The following day, Jia was on her morning shift again as a trainee. She was already assigned to two or three patients under the supervision of a nurse trainor. When there was nothing to do yet, she would also help with the rest of the patients assigned to her senior nurse..
She was preparing the medications when Jim came in for his morning round. She just glanced at him and held his gaze for few seconds and went ahead. All nurses went crazy again behind his back, making her so amused. She glanced at them then to Jim who was focused on reviewing the chart. That was such a humorous scene!
After having prepared all the medications for the hour, her senior nurse asked her to go ahead while she was still finishing on something. Having a medicine tray in her hand, she walked past Jim who was also about to stand up to start his patient round. Perhaps, she was too close to him that when he stood up, he slightly bumped into her shoulder that sent the medicine tray to the floor!
Startled, she just stood up motionless. Only when her senior nurse came in, did she came back to her senses. With hands quivering, she hurriedly gathered the medications back, only to find a broken vial!
"Miss Jia, that is so expensive! That is the most expensive antibiotics our doctors are giving to our patients so far!"
"Can I pay it in installments? " Jia replied, obviously trembling inside.
Jim did not look at her. He knew she was so scared. "Miss Cathy.. "
"Yes, doc? "
"Can you please charge that antibiotics to my account? Just please inform the pharmacist. "
Jim spoke so calmly as if it was just a petty thing. He turned to Jia and placed an arm around her shoulder to calm her. Jia looked up at him with guilt.
"I'm sorry. I was not so careful." She apologized softly.
"No need to worry." He replied with a pursed smile and sparkling eyes.
The rest of the nurses stared at them in disbelief. Dr. Jim rescued Miss Jia? And he placed an arm over her shoulders? He would not mind the cost charged to him?
"Why can't it be me?" One nurse complained in a hushed voice.
"Next time I will also break a
vial! " Another nurse replied in a whisper.
"Yes, me, too so that he will also hug me. "Another nurse butted in a very low tone.
Jim always knew about their commotion but he completely ignored them.
Suddenly, a woman came running to the nurses' station.
"Nurse! Nurse! Help! " The woman was already in hysteria.
The nurses went out flying to the patient's room. Seeing their 70 years old, unresponsive male patient, who was already cyanotic and had diated pupils, they immediately checked for pulses and the rest of the vital signs.
Some pushed over the emergency cart and kits, laid out the intubation set , suction machine, cardiac monitor and everything else. Emergency medications started. And before the code blue team arrived, Dr. Jim had already swiftly and efficiently took over the intubation together with the assistance of the nurses.
Afterwards, the nurses praised Dr. Jim for his swiftness but calm attitude. Everything was harmoniously and immediately carried out because of his non - intimidating presence in emergency cases like this.
Some doctors would be so tensed up in situations such as this that they would be shouting orders and curses towards those who were around resulting in a disorganized manner of carrying out the intervention.
However, no matter how well they carried out the life saving measures, the patient was not able to make it.
He was only revived for less than an hour but his condition deteriorated in the following minutes until he was already beyond any rescue.
Everyone was sad. The patient had been admitted for already past a month and the nurses were already attached emotionally to him.
While Jim talked to the family, he watched Jia helping her senior nurse and the nurse assistant in doing post - mortem care. He watched her pulled out some sheets. He saw her changing diaper and gown and he saw her helping in placing the expired patient into the body bag.
Minutes later, they were all back to the station. They all sat down to relax for a while but Jia hurried away to get out and take the vital signs of their other patients. Her hair was in a mess already and her face became oily and sweaty.
All these did not escape from the eyes of Jim who intentionally delayed his stay in the nurses' station. His heart sank. Yesterday, she had not eaten her meal and today, she was running all around. How much more if she will be given the full load of patients the moment her training would end?
Finding a chance to talk to her, he said, "Jia, write a resignation letter right now. I'll take you home! "
Jia's eyes widened in disbelief.