Maternal Mortality

Today, I recieved a call from a depressed mother who lost her daughter due to mismanagment and arrogance of doctors in one of district hospitals few days ago. I do not know this lady. She happened to work with my brother. My brother saw this lady in a very depressed mode so suggested that she calls me.  It was half an hour talk.  She was crying and sobbing on the phone.

I am not going to say all that the lady told me but I will only want to say the attitude of doctors in the hospital. She is not well verse with medical but she have some knowledge because she googled. She talked about 38 weeks, head not engaged, induction, LSCS, GDM, Edema, which one can pick up or take necessary action

 

Firstly the husband was not allowed throughout the labour (what happen to Husband friendly hospital). I stressed this when I teach practical session on antenatal care.  I insist during the practical session, there should be a husband together at every visit.  Yes it is difficult to find model during practical session but I managed.  By doing that the students (male and female) nurses remember to include the husband when women attended antenatal care.  For women, you must insist to have your husband come with you and husbands need to insist from Medical staff to him themselves present.  Study have shown that support system improve illness including birth outcomes for both mother and baby

Now back to the lady. From her description, the doctors behave as though the life of the lady is not worth. The followings are some of the words used and spoken to the mother who lost her child (The dead daughter is 26 years old, pregnant her first child)

"Dah nak jadi"

"LSCS lebih banyak risko, tak boleh beranak banyak, wound lambat baik (what sort of human being talking to a mother who just lost a child- tak dapat anak banyak when the life is lost)

"Kes macam ni kecil aja tak payah buis pun tak apa"

 

The doctors not at all response to the appeal or request made by the mother.  

It is sad a preventable maternal death happened in Malaysia, just because of the attitude of people who think they are in power.

 

By the way, maternal mortality in Malaysia is very rare and an inquiry will be held to find out the reason. Unfortunately, inquiry remain as inquiry and usually there is no firm action taken on the doctors but blame usually on the lower category of staff.  I am a midwife, I had delivered baby, I work with doctors and I know exactly and I can relate what the lady going through. 

 

I remembered when I was in New Zealand, a midwife was strike off from practicing because her action cause infant death. But before action was taken on her, there is strong debate which include lawyers. 

Basically, the lay person is not supposed to question the action or no action made by doctors, unless the lay person works in hospital, have a high status qualification. 

Move away from maternal mortality but still relate to attitude. 

 

I have a sister who is asthmatic and she uses a medication that suited her best, because it is her body. However doctors who usually like to prescribe new drug promoted by drug companies want my sister to have a new drug without testing. When my sister told the doctor about the medication that works for her, the response is

"Who is doctor here"

So think about it.  It is your body, you have every right to get and received what is best for you.  Suggestion and ideas and changes is welcome but it need to be tested before giving

Dr Aishah

 

Aishah

 

 

E-Mail (Electronic Mail)

29/5/11

It is a reminder that my blog are based on my personal experiences with people, the environment, the system, and the world in general.  It is not what other say or ideas from others. It all mine.  So it it touches or hurt anyone my apology.

Today I want to write about e-mail.  Of course when we mentioned e-mail, it involves computer used.  I am not a computer savvy but I am e-mail addict.  I need help in most of the technological aspects of computer. For this blog, it is my daughter who developed it. Now she is away, I am a bit worry because I will not be able to proceed if I got stuck, but Insyallah, I will try my best.

Let's get back to e-mail and the use in today's developing world.  Every agency, government office, institution, NGO and more are HAVING e-mail addresses. If one opens government's offices, some have all the e-mails of all the staff from the highest category (Minsters) until the lower categories (support staff). EXCELLENT and BRAVO.

However, HAVING one is of no use, if it is not use to the fullest.  As I said I am an e-mail addict. I write a lot of e-mails.  I have written to MOHE, MOH, JPA, MARA, LDHN, Kementerian Pembangunan Wanita, Most Universities and more. That is Local. From Local I also wrote internationally.  Beside personal e-mail, most agencies also have venue to write comment/ask question.

So far, e-mail that I have sent that provides immediate and accurate good response is the money making agency LHDN. 

Sadly, most e-mails are for show and not to serve (Malaysia).  Out of 20 one will response may be, but the response is usually late. International e-mail address is the opposite, out of ten, nine will be answered and they are usually answered within 7 days some immediately.  It is a disappointing scenario. The e-mail supposed to be a tool to improve communication and speed up the process, at the same time save money (no need to buy stamp, which is very expensive now)

For the comment and column, yes they response quite immediately (computer generated response). It is an acknowledgment not the answers or responses to the questions that were asked.  To me when we have something we need to use it, or else money are wasted on developing the server/ software (sorry if the term is wrong because as I said I am not computer savvy). Beside that the people who sent e-mail expect a response. So make an effort to response and response to it immediately and accordingly. This goes to personal e-mail.  A note to say that e-mail is received is appreciative. Each agency must have a mechanism to ensure all e-mails are responded.

Next blog is about Health (Maternal Mortality of a young 26 years old)

Masyallah Muslim

Life for me as Muslim is easy, only those who dont understand what is Islam all about think, is Islam is "difficult".  Why? because the heart, the mind, the attitude, the thinking, the behavior are not of the Muslim the non-Muslim come in contact with.  Islam is a very flexible religion.  I am an example of one.  I can study as high as I can, perform my role in my chose career to the maximum, get all the promotions that is suitable based on qualification, becoming a mother and wife. I have the freedom to do anything and everything within the scope of Islam. I enjoy life.  I travel around the world with permission blessing.  What more can I ask for.  All these  I do with good intention and reason. Yet I maintain my identity, my faith and my behavior as Muslim.

Yet to many people around us, Islam is seen as a religion of intolerance and encourage bad behavior. Because of that, the term Islamphobia is used.  Why?  Many of Muslim are proud to be Muslim and deligiently perform all the religion obligation [(Prayer, fasting,) go to Hajj once if can effort it, zakat, some do, some dont] and most importantly saying the syahadah. They wear Hijab, but masyallah, thier behaviors are not decribable. I am sure many MUSLIM listen to religious talk, but I wonder what did they learn when they attended all these talk.

Talking bad (fitnah), back stabbing, jealously for other success, wealth, status, unknowledgable, not wanting to improve self and many more.  For this reason, non-Muslim becoming so fearful of the so Called MUSLIM.  I have friend who is an aetheist during my working in the Islamic institution.  I was so embarrased when she said "pakai tudong, solat, tapi mengata orang tak henti henti (Wear hijab, perform prayer, but talking about other non-stop). 

Fitnah, in Islam is worst than Zina because Zina is between the person and Allah, while Fitnah involves people. However, fitnah is the MOST favorite pass time for Muslim (men and women).

I am not a favorite among friends and I am always being called Not a team Player.  I think I am but I cannot be in a team who talks bad about others, talk about something that is not true.  It is best to be on your own rather than in a company of Muslim with hijab performing prayer but talks about others.

I live in a very nice neighbourhood, and I know most of the neighbors, but I never spent time in any of the neighbors' house despite having free time.  I prefer to stay home do my housework.  But I will get involve with activities within the neighbourhood whereever we had any.  Scarry, how people we never have direct contact with can talk about us or telling us about other within the neighbourhood. 

If only we spent time reading Quran, and hadith rather than talking about others. There are many nice stories in the Quran that we can learn and understand, from the human creation, safety of the environment, education, parents' role, ethics and more.
As-Salam

Anak Soleha

It is rare ocassion, we hear children talk about their parents and how much they have the responsibilities towards thier parents. Today that changed.  I was impressed when listening to two ladies seated seated behind me during my journey to East Coast. I feel proud and humble, in the world of materials, there are still children who value their parents because I am a parent myself.

From the conversation, I got to know who the parents are, though I was not in communication with them. They talked how the mother in particular is very hard working, helping others, never say no, at the same fulfilling her role as mother, wife and Muslim.

I feel so grateful to these two women who are also appear to do what they parent are doing, looking after the sick grandparent while other children of the grandparent are neglecting the sick grandpa

My conclusion from the talk I heard is  that the mother is a woman of soleha raising soleha children.  She is the example of Muslim who when die leaves three things, Anak and soleha, amal soleh and knowledge. Alhamdullilah and thank you Allah

4/5/11

Staying home is a wonderful thing but at the same time it can be boring. I missed many events and of course my times with my family. Previously when I was working, I was away from my home. For seven years I was traveling back and forth every week (working in different state and return home on the weekend only). Many people do not understand and unhappy, (but eventually, they accepted) when I take the weekend to go home to be with my family. For them. They forget that while they spent everyday they are retuning home to the family I only get to see my family 2 nites a week. There are many things that I needed and wanted to do and not able to do, it is now the time for me to catch up.

Firstly tasks was, sorting out the books/journals/papers /lecture materials that I have during that time. Going through and sorting out all those documents are essential. Because the notes and the documents is used as my reference for my blog besides my experiences. Thus my blog not only about nursing, my life in nursing, interesting people I met in my years of nursing (35 years) in and outside Malaysia (which I mentioned a little bit in my earlier writing.

I will also use my blog as an inspiration, motivation, advice, encouragement, to others from worldly aspect and thereafter, because there we where are going to be at the end

I am not an expert on Quran, hadiths but, working in university with Islamic philosophy (great university) has made me understand, used, thus make me a better person. Of course, the people that I met (the honest, the genuine, the sincere, the helpful, the good-heart - real Muslim, a good non-Muslim) too has made me a better person. Even people of the opposite characters has also helped me to become a better person.

I am not perfect, not at all, I do have weakness and limitation and at any time, I am ready to listen, learn and take advice from people if what the people gave were / are appropriate, accepted and useful not just for me but for the work that I am doing.  If It is against my principle I will not follow.

My principle is simple- flexible, but what is wrong (haram, cannot become halal and the same what is Halal cannot become haram).  I work because I fear of Allah not fear of the mankind because mankind are unpredictable. People do get offended when I mentioned about working for Allah. To me a person who work for fear of Allah will do the best job for the organization.

People might not accept or believe when I said, all through my lives working, I never come to work late. I will take into account, my preparation to get dress, the time car will start (if it will start), the road's situation which is the traffic, any possible and unpredictable circumstances along the way. If I am late, there is something serious happen.  Even when my children were small I never late.  I will get ready all the bags for the children's school or nursery the nite before.  For food, I will prepare all the raw ingredients and get of the wet ingredients (fish, chicken out from the fridge at night so in the morning I just do the cooking.

Time for me is very precious. I picked this up when I studied abroad.  This may seem to be as obsessive to some but I think it is a commitment and responsibility. Of course you need to have a good life partner; if not you cannot function.

For that reasons, I get very upset when people come late for any function. The common excuse given was traffic jam- once a while traffic jam is accepted but in Kuala Lumpur, traffic jam is a norm. And another excuse given is "biasa lah Malaysian time."   Something that Malaysian need to change. The term "on the way" is another statement people gave when they have appointment.  One the way can mean, about to take shower, getting dress, starting the car engine, half and miles away. It is so wrong. An accepted on the way is when you are at the parking space of the meeting place or one or two minutes away. Don't take the word when a person says on the way, ask them back how many minutes away. Because the time you wait can be use for other things.

I try to instill this good attitude to my students and my children.  Successful in some of course. I have two sons who are following me, two are not, my daughter in between.

Another point which I think we should practice as teacher and nurse is do not punish the majority of people  for the mistakes of a few  If you are teaching, no matter how small the number of students turn up, proceed with your teaching to those who come for the classes and let the non attendance find ways to get information of the meeting or classes.

Enjoy, As Salam to all. I hope this information is beneficial

Aishah

Definition of Nursing

Salam and Hi
Today, before I start writing I want to thank my daughter who helped me to create this blog. I still need her because if you see when I did it without her I lost what I am supposed to post (definition of Nursing was written almost a week ago, because she is not around to help me).  But I do need to learn handle my blog on my own because she is going to go away (she is accepted in Matric). Thank you Shakirah

Definition of nursing (by ICN (Updated April 2010)

1. Nursing encompasses autonomous and collaborative care of individuals of all ages, families, groups and communities, sick or well and in all settings. Nursing includes the promotion of health, prevention of illness, and the care of ill, disabled and dying people. Advocacy, promotion of a safe environment, research, participation in shaping health policy and in patient and health systems management, and education are also key nursing roles.

2. Nursing is a healthcare profession focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities so they may attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and quality of life from conception to death.


Based on the two definition it shows that nursing is a dynamic profession.  The second definition if you can guess it, is from Wikipedia, a cliche definition which many (use it) to make the profession as a profession of a helper or hand maiden.

Most (when I say most, it means internationally accepted) accept the first definition of nursing as the current and required role of nurses of today. If one look at the education or training, yes training is focus on nursing care which is the ultimate role of nurses, but to provide effective, efficient, safe, high quality and valued care nurses need to have all the criteria underline in the first definition. Without all those criteria the nurses will be a tool to other health care profession. A tools which are loved by those who uses them because any tool usually helps the user work easier and efficient. 

This is the example of definition one -"Nurses have experienced difficulty with the hierarchy in medicine that has resulted in an impression that nurses' primary purpose is to follow the direction of physicians (Radcliffe, Mark (2000). This tendency is certainly not observed in Nightingale's Notes on Nursing, where the physicians are mentioned relatively infrequently, and often in critical tones—particularly relating to bedside manner (Nightingale, Florence (1860)