Gloomy weather for the rest of the day this week and so do my mood is. To lift my state of my mind I kept on replaying the video of Coldplay in collaboration with Queen Bey singing Hymn for the Weekend. I find the RnB beat and the message of the song both interesting. One of the song’s line says, “LIFE IS A DRINK and LOVE IS A DRUG. Oh yeah, definitely life is drink but it will depend on you what fluid will you take in be it the irresistibly sweet one or the bitter taste which can make you go crazy to forget everything after letting your body savour its powerful spirit. Choose!
Immersing oneself to a new work environment is like a mixture of both bitter and sweet drink shots with the effect of getting high on your hopes but at the same time, it brings so much pressure. Have you gone to a phase when you have to start from the beginning again? I’m sure you did because that’s the main driving force of life. That’s what we call CHANGE.
The other day at work, I was moving around the ward for almost the entire shift of twelve hours and I didn’t notice it not until I was already snuggling under my thick blanket in my bedroom with my feet awfully aching. My body was tired but my mind was still racing trying to understand every bit of learnings I had.
It was not a good day to be honest. So many flaws to correct, got a lot of requests delayed and the list continues. What else could go wrong? Nearly I was at the edge of my tether to break down. Had a chat with a nurse friend generously sending me his encouragement not to let a day of disarray weakens my optimism to pursue my dreams. Thank you. You know who you are.
What exactly made me upset that day? Rushing to learn things without giving myself a little room to spare to catch up. I’m a no expert to their practice here and I should accept that I am a NOVICE. A beginners’mind is what I am supposed to keep in thought. A mind free from prejudice expecting anything more than what I am capable of.
Continue learning as we age. Learning doesn’t stop after we finish our degree. Of course, you do know that. How to cope then to a new routine?
- Started asking questions to my seniors on their process not minding if my question did make sense or not. One of the office clerks approached me and said, “Michelle your patient’s husband called informing he will be coming half past six.” Because I was on selective listening and not getting the keyword HUSBAND, I asked the clerk, “What was the name of the caller again,sorry?” She said with a blank face, “Mr Smith (not a real name) probably as the husband.” Silly I know but at least I had clarified it who was calling. wink
- Read every bit of details. Some of the medications in our ward are something I am not familiar with. I keep those empty boxes with drug insert on them to read the drug indication and all important information. Starting to familiarize common prescribed drugs in our ward is helpful especially if patients will start questioning you about the tablets you’re giving.
- Learn from experience. I‘ve learned so much on all those procedures done on that day. Will remember the flaws so I won’t make it the second time around. Never let failure stop you in doing it again. Nobody is perfect. If you believe you are perfect then you must be coming from planet Namek of Dragon Ball Z.
It is still a long way of learning for me. My journey as a novice is just starting to unfold. Let yours begin as well with patience.
Mich
