Nurses kept busy throughout festive period

Caring group: Murjiana (in blue uniform) and nurses sharing ‘kuih raya’ with Shuzaliza Mohd Shupli whose six-month-old baby is being warded at the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital in Ipoh.

IPOH: While others were revelling during the festive break, nurses at the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hos­pital were kept busy living up to the ideals of their noble profession.

And patients and their relatives showed their appreciation by surprising the nurses with Hari Raya cookies and other specially prepared food.

Norleha Mat Yusoff of the hospital’s paediatric intensive care unit said she had to miss the Raya celebration in her Kelantan hometown as it was her turn to work this time.

But for the 38-year-old, there was no time to be gloomy.

Norleha Mat Yusoff

“I was kept busy at the ward caring for the sick children. For me, it is important that the little ones reco­ver fast. I want them to be able to go back home.

“It was nice of their parents to bring us Raya food,” said Norleha, who added that her husband was also on duty in the army during the festive period.

Zuliati Ismail, 37, from Tereng­ganu, said she was grateful that her businessman husband and four children understood the nature of her work.

“They made the necessary adjustments to suit my schedule. My parents live in Terengganu, and it is always sad to miss celebrating Raya with them as well,” said the maternity ward nurse, who organised a potluck do with her colleagues.

Nur Baisyah Badaruddin, 34, of Kuala Kangsar, said since she had just returned from maternity leave, “it is only fair that I work during Hari Raya.”

The surgical ward nurse said the unit was one of the busiest in the hospital.

“But I am happy to care for the patients. Last year, I took my Raya break so this time around, it is my colleagues’ turn to enjoy,” she said.

Chief nurse Murjiana Abdul Rauf, who was one of the four chief nurses on call during Hari Raya, said a nurse has a heavy responsibility.

“We must not only give moral support to patients, but their families as well. When we see our patients recovering and returning home, it is the best satisfaction for us nurses,” she said, adding that hospital director Dr B. Premavathy and other senior officials provided the nurses with nasi kukus, chicken and other delicacies.