Experience in Hospital~

I remember walking from one pharmacy to another. But none of them would want to offer me a temporary job for 5 months. Is it that hard to get a job in a pharmacy? I started to get nervous, i do not want to stone at home for this few months break. I do not want to become mouldy when university starts! The poor me even went to a kindergarten to interview for a job as kindy teacher. But the person-in-charge couldn't even offer me the job on the spot and said that she will contact me later ( i got the job 2 weeks later, but rejected it though. Nyeyeyeye :P)

So, as desperately as one could, I bumped into one private hospital which i have never step into before. I told them that i wish to work there for 5 months to gain more experience on medical related stuff. So, i was brought up to second floor to meet a guy. After chatting for awhile with that guy, out of my surprise, I found out that he is the one of the doctors in the hospital, and he actually got offered to study in NUS. Oh man, this guy must be very smart! After the chat, i was asked to talk to the matron of the hospital who will be responsible in assigning me my job.

So, 3 weeks later, not knowing what to expect, I happily went to work. On the first day of work, i was told to 'hang around' at the counter. U can expect to see one extra statue/stone sitting at the registration counter for my first week of work when u enter the hospital. I wish i could help to ease the tension of other nurses who were so busy doing their job, but i did not know how to help :( I did nothing except taking the height, weight, blood pressure of the patients, which anyone with brains could do on the first week of work. Many times i wanted to quit the job, as it was sooooo boring. Fortunately, i didn't.

Things got better after the first week. I had the opportunity to get my hands on 'real' things. Everyday i am learning new stuff. I can still remember i was so happy when i got to enter the OT for the first time,even though it was only for a small procedure.

One of the specialists in the hospital that i worked is a gasteroenterologist. Obviously, i got to help out in procedures like colonoscopy and gastroscopy :) I may not understand what the doctor was doing, i tried my best to pay attention to what she was doing,from sedating the patient, putting the scope into the patient and doing biopsies.

After i worked for one month, i finally got the chance to enter the OT to witness one major operation. It started at around 2pm, started with the anaestatist putting the patient into sleep, then only its the surgeon's turn. I was so excited sitting at one corner of the OT observing the process. That was the first time i saw litres of blood oozing out from a person. ok, I maybe exaggerating, but still, the patient lost quite a big amount of blood. Luckily i have previous experience of facing blood that i did not faint over. I did not even have the slightness of nausea. How brave am i ! :P Throughout the operation, the anaestatist was supposed to observe and maintain the BP, SpO2 ( oxygen saturation level) of the patient at optimum level. The operation ended 8 hours later. I was really amazed by how all the nurses and the surgeon can stand for that long, and only part of them that are moving are their hands. Amazing!! Besides this operation, i got to observe few other operations, which most of it i did understand. And lucky girl i am, i got to join in during one caesaran. Wah, the magic moment that brings one new life to this world.

Besides, i learn to help in dispensing medicine. I started recognising some colorful oval tablets in that cupboard which contains thousands of medicine. The stupid part of me sometimes wondered what will happen if i take each one of all the medicines on the cupboard. Die? or turn super healthy and live for 200 more years :P Anyway, i slowly recognised some of the medicines, their functions and where they are placed.

Oh, after being an observer during blood taking for 2 months, i finally got my hands on the syringe and needle. wheepie. My first guinea pig was trembling so hard when i was taking his blood. I even thought that i was the one who was trembling. Anyway, under the supervision of the matron and staff nurse, i slowly improved my skills. All in all, i managed to draw blood from 20++ people. Although sometimes i find difficulties finding the vein, the nurse was still patient enough to coach me. Thanks a lot to them :)

The dedication shown by the doctors in the hospital that i worked really made me salute them. Their attitude in treating the patients has made them my perfect role model. I felt very lucky to be able to work together with them for this few months. Besides, they offered me good advice on university applications and also on my future. Another big thank you to them :)

I had unforgettable experiences and memories working in the hospital for this 5 months. Not only have i gained knowledge on medical related stuff, i also got to know many wonderful friends in the hospital. Besides, i got paid :)