On a unfortunate Friday,
A patient passed on. Our deepest condolences were given to the grieving members of his family.
Time was given to allow the family members to see him for the last time before we sponge him and re-dress him.
Then there came this undertaker who raised his voice at me claiming that taking too long to prepare the ccod.
(So is it so that i shld walk up to the grieving wife and ask for the ic immediately when she arrived).
Barely 15mins i got the ccod ready, passed it to the pt's wife and instructed her on the proceedings.
The undertaker interrupted my conversation and said....
"Enough enough! I know what to do! Just gimme the stuffs and stop wasting my time"
Following that, i was approached by one of the relatives who requested to give them another 10mins before cleaning as pt's brother is already rushing here and arriving soon.
In all due respect and empathy, we waited.
The undertaker rang up from the mortuary. With his raised voice he said:" EXCUSE ME! CAN YOU STOP WASTING MY TIME HERE, I'VE GOT LOTS OF THINGS TO DO AND WE ARE ALL WAITING HERE TO CLAIM THE BODY!!! GO BOOK THE PORTER AND SEND THE BODY DOWN!!!'
I was horribly mad but tried to explain that we need to clean patient, remove all the tubes, re-dress the wounds and put on his own clothes for him. Respect and dignity u dunno?!!
He den replied:" don't bother lah!!! We've got ppl to do that later, i got a lot of things to do u better hurry up! And for now u tell me how long do i have to wait?!!!! Nurse rite you!!! What's your name!! I wanna complain u!!"
I gave him my name and told him that he can go complain all he want. I added...
This is the difference.. I'm a NURSE... you are the UNDERTAKER. We work with our heart but for you, its just your JOB. And this applies for you only. I've never seen such an undertaker before!! You have no sympathy and respect for the patient and family. He is my patient. For you its just another body.
Ultimate major despise! Pui!*
If you think we only take verbal abuse from patients and family? Nope, you are wrong......
We get it from EVERYBODY.
That does not mean i will give in to you.
*p.s.: choice of words are heavily filtered here. The words that he used on me were much worst.
ANONYMOUS NURSE
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