When patients come through emergency, it is evident that they are feeling discomfort and as nurse with the emergency department, my first intention is to respond their need as quickly as I can. But with the COVID-19 pandemic and the anxiety surrounding it, our work routine faced disruptions. 

As opposed to offering help quickly, we now have to screen all patients, take down their travel history and if they display any symptoms send them straight through isolation ward for further consultations. This increased our response time substantially. 

During the pandemic, along with being a part of the emergency team I was also on the COVID-19 swab team, taking patient swabs and screening them regularly. 

Being on the frontlines of duty, I could sense that was family was especially worried about me. I live with my grandmother who is a senior citizen and therefore shows increased susceptibility to the infection. But I made sure that I followed all the necessary SOPs, showered as soon as I finished work, and sanitised myself thoroughly before entering the house. At the back of my mind, I always alert that I didn’t want to bring the infection back to my family. 

But despite all my anxiety, I was very motivated to go work every day. As a medical professional and as a Malaysian, I feel it is my responsibility and duty to ensure public safety and stand by my country in such trying times. If not us, then who? 

Yes, it is challenging – working in PPEs for hours, working at half capacity sometimes, adapting and learning new protocols, coming in contact with positive patients and the looming question of quarantine. But I’m proud that I was able to support Malaysia through these times and will continue to do so until the government says that it is safe to go back to our old ways.

Download the Malaysia Healthcare Chronicles

Discover Malaysia, the World’s Healthcare Marvel