myself. So Sarah and I took both cubicles. The morning was fine, had more scolding than usual. All the fuss about breakfast, pt want this food, don't want that food. Give this patient milk, this patient cannot eat from now on...so on.
Did the usual stuff, made beds, feed patients, send them to bathe. By late morning, it was time to take patient's vital signs. Sarah, an assistant nurse (AN) and I moved on to cubicle 5 after we finished taking cubicle 6's vital signs. In cubicle 5, when we wanted to take the vital signs for the 2nd person, we found him propped up, with a face mask on giving him ventolin. He was slouched to the side with his head hung down. Maybe he's asleep. I stood next to the AN, and heard her waking calling his name, tapping his arm as she called him. He didn't twitch. The AN called him again, tapping him harder. He didn't stir. The AN checked his pulse. We both know something is wrong. The AN quickly went to get a doctor. While she went off, I approached the patient, thought maybe he's in a deep sleep. I called his name louder. I hit him on his shoulder. No response. I shouted his name, I shook his motionless body. He remained still, pale and cold. I checked his pulse, it was very very fast, and very weak.
I have never encountered something like that before. I really didn't know what to do. I called to Sarah and told her that the patient is pale, cold, and his pulse was fast and weak. I asked Sarah to come over to feel his pulse. Then we both stood there. Clueless.
The doctor came and quickly thumped the patient on the chest. I stood just about a meter away from the patient. Just as the doctor hit him hard on the chest, the patient entire body lurched forward and took a huge gulp of air. Then his body immediately slumped back hard on his bed. Another patient just opposite asked for his curtains to be closed. He coulden't bear to see resuscitation done on a dying patient.
Resuscitation was done for over 20mins.
He died.
I prayed he will survive. But he didn't.
Another student nurse and I offered to clean the body. In the end we didn't because the staff nurses wanted to do it quickly before the body goes into rigor mortis, become stiff.
Rather scary experience.
As the staff nurses cleaned the body, we just stood in silence.
I just talked to the patient last night. Now he's stiff and cold.
Surprisingly I'm not as affected as I thought I would be. After the body was cleaned we all just got back to the usual work.
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Tomorrow going to see Fam regarding my painful knee joints.
Hand in a photocopy of my bank book to Human Resource Office.
Then go out with Angie, Jian Liang and whoever else. Haha.
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Results came out today! I was very surprised! Really. I expected to maintain my grades, but they were much better. In total I got 5 distinctions, 3 As and 1 B. Praise GOD for His blessing and His strength during my exam period!
Okay, gotta do my Berkelah Waterfall Food Planning.
Bye.
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