ACLS and my lucks.

Today I’m so happy that gives me mood to continue updating this blog. Senyum panjang2 ^____________^

As I’m writing this, yes I admit that I am indeed very lucky all thanks to Allah S.W.T! HE answered my prayer, as what I kept praying that HE’ll grant me best places and chances. All the successful things I gained because HE willed them to happen to me, subhanallah.

“Rabbi anzilnii munzalan mubaarakan wa anta khairul munziliin”

O’ my Rabb, grant me the best places indeed You are the Best Locator.

My CIs, and manager all very nice and supportive. We, the new trainees were so lucky that our hospital was willing to sponsor us for the ACLS training on 15th-16th of July 2013, which not so many seniors even had been sent to be trained for this program. ACLS, as what its name stands for Advanced Cardiac Life Support is somewhat advanced from the BLS (Basic Life Support). It integrates all skills, knowledge and high level mental state maintenance in critical events in one, all to save the life in hands. It shaping the leadership in us, and make us step ahead to make decision and delegating tasks to other rescuer, working together as a team.

The cost for this course is RM 600 – 700 per person! Not only were we so lucky that our company sent us for this training, we even lucky that they paid for us.

So lucky that our current manager cleared up our schedule for 2 days and let our CIs helped us to prepare for this program firsthand. So we manage to get ready with knowledge, physically and mentally.

Apart from that, our group being divided into two, and mine was being coached by the CEO of the American Heart Association itself. He was a young Singaporean chinese, charismatic, funny, easy-going, understanding, sporting, supportive and very lenient. We learned and laughed, that supposed-to-be hectic and stressful training later be a very bearable one. Every session became very enjoyable and attractive learning.

He kneeled beside me on the floor when I was doing the CPR to the manikin that can detect our level of skills by showing the light detector, giving me support and correcting my ways. I really thought he wouldn’t understand malay but to my surprise, he gave me support and said to me, “kena kuat sikit!” Then when I ventilated the ‘patient’ by using bag valve mask, also he came kneeling by myside, correcting the C and E clamps. It’s not that he only came to coach me but others as well, it was only coincidentally I’ve been placed at the centre where having more spaces.

In the next session of inserting oral and nasal airway, I was the first participant to do. I was anxious since we had to go through the test straightaway when we’re only practiced once. I wanted to scan read the test checklist for the last time when he nicely took it from me and said, “Don’t worry, I’ll guide you until you can do it,” Oh, how nice of him, even making me feel very confident. I passed that test well in one shot. It then came when we trained for the tomorrow megacode exam, the exam that’d decide whether we can pass and get the ACLS license or not. He was not even pushing but let us enjoyed the session; we were laughing while practicing. He even let us practiced to intubate patient by using ETT. When it was my time, he coached me from the end of the manikin’s legs, correcting the way I hold the ETT before introduced it in, instructed to lower my gait. “Masuk, masuk!” he showed fighting gesture when I started intubation. I did it! I’m so happy, he made my heart fluttered ^^

The next day before the megacode test, also I tried again to intubate the manikin. One of my team members teasing me saying to check whether I did it right, but he said like this, “Tengok pun tau, memang masuk punyalah,” how nice of him, he boosted up my confidence level.

Saya tahu memang educator dilatih untuk memberi semangat dan puji para peserta, but I cannot help each time to feel proud and smile happily. Pantang orang puji @ bagi encouragement! Ngee.

Then each of us got the chance to practice one last time before starting the exam. He gave us different situations and cases to solve. For the test, we chose the exam scheme based on the papers that been flipped showing only blank sides. When my time came, he smiled and kept saying I’m very lucky today for getting the same incident as what I just practice, and even after that coincidentally choosing the same for my second megacode exam.. But, I was very nervous that somehow making him disappointed, and failed. He told me in person where I did it wrong and to rectify it, saying he’d give me second attempt later. Still I had to filled in my name in the megacode checklist form and as I was doing so; writing down my long name on the form with him at side silently looking without giving any comment, I was thinking in  my mind that he might being thinking that I have along name as well. Hee. Then we have to wait outside before being summoned to continue the exam.

My CI and other coordinators came asking our progress, giving us support. They didn’t believe that I failed my exam to see I’m looking contented and calm outside of the exam room. It was then when he came out and casually calling my name, gesturing to come in. He gave me and two other participants the second chances to remedy our leadership challenge. Again we have to choose based on our fate, this time he said to choose one number from 1-6.

I chose 4 as I’m the fourth child among my siblings; even I knew some people believe that it is an unlucky number. “Choiii~” said one of my real teammates, looking at me right in the eyes intensely. And to my relief, my coach said again and again this time. “You’re very lucky, you’re very lucky that you get the same case again for as the previous test,” I didn’t remember how many times more he said I’m very lucky, looking at me with smiling eyes. I re-did my megacode exam with his encouragement, but suddenly half way in my exam,

“I tell you what, let’s stop here,” 

I gasped, cupping my mouth with both hands tightly as my chest tightened and my head felt like bursting, WHAT DID I DO WRONG NOW? AM I GOING TO FAIL? Woah I really couldn’t believe it. He said again, “Let’s stop here,” and that time I felt like crying. 

“Good job, you passed. Congratulations! You’re very lucky,” he said to me. “So lucky la you,” he said again smiling, when I was still standing there with my hands cupping my mouth and staring at him feeling unbelievable. He really scared me to death T-T~~~~~ My teams shared the happiness and gave a very superb round applause with enjoyment. Waa thank you everyone for helping me ;’)

After the megacode exam finished, we still had to sit the 50 theoretical MCQs for one hour. And after finished, this 2 coaches or trainers gathered us again in the conference room. They announced the participant who achieved the best score, which is a medical officer but she already went to continue her duty.

“We are proud to announce the second participant who closely followed after, Ms Wan Nur Farhanim Radziah! Congratulations, let’s give her a round applause,” Alhamdulillah, thanks God for everything!

“Her name is so long,” said the other trainer. Then, came my trainer asking to give another round applause for me and said, “Her name is long, but it’s worth it.” It was as what I guessed when he silently looking the time I wrote my name, he recognized it.

It came when they both called it a day, and after photographing session, the participants went shook hands and thanks them. I and one of my friends chose to retreat, went back to our table without going close to them. I might have to shake hands with him if I joined the crowd now. Before getting out of the room I smiled to both of our honorable trainers and thanks them from the bottom of my heart. THANK YOU (:

THANKS FOR MAKING ME REALIZED HOW LUCKY I AM.