1982, Changi Hospital @ 1945hrs
Just got back from dinner saw a patient at bed 30 called and about to attend when the senior staff nurse called me from the nurses station “nurse, come here! You’ve done last offices before?” I nodded.
“Good then, can you attend to bed 19. The family is on the way... I will call Nurse Chia to help you... you know what to do right?”
She nodded her head.
[Mind] This man! Did you just talk to him an hour ago before going off for dinner? He went to toilet and say hello to you along the way?”
[Self ] Yes the same man. I wonder what happen... he must have collapse… looks like they tried to resuscitate him but fail….
[Mind ] look at those tubes, the IV lines eeeeeeeh! So grotesque!
[Self ] what eeeeh! we’re going to remove all these. And prepare the patient before the family comes… let’s start. Don’t have to wait for Nurse Chia... she’s attending to a patient... we proceed first… okay what is the first instruction in our nursing procedure manual.
[Mind ] Don disposable gloves and apron. Rationale: To prevent cross- infection .Give respect to the religious belief of the patients…. The procedure is to be carried out quietly, quickly, and respectfully…. Clean away the equipment used during the procedure
[Self] We need to remove the endotracheal tube and the I’V infusion.
[Mind ] you mean we have to remove all those….. Just look at his tongue... it’s so pale…you’re sure he is really dead?
[Self] Of course he is dead, the doctor already certified it, that is why we’re told to prepare him… didn’t the nursing procedure said clearly… clean and remove all the equipment used?
[Mind ] yes! But do you remember about the story we heard at Alexandra hospital… about the nurse... remember the male nurse? He was doing last offices with an attendance then suddenly the man , supposedly dead man, open his eyes, sit up and held his hand… remember that story
[Self] that is only a rumor. Nobody knows actually what happen. The attendant went into coma and never wakes up. She died few days later in ICU. The male nurse refuses to talk at all. He just went missing nobody knows what happen to him…
[Mind ] then how the story about the dead man opening his eyes etc surface if not from the male nurses himself…
[Self] don t know, this is not the right time to think about all that!
[Mind ] you know this patient just had his dinner before he collapses… just imagine all those stomach content…what if?
[Self] what if what?
[Mind ] you know… you remember the exorcist movie…the girl and the priest... she suddenly cough out and the fecal matter spurt out from her mouth landed on his face… what if when you remove the endothreacheal tube suddenly the stomach content all spurt out at your face…did you see that! that! I just saw something!
[Self] what did you see?
[Mind ] I saw his finger twitch... serious.. honest. I saw it!
[Self] chey! You’re full of imagination… nothing of such will happen... it's the muscle reacting to the chemical changes hapenning in this man body.. now shall we proceed. I’ve remove the tube and the IV line. What’s the next in the procedure?
