Geetha, a native of Eramala, Vadakara, Kozhikode, since her school days always admired nurses. She has often dreamt of being an angel in a white coat while growing up. Every time she saw a nurse, she would visualise herself in that uniform. When she was asked what she wanted to be when she grew up, it was always a nurse. Geetha, who started her career as a nurse at the age of 21, is fortunate to have won, in Geetha's language, an award for the first time in her life at the age of 53. Geetha speaks to Manorama online about winning this award instituted by the Kottarakkara Ashraya Sangam in the name of Sister Lini.
My favourite day
Nursing is my field of work. A job I have always done with great pleasure and sincerity. I have never worked all these years expecting a reward. My only goal was to do what God has told me to do to the best of my ability. This award is a recognition. And it is always sweeter to get an award in this field which is so valuable in my life. When I received the award named after Sister Lini on May 10 at Kalayapuram, Kollam, I was overjoyed. This award is an acknowledgment of my efforts. Also, a reminder that there is still a lot to do.
Nursing is my life
Nursing was always a passion since childhood. During the school days, there was some opposition from the family as many people saw nursing as a degrading job. But my mother didn’t oppose me when I told her that I wanted to be a nurse. So I joined General Nursing at Thiruvalla Medical Mission Hospital. After studying I worked there on bond for a year. Later I went back to Kozhikode and got a job at a private hospital. In 1993 I did a Post Basic Certificate Course in Cardio Therapeutic Nursing from Sree Chitra Institute, Thiruvananthapuram. In the meantime, my marriage took place. After having a child, I got the opportunity to work again in some private hospitals in Kozhikode as neonatal ICU in charge and ICU in charge.
In 2005, I got a government job and joined the Tiruvallur Community Health Center. After two years I moved to Kozhikode Medical College. Being a part of Kozhikode Medical College for 14 years is a great achievement in my life. I was able to work in various fields and was a part of the first nuclear medicine scan in the government sector when it was started in Kozhikode.
My favourite psychiatry ward
In December 2020, I was promoted as Head Nurse and have been working at Thiruvananthapuram Medical College since January 27, 2021. After doing corona supervising duty in various wards, I am now working in a psychiatry ward and that was a special experience. This is because the psychiatry ward is a place where people need more attention and care than normal patients. Patients with mental illness will be isolated by family and community. There was a desire to bring them into mainstream life. The Department of Psychiatry, Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram is very supportive of this. There is a lot of work going on here for that. I was able to be a part of it a little bit.
There are patients we have to deal with in many ways, including those who suddenly become violent. Their lives and ours are in danger. That is why a lot of attention is needed there. Even when the disease is completely cured, many people don’t have the support to come out of the illness. You need to first convince them that they have been completely cured. There are also measures taken to rehabilitate them. Head of Psychiatry Dr. Anil Kumar and others are doing a lot for them. I had the opportunity to work with them and I feel very fortunate to work in this ward.
Poignant moment
While working in the Department of Dermatology at Kozhikode Medical College, it was painful to watch the suffering of the patients. They have been suffering from skin diseases for years and are not sure whether the disease will be cured or not. Mostly older people. So many of them had no money to go back home. When I worked at the skin award I always carried hundred rupees in my pocket. It is sad to see so many people abandoned by their children and others who have nowhere to go.
Lini as an invisible presence
Sister Lini is a name we can never forget. I was working at Kozhikode Medical College when Lini was suffering from nippa. But she was not in that ward. Lini's death had broken our hearts. That's why a ward was named after Lini, and I am also getting an award in her name. It is difficult to explain in words what that means.
