Memo Writing As A Pastime-WooHoo!

The Gay Cat knows that a memo is a form of communication via a note regarding an event, topic, institution etc. Legally, memos are also known as Memorandums. In the past, TGC helped to prepare MOA (Memorandum of Appearances)for court cases, MOU(Memorandum of Understanding) MOA (Memorandum of Agreement) for business transactions. Basically, a memo serves to provide a form of record.

To quote Dean Gooderham Acheson, “ A memorandum is not written to inform the reader but, to protect the writer“ 

 Alas though, most of the nurses view memos as a form of record that served to blackmark their career and thus, the thought of writing memos actually becomes a punishment in their opinions. Such sentiments cannot be helped as most memos written in the ward is usually a result of complaints. (See previous entry,’How Are You Able to Care For Patients-Part 1‘).

However, what sets these memos apart are the conclusions in the memos itself.

Conclusions that end with ‘ I realise my mistake and regret……‘ or something similar falls under, what TGC has termed, Memorandum of Apology(MOA).

Memos which ends with ‘…that is all that happened‘ or something similar falls under, what TGC has termed, Memorandum of Defence(MODs).

TGC noticed that MOAs are usually written begrudgingly because, these memos are records of their admission of mistakes. Who ever likes to admit their mistakes? Saying sorry is already hard enough, let alone writing it in black and white.

Now, MODs are also written begrudgingly because, most nurses find it a hassle to drudge thru their memory to record down every single thing that happen ( a day, a week, a month, a year ago). Not only that, in general, memo writing is really composition in disguise at the ward. And if a person is not inclined to compositions in school in the first place, memo writing becomes another form of punishment for them.

Lately this week, station A nurses had to write both types of memos.

Now, TGC wonders if she should suggest starting a writing club for nurses as an extra-curricular activity? Who knows, memo writing may actually become appealing to them or better yet, future talented budding writers may be discovered in the ward?

How Are You Able To Care For Patients? Part 1

Much has been said and discussed amongst the public about the nobility of nursing as a profession.

So much so that, not many people actually wants to join the profession and, The Gay Cat has always wondered why? If people kept praising the nurses especially so, during SARs, then why the high turnover rate of nurses and the constant demand for them?

The Gay Cat has not always been in the healthcare profession but, her experiences as one has begun to leave seeds of doubt and disappointment in her.

What do we know about NURSE? Besides, Nightingale?

Nurses are compassionate, patient, kind, gentle and knowledgeable. Wow, The Gay Cat just described an angel but, she is no further from the truth since, most nurses started out on their first month like that.

In reality, nurses becomes inpatient, less compassionate, unkind, still knowledgeable, less gentle and more jaded. The Gay Cat wonders why?

In reality, despite all the fluff and puff by the media regarding nurses, the public still regards the profession as nothing more than a glorified maid in the hospital.

The Gay Cat has observed a few distinct type of patients:

1) Patients with relatives who sit by and do nothing, not even to help the patient eat or drink

2)Patients with relatives who sit by and do nothing but order nurses about

3) Patients with relatives who sit by and do nothing but threatens to complain about poor service, slow service etc

4) Patients with relatives in the healthcare who, act like they know everything and demand for this and that

5) Patients themselves who say one thing, when they mean another thing

6) Patients who screams at the slightest touch

7) Patients who order nurses around like maids

Patients who keeps saying that they are fine and then go around and complaint to relatives that nurses neglected them

9) Patients who makes up stories about poor care or neglect

10) Patients who expects service at the snap of their fingers

This is just the tip of the iceberg.

Faced with such ‘exciting’ patients everyday, each time 8-10 hours of each day of your life, won’t you feel the fire go out?

The Gay Cat had only just begun to explore the Quit Nursing phenomenon. 

That 4.5m Structure

Dark, grey cloudy skies = Heavy downpour = Pin prickling cold rain drops

 The Gay Cat is amused that something like this (see image on left) with a height restriction could  be considered, a shelter. What is even more amusing to TGC is that the width of the ” shelter ” is  approximately a metre wide, provides no refuge from the rain, shelters no one and yet, proudly  stands tall at 4.5m. What exactly is its purpose, TGC wonders.

 

Walking across the pedestrain crossing under this 4.5m structure on a rainy day is akin to walking along a swinging bridge. Surely TGC jests-a swinging bridge?

Try it when the rain is heavy, the wind is blasting against you and cars are raring to speed through that 4.5m structure-with or without you plastered on their windscreens.

Bridges in Singapore usually has a height restriction for vehicles to pass thru it, similarly for carpark gantries. However, a bridge-as its name implies, allows for safe pedestrian crossing above cars and yet, have adequate coverings to shelter said pedestrians. Open-air bridges gives no false pretenses that they can shelter you from the rain except to cross over to find shelter instead.

SO, a 4.5m structure built across a crossing zone, juxtaposed a yellow box and the exit of another open air carpark. Hmm…an average asian stands at 1.75m (males) and 1.65m (females) so the difference in distance from the tallest asian and the 4.5m would be filled with air…..lots of it and rain. 

TGC noticed that unsuspecting pedestrians (most notably patients), would look upon the 4.5m structure as a salvation against the rain onslaught. If only they knew that there was another one up ahead, the umbrellas would be whipped out even before one could say “shit” 

Needless to say, TGC ended up pretty much soaked since she stood at the lower end of the scale -1.49m.

However, TGC loves rainy and dark days as it reminds her of the cool weather in Portugal and thus, walking under the 4.5m structure is not a big deal when TGC still has to run home, under the rain.

 

 

Witness the durability of LECoq Sportiff Shoes, lasted 5 years, travelled across rough terrain in GReece and wet ones in Portugal. Getting drenched in Singapore is a spiritual cleansing for this hardy and trusty pair of sneakers.