Head Nurse Stays True to Original Aspiration for Patients

Facing the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), Xiao Hongju and her team members have stuck to their post and worked for more than 40 consecutive days. 

Xiao, head nurse of the Emergency Department of the First Medical Center of the Chinese PLA General Hospital, has been working in the fever clinic for 17 years, since the outbreak of SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) in 2003.

The fever clinic is the first section devoted to epidemic prevention and control in the hospital. Remembering the battles against SARS and Ebola, Xiao reiterated the importance of zero infection to her team members. 

To ensure safety, she referred to materials and consulted experts so that she could identify types and frequency of disinfection methods of various articles and of room air, surfaces and the ground, and then made forms to implement them. 

With great efforts, though the first medical center has treated more than 20,000 patients, including 7,000 fever patients, since the outbreak of the epidemic, the medical team is with zero infection.

On January 23, a critical patient under medical observation suddenly turned worse and had asthmatic suffocating with a sharp drop in oxygen saturation. Xiao rapidly donned protective clothing, rushed into the ward and conducted emergency tracheal intubation for the patient. Xiao and her colleagues saved the patient's life. 

Nurses are at high risk of infection when performing tracheal intubation, but Xiao did not hesitate. She often says that as long as it is good for patients, she will try her best because she has chosen the occupation of healing and rescuing people.  

Over the past 17 years, Xiao has rescued many patients. Every time, when the cured patient thanked her, she felt the significance of her work. 

Wang has also built a united and professional nursing team with her scientific guidance and strict requirements. She worked with every nurse on career plans and identified their development goals so that they could work with hope and confidence. 

Her concern and strict requirements have gained good result. Her team members have become experts in their fields and the nursing team of the fever clinic has grown into a competent and highly-skilled team fighting against any disease. 

Xiao has won a number of honors, including top 10 youth, outstanding head nurse and excellent Party member of the Chinese PLA General Hospital. Every honor records a touching story, and resulted from Xiao's adherence to her original aspiration to cure patients.

(Source: China Women's News/Translated and edited by Women of China)