So, we're into May right now and it just hit me right on the face that 2013 is almost
half gone.
Then I thought to myself and decided to list down interesting and not-so-interesting people whom I've met at work everyday so far.
Before I start, let me just tell you guys some basic background info. In case some of you guys are still wondering, I'm currently doing a full time job at a dental clinic in the Jurong area. If you don't know exactly where then you're not meant to know. So, if you're wondering what my job scope is like, well basically I'm a nurse/dental assistant. Okay, you can imagine how much I struggled for my very 1st month, with so many things to learn but thats not the main point. I'm still struggling now cause there's just too much for me. For now, if you pop by at my clinic you will probably see me at the counter most of the time.
Its a service line job. Bleh. You really see all sorts of people. Hopefully, this will not turn into some controversial blog posts because I think these aren't really considered as confidential....right?
1. FUNNY patients
Everyday I meet new people, talk to them, answer their enquiries which include "When can I remove my braces ar?" which can only be answered by the doctor because if you asked me I will probably say "Why not tomorrow? :)" And most of the time it goes like this
*patient walks in*
"I would like to make an appointment..."
"Okay sure, may I know what treatment you're interested in doing?"
*points to teeth*
First thing first, please at least tell me whats your main concern, like, oh you have a toothache, or oh you're interested in doing braces, or oh your tooth cracked etc etc so I can at least roughly tell you what you can do, not like *points*
Like I can see the problem like that!
2. Complain queens/kings
Well, this I can't say much. Because sometimes its really our fault. Our clinic serves a lot of patients who come for their braces appointment. Every single patient has to book their appointment. Well, there are patients who are really nice and come for their appointments on time. There are patients who are always so busy and turn up late for their appointments. And lastly, there are patients who just have to be early for their appointments.
When patients come early, they assume that they can go for their appointments early. Then what about those patients who come on time for their appointments? At that particular time slot, how can we send 2 patients in at the same time? And those patients who are late, they assume that since they are late, they can go in immediately, as if the doctor has no other patients and is waiting for him/her. When they are asked to wait, for patients at that particular time slot to clear first, they make a fuss.
And sometimes, they have to wait because the previous patient went in and took longer than his/her give appointment time. Some patients just need more time for their treatment. Hey, the doctor is not gonna compromise the quality of his dental service just because he has lots of patients waiting.
Whatever that it, patients don't understand. And the worst thing is? They complain/rant/vent their anger to the poor nurse at the counter aka me.
When I first started doing counter duties, I felt so upset because people are always throwing negative words at me when I'm not even at fault. Then I started having thoughts like, "What is wrong with me?" and unconsciously blamed myself. That was the period of time when I became really moody and in addition, the university application was screwing my head and I was in a messed up relationship with a friend (which we made up afterwards) and blah blah blah.
But I'm through that phase now. Sometimes we just have to go easy on ourselves. Some people are just really unreasonable and we just need to find ways to deal with them/the situation. Everything is fine right now so yep.
Just go away okay, Singaporeans who just loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee to complain over small things.
3. Foreign workers (from India, Bangladesh)
Okay, regarding this, I have to clarify something first. All along, I've been really neutral to these particular group of people. I have never ever thought badly of them. I respect them, I thank them for their hard work. I truly, sincerely think that they serve really important roles in our Singapore economy. Sometimes I do judge them because they sit on reserved seats on MRTs etc but I've never had super bad experience with them.
Before I had this job, I had absolutely no real life interaction with them. Not that I had online interaction ahhh you guys know what I'm saying. Its just I've never personally spoken to any one of them before.
For some reason, a lot of foreign workers like to come to our clinic. I don't know if its just our clinic or what but for what I know, everyday we have foreign workers coming to our clinic, hoping to get some dental treatment. Well, I guess since their dorm is pretty near the area...its either they stay at Penjuru Road or Toh Guan Road, which I managed to make out after months of working (since I need their address when registering)
I remember the first time I assisted the doctor treating a foreign worker, it was kinda disastrous.
Communication barrier.
Most of them can only say simple words, like pain, take out. A few of them who are really very very smart were able to speak in full sentences but with thick accent. In any case, we couldn't really make out what they were saying most of the time. And when we tried interpreting what they were trying to say, we asked them in english which was too difficult for them to understand.
Since I'm at it, I shall just share what I've learnt. This is how I communicate with them.
When they need to do filling, you cannot say filling! You must say, "put cement". They only know what is cement, they don't know what is filling one.
When they need a tooth extraction, you cannot say "need to extract teeth". You must say, "take out take out".
Lastly, when they ask for the price, just write it down or punch it on the calculator.
And it is this communication barrier which makes the nurses/doctors pretty irritated whenever we see them. When I see some of them loitering outside the clinic, I used to go like "Please don't come in please don't come in." Not that we don't want to treat them, but most of the times, appointments are fully booked for the day and schedule is so tight that we really cannot afford to take in walk-ins. And then you also cannot tell them "Appointments fully booked for today" because they don't understand. You can only tell them "Today cannot." which in my opinion sounds so rude and its like downright rejection and sometimes I wonder how they feel after hearing that.
Oh and did I mention most of them look like they need serious immediate treatment? Dental treatments are really costly in Singapore. I know most of them have been suffering from toothaches for a really long period of time and that they had no choice but to come to the clinic to seek help because the pain is no longer bearable. Most of them looked really desperate and every time I reject them my heart sinks. A normal extraction at my clinic costs one blue note. I wonder what kind of dental treatment they can receive with that same amount of money in their country. Maybe a crown? Which in my clinic costs six orange notes and one blue notes.
After they received the treatment (most extractions), the part I hate the most is when I ask for payment. Because you can see them taking out the money from their wallets and when they pass that crumpled note to you with a sigh you just go like "I feel like I just created a crime." For some reason I feel really guilty accepting their payment you know. I wish I can be a hero and tell them, "NO NEED PAY!" Yea right, then everyone from the dorm will come flooding the clinic. But seriously, those scenes will keep replaying in your head like the scene replaying in the murderer's head when he/she accidentally kills someone.
Talking about no payment, this has got to be the most interesting incident which happened to me at work.
One day, we had like several patients who rescheduled their appointments so the hygienist was able to take in some walk-ins. This particular foreign worker came in and started pointing at his teeth saying that he wants to "Put put." and I thought to myself "the word 'put' doesn't not exist in my 'sg-foreign worker dental dictionary'" The closest I could get to was probably filling so I asked him, "Put cement?" and he nodded his head. I registered him and sent the patient in.
In the end, he didn't do any filling or whatsoever. I assume that he's tooth was probably too badly decayed and a filling will not do. The hygienist merely told him the relevant treatment he is advised to do and did not charge him. Like $0. Nothing. It was usual. Not special treatment for him ar. Our clinic don't have consultation charges one :)
He left the clinic...
...and came back 10 minutes later...
rushing into the clinic, telling me "I want see doctor!" I was like O.O I asked him to wait! Like, sit down! I have to inform her first. But I was too late. He rushed towards the direction of the dental room and almost wanted to open the door already. I quickly chionged into the room and stopped him from opening the door. I told him again. "You wait ar!!!" When everything was ready, I opened the door for him, and guess what.
He bought Fruit Tree Fresh Guava Juice for the hygienist.
You know the one carton one carton one. He bought 3.
Everyone was like literally stunned. He shoved the 3 cartons of guava juice to the hygienist and said "Thank you thank you doctor." I couldn't really understand whatever he said afterwards but it was probably like "Thank you for not charging me. I treat you." or something along the line. And he said like thank you x100.
I was so touched, I swear I almost wanted to cry. And it made me feel more guilty for rejecting the others. They are really really good people who are appreciative. Unlike those Singaporeans who only know how to complain. Really, its things like this which make my day at the clinic.
We really have to change our mindset towards them. Sadly, its only after this incident that I try to warmly welcome them whenever they step into the clinic. Even when appointments are fully booked, I reject them in the nicest way possible. I feel that they shouldn't be deprived of any treatment just because of their "low social status" in the country. Sometimes, I wish I can communicate with them in their language. Because I feel that we assume too much about them. They can show their appreciation for us in such a simply manner despite the many differences, then why can't we actually make an effort to do something for them?
And this marks the end of my list of interesting and not-so-interesting people I meet at work everyday. I don't know if I would want this list to extend because I think these 3 groups of people are enough already haha. So in a nutshell, my working experience so far is..........well, I can't wait for school to start actually.
P.S. Regarding the guava juice, the hygienist gave me and another nurse 1 carton each. I finished mine 2 days later.
