Foto Friday

Sometimes I like being in the picture when I'm supposed to be relevant. 
Sometimes I prefer staying out of focus, or even out of frame. 
Most of the time I enjoy standing behind the camera capturing moments for for others.

Into the grey area

Not really crossing lines, more of like sticking my head out and risk facing possible disciplinary actions.

I am currently posted to an orthopaedic ward. It is just Day 2 and I feel like I have started this clinical posting walking along the grey.

One of the patients was just wheeled into the ward upon having undergone a shoulder surgery. Surprisingly he was awake and walking about as soon we got him changed and checked up. Another student nurse gave him his painkillers via injection, and he was advised to rest in bed as the medication might cause drowsiness. However the man insisted on walking albeit being warned not to. The staff were busy, everyone was doing their own thing and the nurse responsible for the patient who was just wheeled in instructed me to stay close to the man lest he suffered from a fall. And I did so, but he started walking towards the elevator! My patient wanted to go out for a walk. We even met his doctor on the way out. At that point of time I knew it was impossible to consult the staff nurse because her patient would have gone down and out by the time I ran back into the ward, even if I were to beg him to wait. I did not really bother asking the doctor as he would not wish to bear the responsibility had he agreed to let the patient get out of the ward this soon after surgery.

What were my choices, standing along 6 working elevators with a patient who was adamant on taking a walk outside? I decided to follow the man out despite knowing the fact that his intentions were probably for a cigarette break. So, there I was, walking a patient out of hospital grounds, to smoke, though the only smoke I inhaled was secondhand. He even took out his cigarette before stepping out of the hospital gates. Great, now I even got caught on security camera footage.

I do not regret doing what I did. What else could I have done? A fellow student nurse got the rest of my patients in the ward covered. The best chance I had of making sure the smoker patient did not fall, was to follow and stay close to him even though he was stepping out of the hospital for a cigarette. Today, the patient is alert and walking well. He took his cigarette breaks without needing anyone to accompany him anymore. And I am getting to know him better through our conversations and my reading of his case file.

Today, a different patient asked me for a favour- to buy him lottery! He gave me a bunch of numbers and some cash. And I went to buy the 4D tickets as instructed(correctly, I hope!) after the end of my shift.


Clinical postings. New experiences, new challenges, some of them weird at times.

Food for Thought: Sabah and Sarawak

Today in history: Sabah, Sarawak, Singapore and Malaya came together to form Malaysia.
Today: Sabah and Sarawak remain with Malaysia. For 49 years already, but really, are they a part of us?

Have Sabah and Sarawak truly united with the Peninsula? Pardon me but as far as I can tell by my still very young mind and limited knowledge, I do not see the two Malaysian states integrated well with the rest of the states on the federal level. For all I know, it might be so for a reason. So that the people here can use the people there.

May I please use one simple example- giving up PPSMI. After so much unnecessary fuss, our wise and farsighted government decided to let the medium of teaching Mathematics and Science revert back from English to Bahasa Melayu. Why? To help the Bumiputeras! Rural Sabahans and Sarawakians are already having a hard learning, forcing them to learn in English makes education even tougher.

Wow, the government was protecting rural Bumiputeras? That's nice, because I am used to hearing news of Sabah and Sarawak natives being exploited by none other than the government itself.

Too often have the names of Sabah and Sarawak been used to serve political purposes. Everybody claims they are protecting them, however in the various levels of ruling within Malaysia, we know that most of the power seems to be from the Peninsula. However, why does the majority of parliamentary seats come from Sarawak?

Just a thought to ponder on. I did not mean to cause anyone to be overly solemn or angry.

Today let us celebrate Malaysia. Continue to work towards unity. Don't you dare celebrate 1Malaysia for it is nothing more than an empty and blatantly abused slogan. Celebrate Malaysia, celebrate unity. Forget 1Malaysia and open your eyes to what the empty slogan has done to our country. Start helping people and doing good deeds daily. This is how a nation progresses- by citizens helping each other in need. Sabah and Sarawak do not need our discrimination, they certainly do not need to be used by politicians who claim to be helping them.

Sejahtera Malaysia.

Foto Friday

Pair these with some red socks and you'll see all the colours on the Jalur Gemilang!

My heart shall remember where it belongs no matter where my feet will stand.