God’s Baby

“It takes a whole village to raise a child”

My peace of mind has been disturbed for the past few days by the news, “Mother detained for abandoning new born” given in BBS and Kuensel, 8/8/2014 and 13/8/2014 subsequently. I am sure everybody must have just asked the question “how could she do that?” and with the time this too shall pass.  I am sure this is not the first case and it is certainly not going to be the last either. If I am not mistaken I remember some papers run down the similar story that happen in Samtse, perhaps around this time last year but I don’t have the document support my claim. It becomes more disturbing to hear that mothers instead of getting the postnatal care, she is being arrested………….

As a mother, nurse and as a responsible concerned fellow citizen, I can imagine the situation and circumstances that the lady must have undergone. Even with lots of support from husband and family members, going through pregnancy and giving birth is not at all easy. It is not the incapacity of the mother that has forced to walk away from the baby but the circumstances and the social stigma attached to giving birth to an illegitimate baby. If for a normal wanted pregnancy, this mother would have got the entire medical care and lots pampering from the family members.

It is not the mother who is ignorant but the society has pretended to remain deaf and dumb. We know that it takes nine months to give birth to a fully grown baby. I just can’t imagine why the neighbors and relatives ignored the physiological changes that must have indicated that she is expecting. What happened to the father of that baby? How can he be ignored? I hope someday we will know what happened to him too. We cannot afford to let her face the consequences alone. Perpetrators should be punished too. Though, in this story that baby has become the gift of God to someone and as well as lucky for the baby, I only wish that mother also receives the due care like any other nursing mothers.

Reflection of a Nurse II

“Patient can’t Micturate, please doctor come and Micturate”

Nurse on Duty

Guess what???

This was a message written by a Nurse in distress to a doctor on call in ‘Call Book’ probably in late 1970s. It was during those times when there are no lane phones, forget about mobiles and pagers. Whenever there was problem with the patients or their conditions deteriorates, the nurse used to scribble on the Call Book and send the ward-boy to doctors quarters. When my seniors narrated me the about story, I used to laugh my gut out but not anymore because I feel pity imagining the circumstances of both the patient and nurse.

The situation was more or less similar even when I joined as a full-fledged nurse in 1999. There were power cuts without informing the hospital and in the ICU, we have to start doing manual mask- bagging to the patients who required ventilators, and sending call book was still in practice. Night shifts were very long seven nights and only one nurse for thirty two patients in all units and students used to be Bonus for us as a staff.

Facilities were comparatively less those days, I hardly remember heaters in the duty rooms, so night duty means, abdomen distension, nausea and we used to feed ourselves with lots of antacids and dyclomine to ease our distension. Those circumstances conditioned us to relax while standing and get a night’s sleep sitting on cold small stool (that too if no admissions during night and lucky if there no attention seeking patients and attendants, otherwise you will be torn apart between doctors and them…..)

When I look back, the situation in every front is better. We are much in advance in term of work environment, technology and in terms of human resources. Night shift is decrease to almost two nights only, doctors can be easily reached, and cases can be discussed with much freedom, also we can call our more competent staff quickly according to the need. As I look into the future I can see many rays of hopes for better patient care and social support for the nurses as well…….Until such time we need to keep working hard.

Where are we and where are we going?

I attended a “National workshop on strategic direction for strengthening nursing and midwifery development” recently, and believe me; I am seeing this large group of nurses for the first time. I definitely felt lucky to be part of that gathering. Besides, the actual mandate of the workshop, I personally felt it was like a “family reunion”, a forum that gave us opportunity to renew the relationships of ‘Teachers and students’, catch up with friends, greet and respect our seniors and make new friends. I never felt happier than this occasion before…..

From that gathering I am of the opinion that we have been very much aware of the magnitude and the seriousness of the issues pertaining to Nursing and Midwifery; and it was during these two days of workshop we discussed in good spirit of professionals and quality nursing care services, with opened minds, mutual respect and with tolerance to the diversity of views. We learned so much form one another.  We engaged in constructive group work, shared our experiences, insights, concerns, expectations and hopes.

From all this experiences, I strongly believe that “Nursing and midwifery” has already taken its rightful place in the Health care system. This workshop also gave us opportunity to delve into the time of conception of modern medicine Bhutan and the time where village girls being trained in the matron’s offices to fulfill the role of a nurse to – until this day where nurses are earning PhD. Nobody can deny the fact that nurses have actively and persistently worked towards providing, ‘quality health services’ to our fellow citizens. This has been our greatest task and noblest goals that we perused and will continue to do so.  

Therefore, bounded by collective interest, shared destiny and common challenges, we will have to demand ourselves the same distinction in carrying out the responsibilities, in the profession we practice in fulfilling the needs and aspirations of our people, towards building a “happy and healthy nation”……….. with all these experiences, “A zero draft on “National workshop on strategic direction for strengthening nursing and midwifery development” was born.

(Why Nurse shouldn’t stop talking, Part I)

 

Namcha and Doring

Normal day in the hospital, amongst hustle and bustle, lot of commotion, staff brushing shoulders with each other, patients in agony, attendants moving in and out of hospital in the simplest pretext. Amidst all these, our ambulance arrived in the parking with case of ‘retained placenta’. We immediately shifted the patient to delivery room and assessed and I was shocked to see that the cord was tied to a stone like structure and someone said it is called Namcha and Doring. I still now don’t know in which language but the principle behind that is to pull the cord outside or to prevent from cord stump from receding back to uterus. (Picture can be posted upon viewer’s request). We all will agree that 50% of our time is gone talking to these people and trying to educate on safe practices if not advising them on compulsory institutional deliveries, yet, there are people like these people who would opt to do things as they believe.

And I came across a case where the cord stump was tied to a small wooden peg where the cows are tied (in sharchop we call it Phur). It may sound funny and unbelievable but I have seen these. So, occasion such as these indicates that Nurses shouldn’t stop talking on health issues, till our communities practices only the ‘safe practices’ to stay healthy.

Am I destined only to be a Senior Nurse ?

I am worried as I see each day flying out of the window only to get one more day older. These days I was able to see my own future, not getting anywhere as a nurse......and each second the question crops up, "where did we failed as a nurse?", This question is not the byproduct of my ambitious thoughts but the result of my hard-work and sincerity each day. It hurts me not that I aim for something higher in life but I feel for my Junior friends as they will also become simply the senior nurse........

Anyway, these thought is not going to deter my hard-work for the betterment of our people who comes to avail our services. I will work with utmost sincerity and make sure that the people who comes across me goes back home satisfied and regains their health optimally.