My 1st day at the polyclinic attachment

This is my first day at the 1 week polyclinic attachment. Initially I did not expect much to learn at the polyclinic because I thought that I will just be assisting the doctors and running errands. However,today was really an action-packed day for me..

I was sent to the triaging room (a room where patients who are more severe will be in so that nurses can give them priority to see the doctor, if its serious then an ambulance will be called in). Before I step into the room, the polyclinic looked so peaceful. When I was inside the room, the whole scenario changed.
There was a breathless elder on oxygen, coughing severely. The nurse was arranging his appointment with the doctor to see how he can be given priority as his condition is more serious than the others.

Soon after, a young man with laceration of the finger came in, his bleeding was quite severe and the nurse bandaged for him and called the emergency doctor for the day. The doctor quickly assessed the situation by asking the young man some questions (I was the interpreter) and decided to do stitching for him in the triage room.

Behind the screen, other events were also happening, the room was cramped and bustling. A staff nurse and I was helping the doctor gather the equipments needed for the stitching. To be honest, I wasnt really ready to do any procedures and it's my first time seeing a stitching..and I didnt learn anything about it in sch yet!! Can u imagine? The dr just went: "Can u get this for me, that for me?". Here comes the exciting part, the dr said: "wear a pair of gloves and help me compress (press hard) the patient's finger. For that moment, I forgot that i was not supposed to assist in any procedures as yet, seeing that its so urgent, i agreed. I also assisted the doctor by cutting the suture (the thread used for stitching). A slight info: this is the 1st time i am holding a sterile scissors and the 2nd time I am seeing a suture thread and cutting the suture first time in my entire life! (but dun worry for the patient, he doesnt know I am a first-timer, till now he still dunno and will never know)

Initially, I was feeling well and the staff nurse was very kind, she asked if I can stand the sight of blood. However, as the procedure was about to complete, after I cut my last suture, I started feeling faint. I sat down on the chair beside the patient, when I felt better, I went to get a sugar drink and felt well after that.

Through this triaging experience, I realised that it is really not easy to be at the very front line seeing patients of different conditions and symptoms. A triage nurse really needs to be very focused on what she has to do and she has to prioritise which patient is more important. Despite the “chaos” around her, she has to be calm and composed and seek the most effective means to help the patient by arranging the emergency or priority number so the doctors can see them first. Today, I could really see how doctors and nurses work together as a team in an emergency setting. By triaging the patients, the nurses uses her clinical judgement to enable the doctor to know better which patient's require his/her attention first.

One new thing that I learnt about myself today is that I would actually feel faint at the sight of blood. Before this experience, I thought I could stand the sight of blood, but now I know that I will have to try harder to overcome this weakness of mine. I hope that in the future I will be able to stand strong and steady till the end, no matter how much blood or gore is presented to me.

A song to share :)

Someone..my dear someone told me her expectation..at least 1 post per week..so i am back!!! I haven hit the deadline yet..i am still early k? This 2 weeks have been quite tiring but satisfying too..actually the more i do my attachment..the more i am in love with my job..haha..pple muz think i am crazy..okie..other than work..i also have sth to share with those who are popping by..it's a song..it is originally in chinese..the lyrics are as follows..this song really reminded me of wat prayer is abt and this song encouraged me a lot these 2 weeks..
(From Streams of Praise album: For You Alone)
祷告
祷告 因为我渺小
祷告 因为我知道我需要
明瞭 你心意对我重要
祷告 已假装不了
祷告 因为你的爱我需要
你关怀 我走过的你都明白

（副）有些事我只想要对你说
因你比任何人都爱我
痛苦从眼中流下 我知道你为我擦

在早晨我也要来对你说
主耶稣今天我为你活
所需要的力量你天天赐给我
你恩典够我用 所需要的力量你天天赐给我
你恩典够我用
所需要的力量你天天赐给我
你恩典够我用
Yes..its in chinese..and i know if my sg members are popping by..u all will go: “huh?! Emily i dunno how to read chinese..read for me..” So for the benefit of my dear sisters from sisterhood and those who understand english better..here goes..(a literal translation)

Pray, because I am minute (small/ tiny)
Pray, because I know that I need to understand how important it is to know Your (God's) will
Pray, because I can no longer pretend
Pray, because I need Your love and care, all that I have been thru, You understand

Chorus:
There are somethings that I want to say to You only.
Because You love me more than anyone else
When my sorrows flow from my eyes, I know You will wipe it dry.
In the break of day, i want to come before You to tell You:
“Jesus, today I will live for You.”
The strength that I need for each day, God, You will provide.
Your grace is sufficient for me.

Hope that those who pop by and read this will be greatly encouraged by this song and pray to God because He accepts us no matter how wretched we are and no matter how far we have gone wrong..He is still waiting for us to realise our mistakes and run back into His arms.

my very first post!!!

hehe..thanks for everyone's patience as all of u know that i am very sotong (muddleheaded) and always forget passwords and usernames..i hope that i wont forget this time (i wrote it down this time) and that i will try my very best to update this blog..gimme this chance k? (this is to grace..haha..and of course to our 4 sisters grp ;) )