The World Of Tzu Chi December 2019 (Vol.117)

2019 • 12 52 umanistic Medicine Translated by Lim Wen Xin AHeart-warming Gesture of Gratitude W hat comes to mind at the mention of the word “nurse”? A doctor’s trusty assistant? Or a humble helper whose role is to clean up after patients? As a nurse working in the High Dependency Unit (HDU), my job includes handling various types of medical equipment and medications, as well as attending to patients suffering from various diseases at irregular work shifts. We are also confronted with matters of life and death on a regular basis. I recall one afternoon when my colleague who had just completed her morning shift complained to me about a stubbornly uncooperative elderly patient. The patient in question was a 70-year-old senior who gasped for air as he spoke; his airways were filled with phlegm, emitting a gurgling sound. As nurses, we knew all too well that immediate action had to be taken to clear his blocked airways to prevent breathing difficulties. “Good afternoon,” I greeted the elderly patient as I approached his bed. He instantly shouted in response, “Leave me alone! I’d rather die than suffer being held down for my phlegm to be cleared!” As he ranted on, I remained silent. While I understood my colleagues’ well-meaning intentions to treat the patient, I found their attempt to pin down an old man unacceptable. I felt bad and truly sympathized with him. I attempted to persuade the patient in both Mandarin and a smattering of Cantonese Deep down inside my heart, I am grateful to the elderly patient for his heart-warming gesture – a timely reminder to us nursing staff of the importance of taking the time to listen to our patients. to allow us to drain the phlegm to ease his breathing. I gave him time to reconsider, but my pleas were met with a cold shoulder. I persisted, but this resulted in me receiving another earful from him. For the rest of my shift, my mind was preoccupied with his condition, even as I had to attend to other patients. When I finally had the chance to meet his family before dinnertime, I appealed to them for support. Together, we coaxed and cajoled the obstinate patient, who eventually relented. With much patience and care, I managed to drain a mass of phlegm from his airways. We were over the moon and felt a great sense of relief. After the phlegm had been siphoned out, the patient’s oxygen level reading returned to 100 percent, indicating that his respiratory functions were in top form. I asked him how he felt. He appeared hesitant to set aside his stubborn pride, replying sullenly that he felt only slightly better. Meanwhile, his family thanked me profusely. The patient soon regained his appetite, and was now able to speak and breathe unobstructed. Once this case was out of the way, I heaved a sigh of relief as I was finally free to turn my attention to other patients. As my shift was about to end, the patient rang the bell and insisted on seeing me. A thought came to mind: Is he about to berate me now that his family has gone home? I’ve done no wrong. There’s no reason to fear. I braced myself and arrived at the side of his bed.