tag:uknurse.blog.co.uk,2009-11-07:/about a newly qualified nurse working with the NHS - mistake (?); rantings/musings/moanings/whinges of a nurse preceptee (preceptorship - a state of limbo between the life of a student nurse and a registered nurse)MokoFeed2009-11-07T21:07:26+01:00tag:uknurse.blog.co.uk,2008-03-18:/2008/03/18/holiday-3901195/sag722008-03-18T19:02:41+01:002008-03-18T19:02:41+01:00 <p>just came back from holiday in the far east. still jet lagged, still half asleep, still missing the good times whilst on hol and still recovering from the shocking malaysian general election results...</p> <p>holidays</p> <p>HK - such a lovely and orderly place, totally different from what i heard about HK. it's incredible how wrong my impression has been. people were so helpful and so kind, so friendly, right from the street vendors to shopkeepers. how could what i've heard about HK been so far from what i've been through these past couple weeks i've been there. and nothing beats meeting up with friends that i'ven't seen for years. and we managed to miss our flight back to the UK as a result lol... bet you, it wasn't funny when we saw our flight wasn't on the display board when we tried to check in and upon discovering that we 've misread the departure time for our flight back, huh. .. <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>Taiwan - a true nation of shopkeepers!! i've never seen so many shops in my entire life, from villages to big cities like taipei, it's incredible. all the SMIs, think about the money generated locally and the money it sucked in <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"> well done taiwan for such a small nation to punch above its weight under so much pressure from the mainland. food is everywhere in taiwan, all kinds of food. and i've been told that they've just implemented similar health system to the NHS not too long ago, about 10 years ago perhaps. i can't help but marvel at this nation of shopkeepers. and it's online everywhere, even up in the mountains, 2500m high, that's more than 6000 feet high, more than twice the average height of the UK `hills'.</p> <p>i've never felt so clingy to a place i've just visited before but i'm really feeling `homesick' already. i've always been eager to come back home after a two week holiday as i miss my own bed and home after a while. but i can't help but feeling a bit depressed after the two weeks in HK/taiwan... strange...</p> <p>anyway, i'm still jetlagged. sense will prevail when i'm awake and then back to work, night shifts this weekend, can't wait...</p> <p>so much to write but brain is half dead actually. there is the malaysian general election to blog about but then hey, do give malaysiakini, malaysia today, other malaysian social political blogs by google etc. a visit if you are interested - it has been called political tsunami , this recent general election.</p> <p>will blog more later when i'm rid of the jetlag bug</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://uknurse.blog.co.uk/2008/03/18/holiday-3901195/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:uknurse.blog.co.uk,2008-02-21:/2008/02/21/not_much_about_nursing~3760422/sag722008-02-21T14:55:40+01:002008-02-21T14:55:40+01:00 <p>it's much harder to keep blogs up to date than i thought. hence the lack of postings. apologies but hey, there seems to be one or two souls visiting this blog everyday.. <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>well, not much to blog about work except that we are extremely understaffed and it's all about work work work and no play at the moment. plus, theturnover of patients is ridiculously which directly translates to +++workloads with the discharges and admissions to do at the same time with the same pair of rusty, tired, wrinkled old hands. o yes, i'm glad that there was a piece of research out on dermatitis and hand washing frequency but then hey as usual, it was not commented upon by the infection control ppl. hey, u guys/gals up there in your nice comfy room/chair, listen up, hands do get sore after the numerous washing that we have to do and what are you going to do about this???</p> <p>huh...</p> <p>and now, swiftly turning away from work and to the general election in malaysia! yess...general election in malaysia on the 8th march. lotsa campaigning and if you read the online newspapers, you will be surprised, disgusted perhaps if you are not used to the `democracy' practiced over there. </p> <p>here are the reasons why:<br> 1. major, mainstream newspapers, tabloids whatever prints online or otherwise - it's filled with the present government propaganda to stay in power (after 50 years or so), well, to continue to stay in power</p> <p>2. any news on the opposition is minimal except when it comes to any opposition parties so called major internal conflicts etc. totally lopsided...</p> <p>3. and here is the big one...lotsa free gifts , freebies for schools (chronically neglected), and donations yes $$$$$£££££££ for rural villages and schools etc. which smacks of open bribery but then unashamedly reported by the mainstream media regardless. if u r not already disgusted, here is more</p> <p>4. nepotism is everywhere. one particular politician was dropped due to `allegations' of impropriety (well, this zakaria chap - yes that's his name, built a big palatial mansion in a rural village without permit, not to mansion how he got the money to do that in the first place) and o yes, he was dropped from the list of candidates but hey, wait a minute, apparently his seat will be replaced by his son/daughter in law who are also ..yes, u guess it right local politician!!! what the f^&* is going on??? there is nothing wrong with family of politicians, the kennedys did that etc. but hey, it's like passing the baton in this case, little feudalistic warlord controlling his interest but then i can never work out why or how people still support him or give him their votes, that's totally beyond me, sigh... but then, with phantom voters, vote rigging accusations abound, i guess anything can happen...oops, i'll be arrested and questioned by the police for making that statement...or maybe not, i dunno, the climate of fear is there...<img src="/img/smilies/icon_sad.gif" alt=":(" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>5. the last one on my list i promise, well, at least for this post anyway.. the use of police force by the current ruling party/government in the oppression/suppression of opposition (political parties or NGOs, non-political ones aren't spared either as long as there is dissent). hey, that sounds like a communist state but going to some of the Chinese government websites etc. or even television programmes, people were able to criticise the government in public! well, i suppose people could in malaysia, but not in an organised way; so, is this democracy? i don't know, maybe there is indeed different kinds of democracy (only according to these lil warlords who want to cling on to power perhaps??)</p> <p>ok, i mustn't be too critical about malaysia; closer to home, there is this new plan to get people to take more/new test to become truly british which only applies to people outside EU, ahem....what the f^&*? i gave up at that stage. i've actually promised myself to apply to become a true brit (yes with all the test and the swearing in ceremony) after i could force myself to watch eastenders or the corries or yess..my favourite to listen to the archer before i start screaming, I'm f^&ing MALAYSIAN, GET ME OUTTA `ERE!!!</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://uknurse.blog.co.uk/2008/02/21/not_much_about_nursing~3760422/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:uknurse.blog.co.uk,2008-02-06:/2008/02/06/a_36807_a_24180_a_24605_a~3688323/sag722008-02-06T15:45:31+01:002008-02-06T15:45:31+01:00 <p>给自己：</p> <p>《月夜》<br> 作者：劉方平<br> 更深月色半人家，北斗闌干南斗斜。<br> 今夜偏知春气暖，虫聲新透綠窗紗。</p> <p>《春曉》<br> 作者：孟浩然<br> 春眠不覺曉，處處聞啼鳥。<br> 夜來風雨聲，花落知多少。</p> <p>《夜思》<br> 作者：李白<br> 床前明月光，疑是地上霜。<br> 舉頭望明月，低頭思故鄉。</p> <p>给归来的朋友：</p> <p>《雜詩》<br> 作者：王維<br> 君自故鄉來，應知故鄉事。<br> 來日綺窗前，寒梅著花未。</p> <p>看到朋友写，有感而发的：</p> <p>《回鄉偶書》<br> 作者：賀知章<br> 少小离家老大回，鄉音無改鬢毛催。<br> 儿童相見不相識，笑問客從何處來。</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://uknurse.blog.co.uk/2008/02/06/a_36807_a_24180_a_24605_a~3688323/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:uknurse.blog.co.uk,2007-12-26:/2007/12/26/happy_christmas~3493866/sag722007-12-26T23:08:00+01:002007-12-26T23:08:00+01:00 <p>well, worked on christmas and boxing day and then back again on new years eve and the 2nd of jan. well, a good off duty?? i don't know.</p> <p>came back from dublin the other day. a weekend break really. it was ok. no wow factor i think. dublin lacks that oomph.</p> <p>will write more about dublin trip next time. and also update on the culinary skills there <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"> but one thing to remind me of dublin is their infamous waiting service, just horrendous. ok, better not reveal too much about what i'm going to write about dublin now. swiftly moving on to work...</p> <p>yes work. well, this is what nurses do, talking about work during the festive season. and the government is staging our meagre pay rise of 2.5% (=1.9% in real terms).</p> <p>o, gotto go, soz, christmas show with graham norton!!! ciao</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://uknurse.blog.co.uk/2007/12/26/happy_christmas~3493866/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:uknurse.blog.co.uk,2007-12-19:/2007/12/20/drug_assessment~3467971/sag722007-12-20T00:08:26+01:002007-12-20T00:08:26+01:00 <p>well, this is the second time i had my drug assessment and failed. yes, bloody fail again <img src="/img/smilies/icon_sad.gif" alt=":(" class="middle" border="0"> ah well. upon reflection, it was really a stupid mistake. it was flucoxacillin IV and i was going to give it PO. i think the various reasons for `thinking' or rather taking for granted that it was PO was because the patient is well, eating and drinking, no IVI etc. so, basically a `healthy chap'! &*()&</p> <p>never mind. will do it again tomorrow. i'm getting quite frustrated. but not as frustrated and annoyed as when i failed the first time. i didn't get good sleep the night before, (partly due to partner's low and down mood then), and then was supposed to have the assessment on sun but my dear o dear preceptor decided that she wasn't feeling up for doing my assessment on that day despite changing my shift so that i came in on sunday specially to do my drug assessment. i'm learning to cope with her mood swings. basically i've decided that there is not much i can do about it and there is nothing that i could've said that would have changed her mind. i'll just play dumb and smile, yes keep smiling and i think it sorta get onto her nerves a bit. i wonder if she is trying to break me, conspiracy theory.....</p> <p>anyway, i've decided not to get frustrated and grumpy about this. also, it's my mistake. should've adhered to the golden rule of right patient, right route, right dose! there u go, lesson learned <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>i shall not talk about what other nurses told me about my preceptor being harsh on me. well, i'm not exactly her best mates, lol; so, can't really expect very much; also, i don't break down in tears when the situation gets tough; maybe she hates my guts, well, subconsciously anyway; and she does like to be the one in and with power. think i've blogged about this before. it's all about power in the NHS anyway. </p> <p>as long as i make sure that my patients are happy and satisfied with the care i give and yes, that they are safe under my care. i guess i can try and ignore all the politics... or perhaps not.</p> <p>i hate to admit that i'm using more and more reflection to help me cope with the challenges i've faced so far on the ward and actively thinking about ways to make sure that i don't make the mistake again and identifing the sources of error or more importantly reflecting on the events which led to my mistakes etc. i'm not a true fan of reflection, not sure why but it's helping me to cope by being positive and constructive. </p> <p>o yes, i've also just started a couple of psychology modules with the OU. i've got materials for social psychology and it's very interesting so far i must say. never thought sociology can be that mind boggling <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"> yes my prejudice there. well, it's hard not to discard my scientific root :-p it looks like a tough course and i'm getting a bit worried that i'm going to find the going tough as the course and work on the ward progresses. we shall see. i hope i've not overestimated my ability and get myself all stressed out about the assignments and exam, yes, one big final exam in sept! well, two cos' i'm trying to be clever and taking two modules. i can't help but laugh at myself sometime. am i really masochistic, why can't i just have a relax life, glutton for punishment really.</p> <p>but then, hey, i've found reading the psychology text books a way of distracting myself from the stress on the ward. well, two very stressful days i've had so far (in my 3 months on the ward) and i really hope it won't happen again. it was awful and i really dread going to work after those two days. luckily, things are a bit more under control now. the first instance was partly because i was poorly the day before with stomach bug. so was a bit washed out and the the ward was ridiculously busy with lotsa patients needing hygiene care! and then the following shift i think was just lingering effect of that horrible day and i was still recovering from the `shock' of that horrible day. but now, things are under control. and i've reflected on those two days. the first day, well, can't do much about being ill but i think i should try and calm down and prioritise when i'm not feeling too well. make sure the critically ill patients are well looked after, the washes etc. can wait. it can be quite tough if the overzealous or panicky sister started having a fit and kept asking if patients have had their wash or wounds checked. well, prioritise, ignore those unhelpful `suggestions' !</p> <p>and the second day incident - well, i should really have taken some time out and digest the handover and try and come up with a plan before getting myself sucked into the madness. stand back and have a think. why is it busy? critically ill patients? sheer number of patients needing wash? well, it'll help if i can pause for 5-10 mins and take stock before started lounging into work mode and then found myself not in control at all.</p> <p>huh, it's ending up a very long entry this. didn't mean to write so much. well, merry christmas to all and a happy new year! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://uknurse.blog.co.uk/2007/12/20/drug_assessment~3467971/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:uknurse.blog.co.uk,2007-12-11:/2007/12/12/frustrated_and_dejected~3430499/sag722007-12-12T00:39:51+01:002007-12-12T00:39:51+01:00 <p>failed my drug assessment ie. can't do drugs yet ie. not quite qualified. reason for failure: too slow, not in control... i just don't know. perhaps i'm just `thick'. i don't see the reason to rush the drug rounds which obviously didn't go down well with my preceptor/assessor. anyway, i've kinda suss her out. there is no point in me getting annoyed or depressed about this. a lot depends on her mood. what i could do to speed things up is perhaps to stop checking the expiry date repeatedly, well at least in my next drug assessment. as long as i make her happy, i'm pretty sure she will sign me off. weird isn't it? this sorta assessment has become a tool of power. anyway, it just proves my long held belief that the health care system is so power mad and very hierachical despite all the best effort to prevent task based work which happened in the old days ie. student nurses - wash patients, new junior nurses - obs, senior nurses - administer drug, sisters - IVI perhaps etc.. well, i'm exagerating a bit of course but hey, this is still happening now! all in the name of clinical skills. it's just so difficult to see how a junior staff nurse can progress according to their ability. on my ward at least, u wait and take your turn. if it takes the sister twenty years to get to where she is now, that's exactly if not more the time that u r supposed to take to get to that position, kabish!!</p> <p>anyway, looking on the bright side, i think and i hope i'll just persevere and get myself signed off at the end of my supposedly six month preceptorship. and play dumb, do as u r told and i think i'll be fine. sad really but hey, a man gotto do what a man gotto do, eh?</p> <p>what else was i going to say, o yes, the bloody uniform. i cannot believe the people ordering the uniform is also trying to make my life difficult. now, i've got one set of new uniform, received after waiting for 3 fcuking months, opps, apologies for swearing. and one set was witheld till i gave back the ones they loan to me. there is no point talking about infection control to them. how on earth am i supposed to wash, dry and iron my uniform with only two sets of uniform when working 4 nights in a row is beyond me and apparently this is trust policy. what the %^&!! no one seems to complain. people just wear old uniform to work. and then we complain about MRSA etc.. i dunno. </p> <p>now, looking on the bright side again, i shall try and pester the ward manager if she would sign the form for more sets of uniform for me. fingers crossed. i just don't understand why i have to chase after people about my uniform. is my life not stressful enough??</p> <p>anyway, another thing to look forward to, i'm now officially an OU student. just registered myself on a couple of psychology modules. yes, i might be taking on too much here but it's a way for me to not get too stressed about work/people or i should say fcking people and do i what i want to do, that is to study - yes, and maybe have another change in career perhaps. very much doubt so but hey, whatever that makes me happy. besides, it's something to take my mind off things that depress me. now then, i suppose this will backfire if i manage to flunk my assignment or exam lol. haven't sat for exam for yonks now, lol</p> <p>right, better stop here now as i've just been ping in the chatroom.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://uknurse.blog.co.uk/2007/12/12/frustrated_and_dejected~3430499/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:uknurse.blog.co.uk,2007-12-03:/2007/12/03/back_to_blogging_about_nursing~3390854/sag722007-12-03T22:31:18+01:002007-12-03T22:31:18+01:00 <p>not been blogging much about nursing when i actually did blog, so here is my feeble attempt at nursey blogging...</p> <p>well, i suppose one of the reasons that i'ven't been blogging much about nursing or work or my ward is because i'm slowly settling in, which is a good sign and also, nothing much has changed since i last blogged about my work.</p> <p>anyway, i'll be assessed on my drug administration soon, next week to be precise. and i'll feel more `complete', more like a qualified nurse once i can administer medication. </p> <p>so, my preceptor has been given me a few pointers about what to watch out for during drug administration and what drugs to omit etc. eg. one of her favourites is antihypertensive drugs like atenolol. sometimes patients blood pressure dipped quite low, about 105/60 for eg. and atenolol should be omitted. and then check up on their blood pressure and document the omission in nursing records etc. also, if patients are NBM, drugs like:<br> 1. digoxin<br> 2. omeprazole<br> 3. furosemide<br> 4.<br> 5.<br> can't remember 4 and 5 now, but these drugs although not given should be then prescribed through IV. i can understand digoxin and furosemide but not quite sure why it is important to give IV omeprazole.</p> <p>o yes, nearly forgot. one of the embarassing situations: question from patient - what is potassium? why is my potassium low? what is potassium for? and i flunked my reply completely!!</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://uknurse.blog.co.uk/2007/12/03/back_to_blogging_about_nursing~3390854/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:uknurse.blog.co.uk,2007-11-23:/2007/11/23/protest_and_more_protest~3340976/sag722007-11-23T14:55:02+01:002007-11-23T14:55:02+01:00 <p>on the 10 nov, there was this mass protest on the streets of malaysia, about 400000-60000 people attended the mass rally according to al jazeera, and about 4000 according to the ever faithful local newspapers if it was reported. well, perhaps, protest is not quite the right word but a public rally to submit a memorandum to the King demanding clean and fair election (election due to be called early next year most probably). whilst i do support the call for free and fair election, i'm not very sure about the call for royal intervention. i was just going to write something rude about the royal families (9 of them or so from each state who then pick one to lead the nation for 5 years or so) or i could be charged under the sedition act for disrespecting the monarch. yep, that kind of archaeic law like the one they use in thailand. nuff said...</p> <p>another protest, this time closer to `home'. a group of malaysians of indian origins has planned a mass gathering of possibly 10000 or so, to submit something, not sure what it's called to the British High commission in KL on the 23 Nov, yes, this sunday requesting HM the Queen to set up a royal commission or enquiry of some kind for the hardship and oppression they have brought to the families and children of these ethnic indian malaysians who were brought in by the British about 150 years ago. they were promised free and equitable life before the brits handed malaya its independence but the community has been sidelined since independence in 1957 and continued to be so at present day. well, if one hasn't heard of malaysian infamous quota/positive discrimination against other ethnic groups in malaysia to assist the majority malay muslims, just speak to any non malay malaysians and you'll get an earful. it's not my intention to have a discussion about this big social reengineering project, but suffice to say, plenty of ill feelings abound amongs the various ethnic groups in malaysia if one were to open ones eyes and ears (except to listen to the government).</p> <p>anyway, back to this mass gathering. so, as in any other countries in the east, street protest or mass civil gathering against the government is very rare and unusual or `uneastern', hence, unlawful and people and most importantly, the government are not used to although these government purportedly practice democracy (not sure which dictionary they use). alas, police are setting up road blocks (more efficient than catching the crooks on and off the street if one were to read all the socio-politico blogs by malaysians). so, now there is this massive big traffic jams caused by the police action (but have been solely blamed on the planned protest on the local media propaganda). a quick check on the BBC news hasn't revealed anything yet. i wonder if anyone is going to take this Hindraf group seriously at all. but bravo for their spirits. o yes, and many indian malaysian lawyers who are behind the organisation of the gathering on the 23 nov have been arrested, handcuffed and all that and charged under the sedition act (yes, another legacy of the brit -oops, not trying to put any blame here).</p> <p>so now, i guess it's just wait and see if there is going to be enough people power to move this arrogant and imbecile malaysian government to do something about this section of isolated, sidelined community of malaysians. and i wonder if the BBC is going to even take up the news or deemed the gathering newsworthy. we shall see...</p> <p>good luck and bravo to all those to who stood and continue to stand against oppresive, authoritarian regimes. i must admit i've no balls when it comes to that, i can't even stand up for myself to the ward sisters or ward manager or some of my colleagues. am i a bad nurse? can i be a true patient advocate? can nurses be true patient advocate (standing up to the authority or their medical colleagues) - at this moment in time, i seriously doubt it. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://uknurse.blog.co.uk/2007/11/23/protest_and_more_protest~3340976/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:uknurse.blog.co.uk,2007-11-14:/2007/11/14/why_why_why~3295378/sag722007-11-14T15:44:22+01:002007-11-14T15:44:22+01:00 <p>why do people have to be unpleasant to each other?<br> why can't i be happy all the time?<br> why do i have to feel upset or sad?<br> why am i having these thoughts?<br> why do i think i'm wasting a lot of my time online?<br> why don't things go my way all the time?<br> Why am i feeling the winter blues?<br> why do i find it difficult to post a new blog at times?<br> why won't i stand up for myself?<br> why can't i be more assertive?<br> why can't i be more quick witted?<br> why do i still have to wait for my uniform from my trust?</p> <p>why am i writing all these even?</p> <p>why can't i see into my future?</p> <p>what will i do when i am old?</p> <p>will my children be good and happy?</p> <p>will my family/relatives lead a good and happy life?</p> <p>will the world come to an end? - well, that's probably a stupid question to ask cos' it's not, just won't, not in my life time anyway; unless there is a nuclear war which is extremely unlikely. so to all doomsayers, soz...maybe if u live for another few million of years, perhaps??</p> <p>last why...</p> <p>why am i attending the trust induction tomorrow, two months after i've started working on the ward??? </p> <p>alas, i moan too much..i guess i should stop now <img src="/img/smilies/icon_razz.gif" alt=":p" class="middle" border="0"> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://uknurse.blog.co.uk/2007/11/14/why_why_why~3295378/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:uknurse.blog.co.uk,2007-11-05:/2007/11/05/much_ado_about_blogging~3250110/sag722007-11-05T18:24:38+01:002007-11-05T18:24:38+01:00 <p>not that what i'm going to write about in this post has anything to do with the title above, and not that i understand much about the quote/phrase anyway. so read on at your own peril.</p> <p>i've meant to blog about this young malaysian politician, Khairy Jamaluddin; apparently an oxford graduate ; hence held in very high esteem in the malaysian political circle or rather within his own party which really govern the malaysian politics really. and then he became more famous after he married the current PM's only daughter, Nori. now unashamedly in his recent interview with the local media, he talked or rather boasted about how he had got things done cos' he is the PM's son in law (or SIL in m'sia). almost choked on my lunch when i read the excerpt of the interview. nepotism to the "£$%^&g core!! and the depressing thing is there was nothing mentioned about this on the mainstream newspaper about this glaring nepotism and admission from the SIL?? hello?? am i the only one awake or everyone else is hibernating even the tropical sunshine of malaysia??? i rest my case, just put me to sleep and don't let me wake up...</p> <p>then i just read about the jehovah's woman who died after giving birth to twins. i guess this is how terrorists justify killing other innocent men and women in the name of religion? my feeble mind just cannot comprehend this and hence `the work of god' so, i remain agnostic/atheistic whatever; anyway as i've mentioned in my earlier post, just as well i was brought up a buddhist who doesn't believe in the almighty god or whatever you call it. but then the buddhism i was brought up in was so tainted with the beliefs of the community i was brought up in as well, so, when i reflected on this, i drifted further away from religion... i'm just not convinced about the benefit of religion if i were to be honest. </p> <p>oops, just smelled burnt pizza, god's punishment was swift!!</p> <p>yes, i burnt down my kitchen once whilst going online and forgetting that i was deep frying chicken years back, i should've learnt alas...</p> <p>do we need religion to become good people, to be pleasant to each other? consult dawkin's god delusion, and u'll get a resounding NO.</p> <p>i've at this stage forgotten about what i was going to blog about apart from that KJ SIL guy in malaysia. </p> <p>can't think of anything to blog about NHS or nursing...o yes, just remembered.</p> <p>does mocking your colleagues' accent count as racism?? till next time...</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://uknurse.blog.co.uk/2007/11/05/much_ado_about_blogging~3250110/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:uknurse.blog.co.uk,2007-11-04:/2007/11/04/work_life~3245023/sag722007-11-04T18:51:47+01:002007-11-04T18:53:05+01:00 <p>it's quite a difficult time to post this blog. not that i'm busy or anything but i'm feeling a bit upset about what went on this morning or earlier today. anyway, lets try and calm myself down by blogging about my work yesterday which sorta led to what transpired today.</p> <p>worked yesterday. was good, yes just one word to sum it all. worked with preceptor, had a chat with her just before the end of my shift and was given some contructive feedback from her, which was a bit of surprise really. anyway, did drug round with her and to be honest i wasn't really up to the standard. wasn't myself. was a bit nervous i guess. wasn't quite sure why. well, i've never been quite sure when i'm working with another colleague. i was told to push myself forward a bit. i didn't yesterday cos' i thought there was a sister with me, so i'd just be assisting her but i was told that i should act like a staff nurse and take charge. point noted.</p> <p>the other more major thing is drug administration really. i think i've let myself down in a way. i've read up on analgesics but not really on cardiac drugs. so a couple of things i was pulled up on: volterol = diclofenac (i should know this really but didn't) and have forgotten that it's NSAID ie. can't be given to patients who are either NBM or on ff only. so the pain relief that i could give to patients in this case is restricted and i need to think carefully about what i give to them. i think this is very good feedback and will push me to read up more on this topic but unfortunately, not many nurses that i have worked with have pushed me to think about things like that. so, 1-0 to my preceptor.</p> <p>the other thing was about atenolol. i was about to give the patient atenolol after i had checked that his BP was fine but apparently failed to notice that it was not given the day before and i should also have looked at the trend of his BP whilst not been given the drug. they were on the low side. so, 2-0 for my preceptor. actually i did briefly look if he was given the hypertensive drug but thought it was signed but it was actually a number to indicate that drug was not given on nurse's discretion. i supposed it's not really a good enough reason but i did try and explain to my preceptor but it didn't really sound like a reason and in the end i fumbled and apologised and talked about something else. what a plonker i'm....<img src="/img/smilies/icon_sad.gif" alt=":(" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>anyway, like i said earlier, these are constructive feedback and i'm more than happy to act on them (whilst trying not to get too personal with my preceptor about it :-p). and i went to the bookshop after work and bought a £35 pharmacology book. the challenge now is for me to read it and put it too good use <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"> what i like about the book (apart from being a new book, published 2007, and 7th edition i think) is there are questions at the end of each chapter and the questions were those that prompt one to think about drug safety and contra-indications etc.</p> <p>then also met up with partner and we went to see stardust after pondering about what to do on a saturday evening. when we came out of the cinema, got missed calls and a message from the mother of our lil boy that they were in hospital due to breathing difficulties. (he had a cold earlier during the week). so, phoned the other mom up and was immediately told off for not replying. so had to explained that we were in the cinema and when u r in cinema, u turn off ur mobile phones. so, we rushed back, obviously that other mom wasn't happy. but she can be quite rude sometimes anyway. so, we stayed at theirs to look after our daughter who was asleep and the other mom went straight to the hospital to join her partner and our boy. to cut the long story short, our son apparently wasn't breathing right, so, mom 1 took him to hospital and stayed overnight while mom 2 came back after an hour or so. we went back home.</p> <p>the next morning we all went to see our son. when we got there, he was busy playing with another boy, which boys do <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"> and after exchanging pleasantries, i went to look at his notes and apparently he was in a bit of a respiratory distress and was advised by the GP to bring him to the hospital. oxygen saturation was fine throughout the night etc.. so nothing major really, and then after the doctor ward round, they took him back while we waited for his salbutamol to arrive on the ward from the pharmacy. and it took like 2 hours. really ridiculous but that's what happens everywhere and i personally had patients who were to annoyed with us cos' they thought it's our fault!!</p> <p>anyway, i've lost the plot now. o yes, what i forgot to mention was mom 1 had a go at us on the ward again for having our phone switched off and not bothering to check if our boy was ok yesterday before going to the cinema. what f..k..g s..t!!! not trying to be unpleasant to her or anything like that (she hadn't had any sleep during the night cos' had to pin him down when the nurses there gave our boy nebs etc. every couple of hours throughout the night) but what was this all about??? why couldn't they call us at 4pm when they rang up the GP and was told about possible admission? instead of frantically trying to contact us when we are in the cinema at 7pm and then blamed it on us for not being there?? omfg!! what do we do to deserve them i dunno, these two b.....s can be real unpleasant and rude. anyway, i kept my cool, my partner never really react to things; but i'm going to have a word with them next week when things settle down a bit i think, i just don't think we can keep on like this. it's always our fault if things go wrong. i've my own ideas why mom 2 was desperate to join mom 1 in the hospital but it's too complicated to explain all that in one post, so will leave it for the time being but hey, i'm really pissed off with them at the moment. f.....g b....h !"£$%^&*(*&^</p> <p>huh...apologies for all the swearing.....i'm beginning to appreciate the saying women are from venus/men from mars!!! oops, am i turning into a sexist???</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://uknurse.blog.co.uk/2007/11/04/work_life~3245023/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:uknurse.blog.co.uk,2007-11-02:/2007/11/02/malaysian_writer_having_a_go_at_british_~3234616/sag722007-11-02T13:01:48+01:002007-11-03T01:22:49+01:00 <p>just read this on thestar.com.my ; quite refreshing to see the the british media/bbc on the `spotlight' of a malaysian columnist, but then, how many people read their local writers' columns??</p> <p>here is the article...</p> <p>#<br> Even a royal visit sees double standards at play</p> <p>MIDWEEK WITH BUNN NAGARA</p> <p>WHEN Britain invited King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia for a state visit this week, the first Saudi royal visit in 20 years, it was supposed to be a memorable occasion. </p> <p>The king would be greeted by Prince Charles on arrival, then ride in a state carriage procession yesterday with Queen Elizabeth II before dining at a royal banquet. Staying at the queen’s official residence at Buckingham Palace, Abdullah would then meet Prime Minister Gordon Brown for talks today. </p> <p>These events are taking place, but are becoming unforgettable for the wrong reasons. British critics of Abdullah, including some parliamentarians, human rights NGOs and the media, denounce the Saudi monarch’s rule for repression, human rights abuses including torture, discrimination against women and corruption. </p> <p>Then on the eve of the visit, a BBC interview sparked more self-righteous indignation. Abdullah reportedly said through an interpreter that Riyadh had supplied Britain (in December 2004) with intelligence tips about the deadly July 2005 bombings in London, but British authorities chose to ignore them. </p> <p>British authorities say the tip-off was “insufficient,” “materially different” from what was required to make effective arrests, or just “not credible.” But intelligence officials in several countries have said the Saudis had come to know the plot would involve explosives to be triggered in crowded parts of London, had a Syrian contact, but at least some of the bombers would be British citizens. </p> <p>Where Saudi and British governments are both implicated or culpable, somehow the British side make it all out to be Saudi Arabia’s fault. This includes criticism of the British government’s hospitality, without reporting why London had invited Abdullah to visit in the first place or any recognition that Riyadh has lately been introducing moderate reforms. </p> <p>If indeed Saudi Arabia is guilty as alleged, Britain had wallowed in a major supporting role and continues to do so. British authorities must know of any unsavoury details, yet have consistently chosen to work closely with the Saudis. </p> <p>British parliamentarian Andrew Tyrie said if Britain had so much as allowed CIA flights carrying kidnapped persons for “extraordinary rendition” (torture overseas) in places like Saudi Arabia, it would be guilty of violating both criminal law and the UN Convention Against Torture. Early last year it was revealed that British authorities had been complicit in that. </p> <p>On corruption, Saudi Arabia is reviled in the British media and elsewhere for receiving arms kickbacks, but the spotlight is off where there may be guilty Britons. Britain’s Serious Fraud Office last year investigated the £43bil (RM297bil) Al-Yamamah arms deal, where British Aerospace denied any wrongdoing. </p> <p>Yet after investigators began their work, then prime minister Tony Blair put a stop to it. If guilt exists, an investigation would have identified not just Saudi individuals but also Britons, including politically connected ones. </p> <p>If there had been no corruption, why was the investigation halted when it could have proved that no party was guilty? Saudi pressure had reportedly been placed on London to stop the inquiry, but Downing Street must also have been relieved that no dirty linen had been exposed. </p> <p>All this has instilled some cynicism in the British media. There is general disbelief that Saudi Arabia had provided Britain with enough information to apprehend the 2005 bombers, as there is incredulity that Riyadh would have withheld intelligence cooperation on terrorism if Britain did not stop the arms inquiry. </p> <p>Yet what level of intelligence would be “sufficient” to motivate British authorities to take necessary action? What exactly is required for MI5 or Scotland Yard to begin unearthing further intelligence on their own, adequate for the necessary arrests? </p> <p>Tony Blair did not require much proof to start a war based on Saddam Hussein being a threat to the world “within 45 minutes.” And Prime Minister Gordon Brown isn’t asking for much verification of Iran’s “nuclear threat” before launching sanctions against Teheran. </p> <p>British critics of King Abdullah dismiss as disingenuous his criticism of British inaction over Saudi intelligence information. But Saudis may still have much to learn from their British counterparts on that score.<br> # </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://uknurse.blog.co.uk/2007/11/02/malaysian_writer_having_a_go_at_british_~3234616/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:uknurse.blog.co.uk,2007-11-01:/2007/11/01/meeting_with_ward_manager~3230307/sag722007-11-01T17:11:45+01:002007-11-01T17:11:45+01:00 <p>well, finally get to meet this ward manager of mine to discuss my `issues'. but as always, i didn't manage to let the other person know fully what was on my mind. ah well, another life experience...</p> <p>so, had this meeting which was supposed to be about my personal/professional development plan but due to me being rushed in my meeting with the ward manager, we ended up just talking for about 2 minutes which is highly undesirable really from my own point of view as i've loads to get off my chest.</p> <p>so, no prospect or prospect is not good anyway, of increasing my current hours to full time as there was no money in the pot. to be fair, i thought she tried her best and spoke to the matron on behalf of us newly qualified nurses on the ward about the posibilities of having our hours increased but hey, the usual excuse no money. it really annoys me when i remembered watching on the telly yesterday the docs protesting etc. about the possibility of no jobs to turn to and the BMA was equally supportive. and look at what RCN, UNison etc. have done for the nursing profession, us newly qualifieds who were lucky enough to get a job? albeit a part time one? and what about those still actively looking for jobs?? what have u done, RCN?? shame on u!! and u have the cheek to increase your subscription etc. boooooooooooooo!</p> <p>also, told ward manager about my interest in research. since i'm only working part time and have plenty of time in hand, thought i could get involved in research which is one of my main interests but was instead told to concentrate in getting my competencies done. well, good point except that when i looked at the competencies listed in my preceptorship booklet last time, they were the things that we had done as students and had been signed off umpteenth time!! ok, i'm more than prepared to be assessed again on my aseptic techniques etc.. bla di bla but hey, wait a minute, i need to get hold of my preceptor and where has she gone...oops holiday!! or nope, she is around but too busy to work with me (her usual excuse and worse, she would say something like `u r doing really well, no negative comments from nurses / colleagues that u worked with so far, keep up the good work that kinda good s...t) but then still no where near to pinning her down for a half an hour interview to get my competencies signed off. what the f..k!!!! what's the point of telling me how good i'm when what is important to me (apart from the patients, well, have to throw that in, don't i?) is my preceptorship booklet; if i don't get that signed, i'ven't really got much of a future in my career prospect ie. pay increment etc. , huh, ....perhaps i'm too impatient, but hey, it's my life we are talking about. i can't afford to go on holiday like you lot can while i still stay on part time band 5 Afc, got it?? </p> <p>how can i not get annoyed when people just simply don't have any regards for u, or perhaps i'm a bit harsh but what conclusion can i draw from my experience so far of trying to get my book signed off? (well, getting the book was a herculean task on its own, had to wait for 6 weeks before i get one whilst my newly qualified friends on other wards had theirs on the first week they start, just plain inconsiderate isn't it?)</p> <p>anyway, i better write the tasks that i've performed down here now before i forget; also a good piece of hard evidence that i've done quite a lot of the competencies outlined in the book whilst they were busy not signing my book!!</p> <p>dressing, aseptic technique involved<br> doing daily care plans, assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of care<br> assisted patients in eating and drinking, hygiene care - shower (assisted with bath before which i forgot to put in my entry last week or the week before)<br> controlled drugs checking/administration<br> monitoring urine output, fluid balance chart etc.</p> <p>ok, that's the things i can remember, will try and add things in this entry ...o yes, caring of IV cannulae, administration of IV infusion.</p> <p>ok, baby sitting duty soon... gotto get rid of all the swear words in my head as i'm supposed to be a good role model to kids (according to their moms) huh...</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://uknurse.blog.co.uk/2007/11/01/meeting_with_ward_manager~3230307/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:uknurse.blog.co.uk,2007-10-29:/2007/10/29/another_bout_of_winter_blues~3215043/sag722007-10-29T20:11:56+01:002007-10-29T20:11:56+01:00 <p>the clock has turned back an hour, dusk starts to dawn upon us by 5pm or 1700 according to my nursing clock. the air has inadvertently turn so wintry, that dull, gloomy atmosphere is just overwhelming...i can begin to appreciate the effect of dementors described by JKR. just so lifeless, well, maybe not quite as dramatic as that but it just sucks out all the life in me; making me lethargic, apathetic and generally tired all the time. i could have stayed in bed all day today if not for a bit of a sheer will power. it's a constant battle against this dark gloomy winter months and i really get fed up and frustrated. </p> <p>anyway, called mom and found out that today is one of the auspicious days in buddhism (to do with kuan yin boddhisatva). i'm not sure when i started to drift away from religion and start to question to relevance of religion itself at times. anyway, i shall not go into this. buddhism is probably not a religion after all, anyway, not in the theist sense or at least the roots of all evil as described by dawkins <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>o yes, i woke up in the middle of the nite, well, 0400, the time i'd probably have woken up had i got to go to work this morning but nope, it's my day off. so, i ended going online and blogged my previous post which i can't quite remember what it was about. and then got a skype msg from a friend whom i knew back when i did my first degree in malaysia. she is now in the states, it was about 10pm there. so, we had a bit of a chat and she didn't look forward to going back to malaysia in dec. she is just a bit fed up and frustrated with the current race situation in malaysia. when i enquired further, apparently, some honchos (well not the ministries this time) have been secretly telling MNCs that they've to fulfil a 30% quota of malay/bumi employees at executive level and i take it that she is not happy cos' this might mean she has got less of a chance to get a job when she goes back to malaysia. so i did my usual best, used my nursing, counselling skills to try and reassure her that with her vast experience and skills, it wouldn't be too difficult to find a job back in malaysia. and then we kinda drifted to the discussion about her unhappiness about the race relation (so it's not about her prospect of getting a job after all, ouch..) and here is an example she gave.</p> <p>a friend of hers who is a design engineer interviewed and shortlisted two candidates. one malay, first class from mara uni, and one chinese, first class from uni malaya. he wanted to employ the chinese bloke and when i asked her how did he come to that decision, i almost fell from my sofa! well, apparently this designer engineer friend of hers felt that it is more difficult to get a first class from UM than from Mara (how people draw that conclusion from, i've no idea; well, i might be a bit misleading here, lets say first class from cambridge and first class from university of loughborough :-), you get the picture). but i don't buy that kinda argument..anyway, when pointed out to her that academic achievement shouldn't be the sole yardstick for employing someone, there was a deafening silence..again i'm a bit overdramatic. but hey, i just cannot believe that things are so race tainted nowadays that people would justify employing someone by just measuring their academic abilities. what about communication skills? life experience? well, to be fair, when i did press on, my friend did say that the friend of hers thought the chinese malaysian bloke faired better in the interview. i'm not convinced that she knew about that. but the fact that she thought i'd agree with her because her friend wanted to pick a bloke who had a first from UM over another bloke who also had a first but from a different uni is just stunning...maybe i've been abroad for too long, i really dunno but if this is how people are employed in malaysia, it doesn't bode well for the future of the country. not to mention there is a hint of race in every aspect of your daily life..</p> <p>ah well, hopefully i'm doing her friend injustice by being overly critical of his selection rationale as i only received all these info second hand. </p> <p>right back to me. i'm now reading Collin Abraham's Speaking out - insights into comtemporary malaysian issues which i find refreshing and at least there is an injection of hope in this sorry state birth country of mine... </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://uknurse.blog.co.uk/2007/10/29/another_bout_of_winter_blues~3215043/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:uknurse.blog.co.uk,2007-10-29:/2007/10/29/just_the_weekend~3211251/sag722007-10-29T05:48:23+01:002007-10-29T05:48:23+01:00 <p>been busy over the weekend. but was even more busy on the ward on my last day of the week before weekend dawned upon me. but again busy with purpose. worked with this sister wannabe nurse. not one of the people i'd choose to work with if i've a choice as she behaves like she is the manager running the ward reminding me of the things i need to do etc. anyway, in the end, she was full of praises for me! if only she knows what i thought about her, hah!</p> <p>i really dread people like her becoming a ward sister eventually. she is just going to make people working with her very tensed! it's beyond my comprehension why people think this is the best way to manage people, to be bossed about? nursing is supposed to be caring, supportive but when it comes to treating your colleagues, this doesn't seem to apply to certain people, bizarre!! I sometimes wonder if i should challenge this kind of behaviour but then knowing me and from my limited amount of experience in dealing in this kinda situation, i don't think i'll do a very good job; so, i guess i'll just grit my teeth and maybe blog about it instead. yes, bit of a cowardice act :-( I really admire one of my nursing friends/colleagues who is so assertive that he would pull someone over and `have a word' with them if he thinks there is some bullying going on. bravo!! wish i could be like that, sometimes, not all the time though.</p> <p>then the weekend came and gone..</p> <p>well, did a meal for 8 adults and two toddlers <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"> was good; did a tapas-like chinese/malaysian/english meal and it seemed to go down well with my guests. the two kiddo were at their best behaviour i must say and rarely played up at all even though their moms were around. they do know when to pic the time to throw their tantrums. but theyn hey, i still love them to bits, they are the sweetest and cutest babies hehe. i'm not just being a biased parent...</p> <p>cooking for 8 + 2 apparently is quite a big feat, so i was told. i've to thank my experience of malaysian upbringing. saw huge feast during chinese new year etc. and never really saw the cok/cooks fazed by the sheer number of guests esp. if they are just the family members. i put it down to the fact that dinner/meal invitation over here is quite a formal event whereas it is less so in the east or certainly in my family back in malaysia. so, again i received lotsa praises for my `achievement' huh... i can get used to this i think. but then again before i forget, i have to thank my partner for tidying up the mess in the house and doing the once in a blue moon/only when special guests coming cleaning of the house. it's not perfect but hey, at least it is presentable, to my eye anyway. well, if my mom were here, there'll be lotsa tut-tutting around and there will be argument before the meal or after the meal cos' i'd be telling her off at some stage for not being grateful/appreciative of what i've done :-p</p> <p>digress a bit, just read this newspaper article about the death of one of the brothers of the malaysian first astronaut. not going to talk about our `space programme' nor the astronaut. well, enough critical review as well as heaps of praises on those subjects depending on which media you susbscribe to (or you could stomach rather). well, that poor chap died without regaining consciousness after a fall according to the press but what i find incredible was there was no mention about the cause of his death, well the real cause of his death. was it subdural haemorrhage etc.? not that i know a lot about head injury even though i did one of my placements on a neuro ward before but surely, people would like to know, esp the family and esp the astronaut brother who is a medical doc! i can `understand' why there is no post-mortem (well, it's just not the malaysian/muslim way- i think, not sure why; i'm probably wrong but that's the kinda impression u get). anyway, i also wonder if we've enough brain surgeon in malaysia or if there is someone who knows how to look after head injury patients! has someone been negligient, not doing their GCS on the patient, not keeping a close eye on the patient? i dunno but u would think this is what the press would want the public to know, how and why a fall in a restaurant would take away a young fit healthy life???</p> <p>anyway, back to my life, enough of my rants about the state of health care in malaysia or i might be put on the list of unwelcome guests (that is if you read malaysia today :-p) so yes, yes, back to my british life...and the long dark winter awaits...xmas is just within the horizon, not that i celebrate it in a big way but then with the kiddies now, maybe it's going to be different...but at the moment, i just want a rest, bit of peace, just be submerged in this cold dark winter months and not to be woken up just yet...</p> <p>will blog about the expanded role of nurses' in DNAR/CPR next time...</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://uknurse.blog.co.uk/2007/10/29/just_the_weekend~3211251/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:uknurse.blog.co.uk,2007-10-23:/2007/10/23/i_rest_my_case~3185319/sag722007-10-23T23:25:52+02:002007-10-23T23:25:52+02:00 <p>i try not to criticise or rather not to be too critical of the malaysian ministers but sometimes, it really leaves me wondering if there is a single brain cell left which is working when it comes to certain ministers. for eg.: just read a piece of news titled: fewer HIV cases reported and then there is the health ministry very quickly or perhaps too eagerly expressing their non-brainer conclusion that HIV cases are decreasing. what??? hello, knock knock knock!!! could it not just be because there were less people who came forward to be tested due to the stigma etc.? i rest my case when people in power came up with rubbish like that. you don't need to be very clever to even figure that one out, for goodness sake. huh...</p> <p>i don't know why i'm annoyed or even frustrated with the stupidity of that statement or analysis by the health ministry. not that it affects me directly but the fact that some people can be so dim is just beyond my comprehension especially the ministry ie. government.</p> <p>anyway, swiftly moving on before i get to bogged down with this `sensitive' subject (well, only sensitive to certain group of people)..</p> <p>been another busy day on ward. did everything by the book today so the scary bully sister didn't get a chance to pounce on new meat <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"> well, she was too busy anyway. so, it's a good day again on the ward even though it's very busy but i like it when one is busy with purpose. and i guess constant praises by the patients helped a bit too :-p. yes, i'm easily pleased. i shall not reveal what i did to get all the positive praises from all these patients, maybe next time :-p</p> <p>also, learnt about the Z technique for IM injection. heard of it before but couldn't recall what it was so, the nurse i worked with briefly explained what it entails. so now i know. but will look it up again later to see if this is the current best practise for IM injection. learnt my lesson the other day when i blindly followed what my colleague told me was the correct way to give SC clexane and it ended up with haematoma on the poor patient huh..</p> <p>right too tired now to continue with my other reflection activities on what went on the ward today. just tired after work + workout ..maybe will write more tomorrow..watch this space! (a popular quote by the ward manager in my last student placement :-p)</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://uknurse.blog.co.uk/2007/10/23/i_rest_my_case~3185319/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:uknurse.blog.co.uk,2007-10-21:/2007/10/21/what_a_day~3174219/sag722007-10-21T23:51:24+02:002007-10-21T23:54:17+02:00 <p>what a wonderful day at work today turned out to be! the `bullying' Sr wasn't working, wasn't on the ward, wasn't in charge. so, no telling off for forgetting to fill in your charts etc. what an a......e.</p> <p>it is kinda a strange day. wasn't really not feeling up to it this morning. weather was cold, it was sunny but i could feel the short day looming and my mood was pretty low in the morning to be honest. and then tried a few things on way to work, listening to a couple of CDs, then ran through my mind the things that i could do to make my life easier on the ward, remind myself to be objective about things the next time i'm told off. and then got to work and wow, what a fab day it turned out to be!</p> <p>anyway, today is perfect. the whole ward was just perfect. even patients were super duper. no problems at all! and it's fair to say it is a quiet day, yes, the `q' word is out. and all the nurses got a chance to talk to their patients and the patients really appreciated that. what a change from an understaffed, busy, Sr. breathing down your neck ward a couple of days ago.</p> <p>lets see what changed today: well to start with, there were quite a few empty beds, so, on my bay, there were only 6 patients to look after between myself and the other qualified nurse. so this anecdotal evidence really support the evidence that higher staff to patients ratio really bodes well with everyone, staff morale is high, patients are extremely satisfied, what more can i say? anyone listening out there!! i know money is always the problem, limited resource - management/financial speak but hey, what about prioritising? and i would certainly think nursing care is one of the top priorities if not the top, don't you think so, people at the top??</p> <p>anyway, also learnt a few things today with regard to nursing:<br> 1. no clexane at least 2 hrs post epidural removal - well this is obvious but it's only obvious when u think about it, i think.<br> 2. no opiods if patients are on PCA/PCEA<br> 3. can't remember the third thing i learnt now :-p</p> <p>lets hope next week is going to be better!</p> <p>o yes, a few things to note down before i forget:<br> 1. i must arrange to have a chat with the ward manager re:<br> a. my preceptorship booklet<br> b. my contract<br> c. her expectation of me etc. (am i still supernumerary? till when?)<br> d. my personal development plan (study days? courses?)<br> 2. contact Occ Health aout NHSP job</p> <p>and there are a few more things on the list which i'll list down once i get those two done.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://uknurse.blog.co.uk/2007/10/21/what_a_day~3174219/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:uknurse.blog.co.uk,2007-10-20:/2007/10/20/have_to_blog_about_rugby_world_cup~3168298/sag722007-10-20T20:25:14+02:002007-10-21T00:37:49+02:00 <p>i'm watching the world cup as i'm writing this <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"> well, hoping that england wins :-p but really wish the commentators would just shut up. they can be a tad over the top with their commentaries at times. it'll be a good game regardless.</p> <p>back to nursing, found out about contraindications for PCEA; according to the royal marsden, if opiods is given as epidural, no other systemic opiods could be even in any other routes. not sure what the reason is but perhaps respiratory depression etc. anyway, that's what i'm going to tell my preceptor when she comes back from her holiday.</p> <p>ok, finding it hard to write this while watching the telly. so, will stop this and get back to rugby proper.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://uknurse.blog.co.uk/2007/10/20/have_to_blog_about_rugby_world_cup~3168298/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:uknurse.blog.co.uk,2007-10-18:/2007/10/18/winter_is_here~3158045/sag722007-10-18T20:31:37+02:002007-10-18T20:31:37+02:00 <p>the weather is getting so cold now that there was a layer of frost on the car windsreen this morning! it's going to be a severe winter so i've been told. definitely not fancy leaving so early in the morning for work when the road is icy and frosty and then have to park miles from the hospital (can't afford the car parking charges at the hospital - yes staff have to pay to get to work! and the government has the cheek to even deny us a decent pay rise!!).</p> <p>walking in the cold, dark winter morning is definitely no fun. wonder if i can sue the hospital if i slipped on black ice??</p> <p>been off for the past few days, so nothing exciting to blog about with regard to nursing really. received my copy of NT yesterday morning. so i guess the postal thing is back to normal now. o yea, have just been told that we could check if we are on the NMC register now. will do that after blogging. knowing my luck, i'm probably not on the register yet as the NMC has probably not got my cheque etc. yet. anyway, patience...</p> <p>o yes, had a chess game this morning. it's part of the club's annual tournament cup thingy. did a rook for bishop exchange and won <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"> bit lucky but then thought i had more active pieces after the exchange anyway. and also thought i might have a bit of a psychological edge after the sacrifice :-p</p> <p>nothing on the telly; should probably do some further reading on the nursing topics that i'm not good at. actually borrowed a couple of books from the local library. it's quite a good library i think, bit of a pleasant surprise that they actually stock up to date nursing books. hurrah! three cheers to my local library.</p> <p>ok, better get back to doing some proper reading (just started on patrick gales' my lifetime - or something like that, yesterday nite and as usual, i read the end bit and then back to the middle after i've read the first couple of chapters <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"> so, i more or less know what the book is about now, lol.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://uknurse.blog.co.uk/2007/10/18/winter_is_here~3158045/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:uknurse.blog.co.uk,2007-10-16:/2007/10/16/politics_philosophy_and_nursing~3146109/sag722007-10-16T18:03:27+02:002007-10-16T18:03:27+02:00 <p>not that the three are related whatsoever in this post that i'm going to write about...just thought it's kind of interesting to say it when i hear people talk about their PPE degrees from oxford, ahem... :-p</p> <p>politics<br> well, i shan't comment too much on the british front apart from the minging old man resigning from lib dem. personally i think it's a shame and he deserves better really. i cannot see what chronicle age has got to do with someone's ability to govern but obviously the media and the british public can be a bit shallow <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"> it's a great shame really, anyway, i'll still vote for lib dem in the coming general election which will piss my partner off if word comes round to him lol.</p> <p>but hey i actually want to blog about malaysian politics in this particular post. not that i vote in malaysia, well there is an obscure law/regulation making it so difficult if not impossible for malaysians residing in foreign countries voting in GE unless you are willing to travel back to register and then go back again to cast your vote. yes, postal vote doesn't work as far as i'm aware of unless you are in the army. anyway, this is not what i want to blog about either today. </p> <p>i just couldn't believe what i read on thestar online about this `allegedly' corrupt to the core politician in selangor who just organised an open house for the eid festivals in his RM8 million mansion. well, that's £1 million folks. not that i'm jealous, well, just f"£$%^&* jealous. he was investigated earlier and cleared of illegally building this mansion in the first place (by paying the fines etc.). and i'm furious the local press, media, NGOs, ordinary people weren't as furious as they should be. what's going on for f.... sake?? how could a state assembly man afford £1 million??? how? other malaysian political bloggers questioned if he paid his income tax at all? and the sad and depressing thing is not one so called clean politician commented on this either. why?? is malaysian politics really that corrupt? it really really frustrates and angers me seeing people in power getting away with corruption and why are the public still supporting him is beyond me. you don't need an accounting degree to be able to tell that state assemblyman wage cannot possibly afford that kinda palatial mansion -16 rooms, jacuzzi, mini gold course etc.. wow...how and when did malaysian politics go down to as low as that??</p> <p>and then i couldn't sleep yesterday nite busy thinking about how on earth he still gets support from the public? o yes, before i forget this chappy name is zakaria mat deros or zak in short. </p> <p>philosophy<br> why do people support evil dictators? people who plunder, massacre? hitler et al.? how could these people garner support? i suppose not everyone is pure evil, how do you deal with people who are 30% good and 70% evil for eg.? apparently this zak guy then invited 100 orphans for a free treat and stay at his ill-gotten mansion. u think, would the orphans be grateful to him? yes of course they would. would they care that he is possibly a corrupt politician when they grow up? well i dunno frankly. perhaps some of them would, perhaps some of them might think this is how life should be? what can the public possibly get from supporting corrupted politicians? are we public really dumb?</p> <p>but then i thought about one unrelated event. the war in iraq; had a big row with partner when i found out that he actually supported tony's ridiculous idea of war/invasion to birng democracy and peace to iraq and o yes, to fight terrorism, to prevent WMD being deployed etc. i was an ardent fan of hans blik and preferred to let him finish his job first before deciding on the next course of action. and i thought this is the most logical sensible answer to the problem with saddam then but apparently not. my partner who has got a phd (just to add to the point that maybe academic achievement has nothing to do with being intelligent and sensible) was so adamant that that's the solution to the iraq problem, f!"£$%^ war!! </p> <p>i've never been through war but am intelligent enough to know that it's going to be hell for people on the street like you and me. i find it very hard to justify the use of force in any circumstances but then i'm naive, maybe that's why i become a nurse. maybe i should take up psychology and try and work out why people act and think the way they do??</p> <p>nursing<br> i should really be seriously thinking about doing a course in psychology or i'll go insane getting up at 5am on my day off thinking about why and how we could still allow and sometimes support corrupt, insane, mad, stupid people to represent us? why? why? why? how can people not be mad about the pay nurses get?? and the union accepting the government's staggered pay award and ended up with 1.9% pay increase? are they mad? are we mad in still supporting them? why aren't we boycotting? why could the postal worker union do it and we couldn't? why are we even on Afc when the medics aren't? and asking my ward manager about Afc is just as good as telling her `mama is not coming home today'....well, no, this is what i want to put forward, just like the sound of the phrase and thought i 'd throw that in and see what it looks like in that sentence :-p yes, going mad i know...how can i not??????</p> <p>maybe it's the winter blues; probably need to start having light therapy soon. not kidding. got this white lamp which seems to ease the SAD a bit but then hey, not sure if it's EBP? but what the heck, if i feel good about it and i can afford it (not that NHS will or should pay in my humble opinion), i don't see why not. just like CAM...</p> <p>now, enough said, going to badminton soon and see if i can release some of my build-up tension on the court and according to EBP (i think), the melatonin should help with the winter blues <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://uknurse.blog.co.uk/2007/10/16/politics_philosophy_and_nursing~3146109/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:uknurse.blog.co.uk,2007-10-14:/2007/10/14/weekend_in_oxford~3136341/sag722007-10-14T21:18:37+02:002007-10-14T21:18:37+02:00 <p>had about 7 games of singles badminton in oxford. was totally exhausted after. but felt good; hadn't played singles like this since y moved down to oxford. still feeling the effect of the game. feeling tired and hungry all the time. deadly combination really. when you are tired, you don't feel like doing anything but then the hunger is still there. this is the time when you think it's good to be rich, just press the buzzer and someone will come over and present you with a tasty perfect dish.</p> <p>talking about food; spent quite a bit eating out whilst in oxford. went to quod. very expensive food, pretty posh i think but then i suppose everything is a bit posh in oxford :-p had a nice walk back after.</p> <p>before leaving home this afternoon, went to the head of the river pub for a pub meal. long queue, food was ok. but quite an expensive meal too. walked along the river and it's a nice walk, with nice weather <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"> </p> <p>i think i'm writing for the sake of writing at the moment. waste of time and space...writing blog is much difficult when there is not much to write about. maybe my life is not very exciting after all.</p> <p>anyway, it's my blog, i can do whatever i like, can't i? </p> <p>back to nursing, been told to look up contra-indication for PCA/PCEA. think i'll ask some friendly colleagues for the answer <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>o yes, well done england!! looks like SA is going to be their opps in the final. it'll be nice for england to win again but then i wish the commentators could just shut up and don't go overboard with their antics. just so annoying.</p> <p>anyway, back to rugby on telly..</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://uknurse.blog.co.uk/2007/10/14/weekend_in_oxford~3136341/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:uknurse.blog.co.uk,2007-10-12:/2007/10/13/week_of_preceptorship_lost_count~3127431/sag722007-10-13T00:42:43+02:002007-10-14T20:58:42+02:00 <p>i have lost count which week this is now since i started my preceptorship. or maybe more aptly lost the will to count <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>well, things are not too bad after all i guess although i hardly spoke to the ward manager yet and i have so many things which i wanted to ask her. she did spare me a couple of minutes the other day to discuss my annual leave and ksf and afc but hey, the ward hasn't implemented the new pay scale yet so, no ksf. wonder if that will affect my salary now when i finish my preceptorship eventually.</p> <p>i'm so tired. worked long day on the ward. up since 5am and then played in a badminton match after 9 hrs work and i'm shattered. didn't win any games. feel abit sorry for my new partner. he must think i'm crap in the game lol. i was ust so out of focus and just wished that the game ended quickly really. can't be arsed <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"> nah, it's not true. i did try and my partner kept making mistakes and serving into the net! and with the new point scoring system, that's just disastrous as every point counts!!</p> <p>i'm grumpy, cos' lack of sleep, lack of rest. shouldn't have agreed to the badminton match really but then was told that they couldn't find anyone...pathetic or what :-p oooo, i'm real mardy...</p> <p>thought i felt better after talking to my sister on skype. it's great cos' it's free (well in a way).</p> <p>right before i signed off, i thought i ought to recount what i did on the ward. </p> <p>drug round, obs, care plans, and o yes, did a toe to knee bandaging. hope the bandage stays till tomorrow. remember when i did my community placement, did a bandage on this old gentleman and it dropped off and this lovely old couple panicked and started contacting the evening DN team! huh :-o</p> <p>and was told off well, maybe not, a bit of good advice from Sr. xxx (one of the sisters who insisted on being called a sister, i think, well didn't dare to go against the norm <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"> about being extra vigilant on hourly fluid balance chart. well, i did wonder if she was just picking on me cos' i was working with another nurse and i didn't see the other nurse got told off. i was probably just being sensitive, i'm sure the Sr meant well :-p to my defence, they were thinking of taking the catheter out for that particular patient in the handover, so it's just logical not to be too `worked up' about the fluid balance chart. anyway, i just kept my elegant silent, no i lied. i actually nodded to the Sr and took in what she said and told her ok, (i'll pay more attention to the hourly fluid balance chart). i do think she meant well coming to think of it and not just picking on me cos' i'm new :-p</p> <p>anyway, it doesn't matter, i feel better about myself today on the ward. trying to imagine how i'd cope if i were to be left on my own to look after a team of patients. i think i could just about cope :-p i know some friends of mine are a bit worried about being left on their own. i actually think it's a good way to learn as long as patients' safety and wellbeing is not compromised (had to throw that in, don't I :-)</p> <p>o, dear, it has turn out to be much longer than expected post. </p> <p>ok, that's it. stop writing now.....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://uknurse.blog.co.uk/2007/10/13/week_of_preceptorship_lost_count~3127431/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:uknurse.blog.co.uk,2007-10-11:/2007/10/11/letter_from_son_to_mom~3120423/sag722007-10-11T17:37:50+02:002007-10-11T17:37:50+02:00 <p>#<br> "Hi mom</p> <p>thanks very much for the message. it's great to hear from you and that you are more used to the email technology now <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>i'm sorry if i've caused you undue upset when you were here. i cannot apologise enough for my outburst but i think i've explained to you the reasons and the misunderstanding.</p> <p>i'm afraid i'm pretty sensitive and i don't take criticism easily. I'll try and take your `jokes' in a more light hearted way next time <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>i don't think you need to worry about my friends as they are all too polite to criticise me. hehe. i think i'm so used to being away from you and other relatives who are more outspoken and less subtle. so it takes some getting use to when talking to you. as i've said before, my friends and the people i know are all much too polite although there are a few that can be a little bit abrupt sometimes <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>one thing which i'd like to point out to you though is that you need not `give in' to us and there is nothing for you to `give in' to either when it comes to our lives i'm afraid. i know you might not like to hear this but all of us have our own families and lives now and i'm afraid you'll have to accept that whether you like it or not. i wish i could put this in a less direct manner. </p> <p>you and dad have done marvellous job in raising all of us and i think you should try and enjoy your `reward' now <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"> you should sit back and relax and let us do the hard work and stop worrying about us. pls remember that it's our lives now, not yours, not daddy's. we choose to lead our own way of life whether it's to or not to your liking. my advice again is sit back and relax and reliquish your parental responsibilities. you can let go now (of being a parent to us). i think (i might be wrong) that you'd be much happier if you see us as your good friends now than trying to still `parent' us i.e. telling us what is right or wrong or what needs to be done etc. remember, it's our lives, and how we lead our lives (rightly or wrongly in your opinion) is still our lives. </p> <p>of course i'm not asking you to be just our friends, but our very special friends. someone who will not desert us when we make mistakes, when we are in trouble etc. and someone who is constantly there and around when we need them. that's the kind of friends that i'm talking about before you start thinking i'm asking you to abandon us as parents hehehe...you can't get rid of us so easily just yet <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"> maybe what i'm asking is for you to change your parenting style now that we've all had our own opinions about things, own way of life etc. before i get too philosophical (well, i'm a doctor in philosophy after all :-p), i just wanted to say that not everything is black and white or right and wrong in this world, dearest mommy <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>whether you are conservative or liberal is not a problem with me (or my sister or brother i think <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0">. everyone is entitled to their own values and opinions. it only becomes a problem when we try to impose our values and opinions on other people. again, going back to the fact that not everything is right or wrong /white and black, what you think is right might not be so with other people and vice versa. i'm sure you know this but you probably need to realise that your children (now all with their families) have their own values and opinions which might differ from you. there is of course room for discussion/debate but pls don't be disappointed or hurt if we don't share your values or opinions. this is the way of life; we are only going to make ourselves unhappy if we cannot accept that there will be times when people just simply refuse to agree with us (no matter how right we think we are!)</p> <p>i don't think either myself or my sister or my brother doubted your love. so don't worry about that. remember we are parents now ourselves! we know how you feel :-p </p> <p>ok, i think i better stop here before you think i'm going to start another round of lecture with you. my experience tells me that when you think that i'm starting my lecture, it's not very likely that you'll take in what i say hehe...</p> <p>so, till another lecture, oops...time</p> <p>take care and lotsa love"</p> <p># </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://uknurse.blog.co.uk/2007/10/11/letter_from_son_to_mom~3120423/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:uknurse.blog.co.uk,2007-10-07:/2007/10/07/my_make_as_you_go_along_list_of_job_desc~3100516/sag722007-10-07T23:33:00+02:002007-10-07T23:33:00+02:00 <p>morning routine:</p> <p>handover<br> get patients out of bed etc.<br> obs, BM etc. - delegate to HCAs (?)<br> drug round (not allowed to do it without supervision yet)<br> prioritise: 1) who is going to theatre, get them ready (shower/wash, theatre checklist etc.)<br> 2) rest of patients - eating/drinking, hygiene/washing etc., change beds - delegate to HCAs (?)</p> <p>coffee break <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>wound dressing<br> getting updates about patients from ward round<br> any discharges, TTO, DN referrals<br> filling in bits and bobs; care plans, all sorts of paperwork eg moving and handling, waterlow (if daily)</p> <p>afternoon routine:</p> <p>patients lunch - any help with eating and drinking - delegate (?)<br> lunch break (if long day)</p> <p>patients siesta<br> writing up nursing notes</p> <p>home (if short day)</p> <p>visiting hour</p> <p>carry on with the above tasks eg. preparing patients for theatre (afternoon list), more wound dressing, drug round, care plans cont', talking to relatives/patients etc.</p> <p>home (long day)</p> <p>n.b. other things to do throughout the day: updating fluid balance chart (possible delegate), putting up IV, pain assessment/control, nausea/vomitting assessment/medication etc., CD checking etc., answering buzzers, getting doctors to write up drug card etc.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://uknurse.blog.co.uk/2007/10/07/my_make_as_you_go_along_list_of_job_desc~3100516/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:uknurse.blog.co.uk,2007-10-07:/2007/10/07/3rd_week_of_preceptorship~3100169/sag722007-10-07T22:08:55+02:002007-10-07T22:08:55+02:00 <p>Did not get to finish Dawkin's book. The book couldn't be renewed and had to go back to the library as someone had requested it. ah well..</p> <p>on the work front, things seem to be getting better at times. yesterday was very busy. buzzers were going all the time towards the evening and i think i'm begining to suss out where things are etc. and the nurse that i was down to work with had started to trust me and let me do things <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>one of the things that came out of the training session i had with my preceptor the other day was checking BM. i hadn't realised that you are not supposed to put pressure on the thumb before taking blood from the patient, i.e. no squeezing as that would damage the capilaries and hence affecting the blood sugar result (?); not sure how true this is but it sort of make sense so, now, i've changed my practice <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>i've also started doing discharges, DN referrals and care plans for the patients. so i'm feeling a bit more like part of the team now.</p> <p>i also learnt some new stuff recently:<br> Whipple procedure = pancreoduodenotomy<br> ITP = idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://uknurse.blog.co.uk/2007/10/07/3rd_week_of_preceptorship~3100169/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:uknurse.blog.co.uk,2007-09-28:/2007/09/28/return_to_normality~3054467/sag722007-09-28T17:40:44+02:002007-09-28T17:40:44+02:00 <p>2nd week of my preceptorship proved to be a total different experience altogether from the first week of disorganisation. Partly because i was signed off for IVI pump which means i can now go near the IV drip stand and touch the IVI pump without someone screaming down my neck! anyway, it's progress nevertheless and i did feel that this is what should've happened on my first day on the ward.</p> <p>one thing which still concerns me gravely is this constant talk about the possiblity of not being able to finish my preceptorship in 6 months and that it could go on for a year. what is going on here? before we accepted the job, we were told that the preceptorship is going to be 6 months and now the goal post apparently could be shifted depending on who knows what. </p> <p>again i shall stay positive and keep my fingers crossed that everything will fall into place eventually.</p> <p>so, a quick update on what happened on the second week: a good overall induction on the surgeries performed on the ward, the nursing care involved and a quick retraining of taking blood sugar/BM, changing IV fluid involving the use of the IV pump; we are also now encouraged to do drug rounds with the other qualified nurses for our coming drug assessment which again i'm not quite sure what it entails.</p> <p>putting nursing aside, i've just started on richard dawkins' god's delusion. the first couple of chapters have been pretty interesting and i've also found a blog article critiquing the book. i think i'm going to be pretty much occupied for the next few weeks.</p> <p>there is also a long list of to do things: eg. reading up on the drugs for the drug assessment, looking up royal marsden on a few procedures including taking of BM (not trying to challenge what i was told the other day but just curious about certain things mentioned), tidying up the books/files on desk and on desktop <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>i've renewed my rcn membership which cost me £90 and booked myself an appointment with occupational health. </p> <p>o yes, adding to my to do list is to sort out my application with NHS professional for bank work. and also writing up an article for publication. huh.....at least i'm keeping myself busy and that will hopefully make me think less about how disorganised this whole preceptorship thing has been.</p> <p>hopefully life will eventually return to normality...</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://uknurse.blog.co.uk/2007/09/28/return_to_normality~3054467/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:uknurse.blog.co.uk,2007-09-25:/2007/09/25/2nd_week_of_preceptorship~3036546/sag722007-09-25T12:07:39+02:002007-09-25T18:23:04+02:00 <p>yesterday was the first day of the 2nd week of my nurse preceptorship and it turned out to be much better than the first week. so, i feel a bit calmer now. but then to write on this blog, u really need to get pissed off which was my motivation to start this blog last week. but then i guessed i could do a list of the things i do during my nurse preceptorship and maybe upon `reflection', i could learn something??</p> <p>day 1 of nurse preceptorship<br> daily obs<br> observing wound dressing (not allowed remember!!)</p> <p>day 2<br> daily obs<br> BM</p> <p>day 3<br> doing wound dressing on my own (hurray!! - isn't this sad?)<br> daily obs<br> BM</p> <p>and yes, escorting patients to and from wherever they need to go or come back from where they need a member of the qualified staff (just in case they crash i suppose - i might be wrong and stand to be corrected, no one told me this but i work this trust policy out myself, lol). anyway, if this is the case which i'm sure it is then how on earth will i, a menial newly qualified nurse preceptee, who is not allowed yet to touch a bag of IV fluid, be able to save a patient who crashes?? can't the porter press the red buzzer or call out for help? or have they found out by evidence based practice that newly qualfieds have got better lungs and they can call out louder?!</p> <p>anyway, i shouldn't start; let me just focus on what is positive from all these <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>2nd week first day was great. since it was so f.....g busy, (yesssssss), i could `steal' the care of patients from the iron grip of the nurse in charge and look after a bay of patients hehe. although i'm still not able to do most things but at least, i know who the patients are and could make them a cup of tea and do some discharges, preparing patients for theatre etc. which kinda make my day really. so, all is not lost and i look for a better tmr!</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://uknurse.blog.co.uk/2007/09/25/2nd_week_of_preceptorship~3036546/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:uknurse.blog.co.uk,2007-09-22:/2007/09/22/first_blog~3020468/sag722007-09-22T01:35:40+02:002007-09-22T01:35:40+02:00 <p>been thinking about blogging for a while. but wasn't sufficiently motivated enough to create one let alone write one.</p> <p>but after my first week working with the NHS, i felt like i suddenly had so much to get out of my chest. from the trust to the ward, everything seems to be so disorganised and chaotic. if i were paranoid schizophrenic, would have thought the whole world is conspiring against me since the day i got the letter from my trust HR offering me a job.</p> <p>and what the heck is this 6 months nurse preceptorship? why can't they do it properly during our nurse training? from speaking to my fellow students from the same cohort who have got jobs on various wards, the preceptorship training is so arbitrary, so random. the kind of training you get during your preceptorship depends on the ward you go to and i must say so far i'm far from impressed by the way my preceptorship training is going. is this like a postcode lottery thingy? tough if u go to a ward that is so disorganised about their preceptorship training!!</p> <p>i feel like swearing now. can i swear on my own blog!? !"£$%^&*%^&*()*&^%$</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://uknurse.blog.co.uk/2007/09/22/first_blog~3020468/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>