Head nurse couldn't watch it anymore, so she rose up and said, "Deputy Director, I am the one who recommended Lisa's promotion, and I favor and understand her. She saved a pregnant woman's life at the Asan Medical center and performed an emergency C-section. A few days ago, she also helped in saving Director Jung's niece, Doctor Krystal. Isn't she qualified enough?"
"It's an idiotic display of individualism. While she attempted at showing off, she almost dragged our hospital's century-old reputation down with her."
Lisa elegantly smiled, rose up and politely nodded to the doctors and executives seated around her before asking, "Deputy Director, I've heard that you used to specialize in neurology, is that correct?"
"Yes, what about it?" the deputy director replied to Lisa with an arrogant attitude.
"Good, then Deputy Director, as an expert in neurology, you obviously know the rules surrounding the aftercare of neurologically ill patients?"
"Do you have to ask such a simple question?"
"South Side's database shows that although we receive huge amounts of patients with neurological illnesses every year, there are very few who actually recovered. Why is that?"
"Ha, it's widely known that it is difficult to cure patients suffering from neurological disorders. Even hospitals cannot cure them, how could we, as a recuperation center? Are you kidding me?"
"I'm not kidding, I am being very serious. It's true that it is difficult to cure neurologically-ill patients, but clinical experiments conducted in the United States showed that if their aftercare was proper, the burden on them would be mitigated. It could be said that the aftercare is even more important than the pre-surgical treatment. However, as a medical expert, you do not value this fact. This leads to the outflow of many neurological patients each and every year. I'm no expert in this field, and I have no professional qualifications, but I've read books and observed the conditions of the patients at medical school and at the Asan Medical center, so I have done quite a bit of research. Deputy Director, would you like to hear me out?"
"Sure, I'd like to see how you, an ignorant nurse, analyze the Neurology Division." In the deputy director's viewpoint, Lisa's behavior was laughable and self-incriminating, since doctors without specialization would for sure have a hard time answering knowledge-based questions in this field.
Lisa held up her cup and drank some water before glancing at those around her. "What I am about to say only represents what I think. If I make a mistake, please excuse me."
Director Jung shot her an encouraging look and nodded to give her permission...
She nodded back and began speaking, "The central nervous system consists of the brain and spinal cord, and there is also the peripheral nervous system that includes our motor and sensory neurons throughout our entire body. Some symptoms surrounding neurological disorders are speech, movement, and cognitive impairments, sensory and consciousness disturbances, fits of syncope, seizure, amnesia, and cerebral palsy."
"Regarding the aftercare of such patients, their care must reach the following standards: one, maintain the cleanliness, tidiness, and airflow of the room. More severe patients must have the number of times they can be visited limited."
"Second is their rest and sleeping position. For chronic patients, they must be encouraged to exercise, but we must not tire them out. Patients with cognitive impairment and respiratory secretion must rest in a semi-supine or lateral position."
"Third, regarding nutrition and diet, patients must consume more fresh fruits and vegetables to prevent constipation. Patients with complicated dysphagia should carefully follow a semi-fluid diet, administered at a slow pace to prevent choking and suffocation. As for patients with severe dysphagia, they should be fed through a nasal tube and kept at a semi-upright position for up to an hour after feeding."
"In addition to the above, the recuperation process also involves the care of skin, airways, lifestyle, excrement, medication as well as observation of the illness. Particular patients may also need post-cerebrovascular surgery aftercare. Outpatients must be instructed, booked for regular appointments, and be given precautions. Patients with increasing intracranial blood pressure must be forbidden from having sex and receive lumbar punctures periodically to prevent cerebral palsy."
"In consideration of time, I won't go through the above one by one, because I believe you all understand what I mean. Overall, I believe that as a recuperation center, we have a great deal of responsibility and obligation towards the late-stage recovery of patients, and I hope that you all take this into serious consideration. Thank you."
Lisa did not stumble or repeat a single word. Her speed wasn't fast and her voice was clear.
After speaking those words, the older specialized doctors were all dumbfounded...
The Deputy Directors's facial expression changed again and again...
Lisa's speech seemed to have come from somebody with a Ph.D. in neurology, not just a regular head nurse.
"Deputy Director, what do you think about what Lisa said?" Director Jung asked him in a meaningful tone
"It was... fine." Although Deputy Director didn't want to admit the cruel truth, he couldn't lie in front of so many experts.
"Thank you, Deputy Director." Lisa smiled at him.
Director Jung waved. "Take your seat, Lisa ."
Lisa nodded and sat down...
Director Jung added many things to the discussion before ending the meeting an hour later.
When Lisa was walking out, Director Jung's assistant stopped her, "Wait, Lisa, the director wants to talk to you."
The people in the meeting room left slowly, and soon, only Lisa and Director Jung were left in the room.
"Lisa , you did well today."
"No, I was just stating facts." Lisa was a little shy.
"I'll make improvements based on your suggestions. Actually... South Side should've been fixed long ago, it was just that at every single meeting, people beat around the bushes and nobody wanted to take the lead. Sadly, I never had an excuse to implement any new policies. You speaking out today made me feel much better. You're right, doctors should act like doctors, and they can't work in a foul environment."
"Director, don't listen to my blabber, I'm just stating my opinions, haha."
"No, your opinions were very useful and I learned a lot from them. There's only one thing that I regret."
"What is it?" Lisa was a little confused.
"You have such a great gift, why don't you try for a medical degree while you're still young? If you start now, you'll definitely find success in the medical field. Last week, the British Royal Hospital gave us an exchange opportunity. It's a 6-month ophthalmology discussion and exchange program. I really want you to go, what do you think?"
"Director Jung, I'm not familiar in the field of ophthalmology, haha."
"You don't have to hide it from me, I know. Before Krystal and Kai got married, I got somebody to investigate into him. You wrote all of his ophthalmology papers for him, is that correct?"
"Uh..." Being exposed made Lisa quite uncomfortable.
"Sorry, Director Jung. I shouldn't have lied to you for him."
"No, you didn't do anything wrong. I only feel that your talent is wasted by merely being a nurse here at South Side. Even if you succeed and choose to leave the hospital, that's still fine by me. I still want to hone and train you."
"Director Jung, thank you for the opportunity, but... I don't want to go to England. I think that my current occupation is great. It's fulfilling, engaging, and meaningful. I believe that in life, one's fame or riches don't equate success. As long as I set goals and do my job, life is meaningful. For example, ordinary sanitation workers clean the streets day after day, but it's because of them that our city is clean. We can't say that they're wasted doing that, we can only say that people have their own goals in life. As for me, I want a quiet and peaceful life, one that I can spend with my family. I want to work at a job I enjoy and retire when the time comes. I don't have big dreams, and I can be happy living a plain life."
"I finally see why Dr. Jungkook treats you so well... Anyways, you're an excellent girl, I believe that you'll always be happy like you are now."
Director Jung's words were not direct, but someone as smart as him had guessed Lisa and Jungkook's relationship already.
"Thank you for your blessing."
After saying farewell to Director Jung and leaving the conference room, Lisa's mood was quite joyous. She sincerely hoped that South Side could change for the better.
If she remembered right, this was the third time Director Jung talked about sending her abroad to study.
To others, the opportunity may have been once in a lifetime, but she rejected it so nonchalantly.
In fact, to Lisa, the biggest happiness came from being alongside Jungkook. She already had no other ambitions.
When she got home from work, Jungkook had just gotten back as well and was making dinner.
Lisa walked in and embraced Jungkook's waist from the back in a teasing manner.
"Husband, thanks for your hard work."
"Are you hungry?" Jungkook smiled and turned around. He tilted Lisa's face up gently and asked.
"Mhm, I'm hungry. What are we having tonight?" Lisa stuck her tongue out.
"You'll find out in a bit. Go freshen up."
Lisa went upstairs. She changed into a light red tracksuit, washed her hands, and then went back downstairs.
Jungkook had already placed the food on the dining table...
It was actually... a seafood feast...
Spicy stir-fried crabs, steamed crabs, boiled clams, garlic-steamed scallops, boiled conch, and her favorite - steamed mantis shrimp.
"Did you go to the seafood market?"
"No, I got someone from JC to buy it from some fishermen off the boat. Seafood is fresher when you buy it like that."
"Honey, you know me so well."
Lisa was drooling over the table full of seafood...
"Eat as much as you want. But before that, drink some ginger tea to warm up your tummy." After speaking, Jungkook handed her a bowl of ginger and brown sugar tea.
Lisa's heart felt warm from Jungkook's detailed care.
"But you'll get enteritis from eating seafood! What are you going to eat?" Lisa was a little worried for Jungkook.
"I made some pickled vegetables and Chicken noodles for myself."
"Uh... But doesn't it seem like I'm bullying you, like I am above you by eating a seafood feast and making you eat just noodles?"
"I don't think you've ever been above me yet since we got married."
"Pff... don't be so dirty, I'm being serious here."
"I've always been serious." Jungkook lowered his head and ate a mouthful of noodles.
"Fine, fine. I knew you were just teasing me. By the way, Director Jung held a meeting today, and he said... he said he wanted to send me to the British Royal Hospital to be an exchange doctor. What do you think?" Lisa purposefully asked.
After speaking, she secretly glanced to see Jungkook's reaction...
As she had expected, Jungkook's hand paused for a second before he raised his head and looked at Lisa, "The British Royal Hospital has a great global reputation, and it's great that you have an opportunity to go. "
"But I would be gone for 6 months. Won't you miss me?"
"No," Jungkook's reply was crisp and clear.
Lisa was a little disappointed... She lowered her head and silently ate the mantis shrimp.
Just then, Jungkook added, "I'll go to England with you. I will still have to see you every day, what is there to miss?"
"You'll be going to England too? What about JC?" Lisa's eyes opened wide.
"That's my father's business, not mine."
"Honey... you're too great," Lisa said sweetly and then smiled, "I'm actually just teasing you, I already rejected Director Jung's offer. I'm not going to England because my family is here and I don't want to leave. I'm already satisfied with my life as it is."
"Doll, if you really want to go, I'll go with you." Jungkook knew that learning medicine had always been Lisa's greatest pursuit.
Lisa shook her head, "I don't want to go anymore. Everyone has different dreams at different stages of their lives. I may have wanted to be a doctor a long time ago, but now, I am perfectly satisfied. Why should I change my life now?"
"No matter what you decide, I'll support you."
"If you're an emperor, you must be an incapable one, haha, focusing so much on your queen," Lisa gleefully laughed.
"It won't matter as long as you're the reason for my incapacity, right?"
The seafood feast rendered Lisa fully satisfied, and the two of them cuddled to sleep. The next morning, Lisa went to work early.
It was already 8:45 AM when Sana strolled in late...
"Traffic jam," Sana simply said, as she did not realize the consequences of her tardiness.
"Five minutes late is a fine of five thousand won, ten minutes is ten thousand. You're fifteen minutes late. Before eleven o'clock, please pay your fifteen thousand fine at the Finance Department," Lisa spoke in a formal tone.
"What gives you the right to do that?" Sana was immediately furious as she looked at Lisa angrily.
"Because I'm your supervisor."
"Don't think you can do whatever you want just because you're the head nurse. I've been here longer than you, so why are you so arrogant? Let me tell you, if you dare to fine me, I'm not going to go easy on you."
"Sana, when Head Nurse Song was here, she didn't mark you as late because you would notify her beforehand even if you were stuck in traffic. I am not an unreasonable person; if you had told me in advance, I would be okay with it. But you showed no respect for me. As I said, if you respect me, I would respect you. If you don't, then I'm not a pushover either. You can choose not to pay the fine, but I will appeal to the higher-ups to fire you. That's all."
"Lisa, you bitch..." Sana was so mad that she cursed Lisa behind her back.
She always felt that Lisa was deliberately making things difficult for her.
But the truth was, Lisa was just being professional. The changes at South Side were already approved; she and the other head nurses already had a meeting.
They decided to target the nurses with bad behavior, one by one. Anyone who arrived late or left work early would be fined, and any mistakes at work would also be recorded.
Director Jung quickly approved the changes and decided to completely rectify the behaviors at South Side.
As a leader of the changes in the hospital, even though Lisa's professional conduct was admirable, she was still criticized, hated, and isolated by a lot of people.
During lunch, no one wanted to sit with her. They all gossiped about her behind her back.
But Lisa was already used to this kind of treatment, and she never cared about what others said about her.
In the afternoon, Lisa went to check up on room 2 and discovered that Grandpa had already packed his things.
"Grandpa, you're being discharged this afternoon, right?"
"Yes, it's already been two months. Time goes by so quickly!" Grandpa said with an amicable smile.
"You are recovering very well, but you have to strictly control your diet. You must not drink any alcohol or eat any sugary foods."
"I know, I know, you nag too much."
"Haha, I nag for your own good."
"I know. To be honest, I really like you. It's a pity that you couldn't become my granddaughter-in-law," Grandpa sighed.
"Here you go again, haha." Lisa laughed as she covered her mouth.
"I heard that you have a boyfriend. Who is the lucky guy? Anyways, during this time, you took great care of me. Let's keep in touch. When you are free, come to my house and we can play chess together."
"Okay, don't worry Grandpa, if you rest well and remain in good health, I will definitely come and visit you."
"I will miss you, why don't we play one more game? I'll ask the car to wait for me."
"Ah, I don't think that's a good idea." Lisa seemed reluctant.
"Please, just one match? Don't go easy on me this time, let's both use all we've got." After speaking, without giving Lisa a chance to finish her words, Grandpa had already started setting up the chess pieces.
Lisa did not have the heart to reject his wishes, so she had no choice but to play with him.
In the end, Lisa won marginally. Grandpa gave her a thumbs up and said, "You are such a smart kid, you set me up step by step and fooled me."
"All's fair in love and war," Lisa said with a smile.
"I'm going to go now, remember to visit me!"
Grandpa left the hospital under the escort of his family. To be honest, Lisa was sad to part with him.
Quite a few patients were admitted to the Orthopedics Department but since Lisa was now a head nurse, she did not spend much time taking care of the patients personally.
That afternoon, Sana suddenly came over and asked Lisa in front of the other nurses, "Head Nurse, I heard that you spent your working hours playing chess with a patient. Is this not considered as bad behavior? Shouldn't you pay a fine? Don't tell me you have special privileges here."