Cambodian Ward
Chapter 4 ~ Ningrum (1)

“The Cambodian ward was a replacement name, originally only called the thirteenth floor. He said there were a lot of strange events and every day a patient died there. So the name was changed to the Cambodian ward, but according to the same story anyway. Every day there are patients who die.”

“But naturally dong, there is ICU and the average patient is in critical condition. Even if someone dies, they may enter logic.”

“It's Not Just Mel. Another oddity, there is one of the gurneys called the death gurney. Because every patient who occupied that gurney must have died. There was also a patient who had been in a coma for months and, horribly, one of the nurses met a figure similar to that coma patient."

“Maybe the family of a patient whose face looks similar.”

“How are you, reported but ngeyel continue.”

I sighed, if the true story and myth that Marni told me my work would be similar to the test of guts.

“You can believe it may not, but it's a story that goes around. Not only that, there are also pockmarked sisters and stump doctors. It may be a myth, but you can prove it yourself later. Moreover, you can see them.” Marni shuddered when she told the story but she was scared.

“What story to you experiencing directly the incident?”

Marni shook her head, making me doubt the stories. If you don't hear directly from the experienced, I consider the story was just a myth.

“I didn't hear directly from the source and I'm sure you won't believe it, but if you witness weirdness and incongruity .. The story to me yes,” pinta Marni then chuckles. “All places must have their bouncers and mystical stories, how each responds and I'm sure you're brave and strong.”

Marni patted me on the shoulder before she left. I rushed to follow her steps towards the parking lot. We separated because of the different parking lots and the direction of our residence was different.

***

The first day is served in the Cambodian ward and can be a morning shift duty. Six o'clock I was on the thirteenth floor, the frangipani ward. There are six nurses, including senior, who is the head of the shift. Got an explanation of the rules in the ward, one of which is there is no clock besuk. Because the floor is special ICU room and other intensive care.

The door of the ward was even tightly closed, unable to carelessly go in and out. Family representatives of patients in the ward were provided with a waiting room on the left side of the ward, not far from the elevator and the toilet was on the right side of the ward right next to the janitor.

The hospital is quite spacious and I was in building A, an old building with almost the same building condition. The difference on this floor is there is a special room on the left side.

“You must have heard the myth about the Cambodian ward, it's your right to believe it or not. The important thing is the task is executed well.” Sister Dian the head of shift explains everything related to the Cambodian ward.

Sister Dian split the duties and handover from the night shift. There were twelve patients, five of whom were in a coma while the rest in intensive care post-surgery were also due to work accidents.

“Gue Andra, whose name?”

“Amel,” I replied to the man standing beside me. Unlike my previous place, here there are male nurses, one of them is this Andra.

“Previous task in what part?”

“Five floor.”

“Hopefully stay here until the time of rolling again,” said Andra then patted my shoulder and approached Sister Dian.

The first day went well, there were no significant obstacles. There are two patients who can be transferred to hospitalization. The task of supervising ICU patients must be extra careful, because many tools are installed in the patient's body. I'm used to distinguishing which medical device sounds are emergency and which ones are just detached or have to be adjusted.

“Amel, gurney seven bath schedule. You take care of it,” Sister Dian said.

“Good, mbak.” I looked again at the patient data in gurney seven, on behalf of Ningrum. It even confirmed my vision that Ningrum had been in the ward for almost two months.

“I help ya,” Andra said as she passed me to the gurney where Ningrum was.

“She's been in a coma for a long time huh?” tanyaku stood behind Andra who prepared towels, new bed linen and perlak.

“New two months, previously there had been a coma more than one year. Take the water and the soap, I help you take the bath.”

Not long after I pushed back the trolley with two basins consisting of warm water and cold water. Immediately I put the apron and gloves as well as the mask, after I finished I called Andra to help slide Ningrum's body.

All the dirty equipment and linens, I took them to his place. A quick glance at the empty bed beside Ningrum's bed. Tetiba came to mind with the death gurney that Marni said. I don't know which gurney is meant, although curious I can't possibly ask Andra who has served here long enough.

“Andra, Ningrum why can coma?” I asked when we got back to the nurse station.

“Brain injury,” said Andra while paying attention to the ICU room.

This ward consists of 4 rooms with no doors only curtain divider, also two ICU rooms surrounded by glass. Each partition room has three beds and each ICU room has two patient vaults.

“If you want to ask around, finish the task yes. I know, here,” point Andra on my forehead. “Definitely many questions and you want to clarify the story circulating about the awesomeness of this ward ‘kan?”

“Ngak that too, but for anticipation and caution there is no harm dong.”

“Beres task we meet in the front canteen,” said Andra then approached one of the doctors who just came out of the ICU.

I got back late in the rush. When going to change shifts, as usual the handover file has been prepared and is being checked by sister Dian.

“It looks like it's a patient whose spirit is wandering.”

“Ningrum yes? Thankfully I don't take care of him. Hopefully I never get the task to take care of him, afraid of being visited by his spirit.”

I heard whispers from team mates, they were talking about Ningrum and the wandering spirit. Could Ningrum be a patient who became a lip because there was a figure of heaven resembling him.