After working consecutive nights, it's time for me to share my experience. Actually, I think I sprinkled it in between in a few posts but ah well, I'll put it up here properly.
Working in the ward, you don't feel scared because the whole place is bright and you have your work colleagues with you, not to mention your patients. I'm not sure about now, but I heard that the current night shifts make the beds and do the bed sponging to avoid the morning shifts being overwhelmed by their duties, I don't know. That's what I heard. During my time, we update the night reports, check on our patients every 2 hours, check the DDA cabinet, update the inventory if needed...
The first few days, I'm not going to lie, was hellish. People claimed I was being paranoid, or worst, as a writer you are over imaginative. I wish, but this is the one time I was rightfully pissed off. The place was located in an isolated area, where it is tucked in a little isolated corner, where no one can hear you scream or hear you call for help. When the place was announced, to be honest, I was pretty freaked out. If we are talking about office hours, it's fine, but 24 hours, Good God in heaven.
Look, Miss Rona had impacted all of our lives, like it or not, she is here to stay for the next two years, according to most medical experts. Who knows? Regarding the vaccines, we have plenty of phone calls regarding it, but seriously, let's just be honest here. Even if it comes, you can't even get it because the Ministry of Health said it is to be given to those with the highest priorities. You can't just waltz in and demand for it, furthermore, there is no further news from the Ministry of Health or the WHO, so until then, stop speculating. When it comes, it comes. You're probably thinking what does the previous statement is all about. Well, everyone is struggling to keep their jobs, and some were unfortunate. Humans being humans, we do what we can to survive. A wise doctor once told me there are two ways to survive: Legally or illegally. The first option is we do things by the law and work hard, the second option needs no explanation. People will do what they can to survive, and this is a fact. Working alone is never a good thing. The main issue as I pointed out was, should anything happen to me, no one will know till the next morning. I did a morbid joke on how I may be gone the next day and got an earful from my family for being insensitive. Yeah, it is pretty morbid. The simple short fact is you need backups in the event of an emergency, or say you need to go somewhere for a while. At least someone is aware of where you went. There is an event where I nearly got stuck in a washroom during the graveyard hours because, naïve fool I was, I assumed the washroom is just next door so I just went there. I didn't realized the lock had a problem to the point where I spent nearly fifteen minutes twisting and turning the lock till I'm able to unlock. By the way, at that time, my battery was nearly dying (I finished my power bank battery at that time, so from that day on, I made sure to carry a cable and adapter, along with an extra power bank with me). And I didn't know who to call, and there's no point hammering the door because I don't think anyone could hear me, so....Note to self, never assume.
Being a horror writer, people poked fun at me for being scared of ghosts. I am NOT scared of ghosts. I'm scared of someone sneaking up on me from behind and knocking me out cold, or garrote me, I don't know. Worse scenario, the R word. So stop saying I'm scared of ghosts. Of course people will often make light of the subject because it has never happened, but didn't we all learn by now: Better to prevent the things from happening before it happen. Once it happens, are you going to blame the victim for the thing that happened? It really made me furious to think that my safety was being played like a deck of cards. I had to fight to make sure that there are lights on 24 hours and a guard to occasionally check on us because at least I will feel a little safer than being isolated in a pitch dark isolated area. I was the first person among us to do night shift, if I don't fight now, what would happen to my colleagues who will be taking over? It's not fair to them. Don't endanger our lives just because things haven't happen yet. And as I have often stressed, it doesn't matter who you are: young or old, male or female, the moment you are an easy target, people will attack you when you least expect it. My friend was a victim of a snatch theft this year even though she wasn't dressed up for a dinner party. She was wearing T-shirt, shorts, slippers and carried those typical sling bags that isn't a designer label, but because she let her guard down momentarily, her bag got snatched. Of course she made light of the situation saying she didn't had a lot of money on hand but it is traumatizing. Who wouldn't be? I'll probably be in shock or something. This is why we need to stay vigilant at all times, and don't go out alone. Go with a partner at least.
So yes, I sounded frustrated and furious, but there's nothing I could do but wander to a place where I could be safe. Don't worry, when you work in the hospital, you will be able to find places that will have people. I avoid the wards because I do not want to get mistaken for a ward staff and end up running all over the place for no reason. That's just me, but some people are so brave to sit up there alone. Oh, in case you're wondering, yes I am working the graveyard shift on a Christmas day, so no Christmas dinner for me. It's okay though, Christmas for me has always been the same. Rest, read, write. I usually listen to modern versions of Christmas songs such as Aly and AJ's Jingle Bells Rock, Jesse McCartney's One Way or Another, Hilary Duff's Santa Claus Lane and Last Christmas, notable mention goes to Dr Teeth and the Electric Mayhem's Jingle Bells medley, oh and throw in Jeff Dunham's Jingle Bombs and maybe a couple of commentary channels roasting Christmas stuff (I'm old school). I would've love to go out with my friend, but we are working adults now, and I do not want to give my friends whatever I may have. Hospital colleagues are fine with me, but for my outside friends, I'm scared for them, because I don't know if I may have Miss Rona because it is asymptomatic. The doctors said they may have it, I may have it, the only way to be sure is to do a swab test. None of that rapid test please. I've seen some people claiming that the rapid test is efficient, but most hospitals agreed that a proper Covid test results should take up at least 24 hours minimum to 48 hours.
On that note, God bless ye, Merry Hippogriff.
*Today's case: 1,247 (Please, let next year be a good year)
