I am an Administrator in PSOPD Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital.
In my department I mainly do admin, however in my case that can be ‘broad’ at times. It can include some of the things Nurses do, and I help where doctors need help too. For example; I hold patients, help with taking blood, help to prepare patients when they go to theatre and because we are in South Africa, language is a problem so I also do interpretations from African languages to English or vice versa making sure that the mom’s understand the procedures. In a nutshell my work is not limited to my job title, I do everything!
I have got so much experience in this field as I have worked over 10 years now.
I have a family of four, my wife and two boys a 9 and 11 year olds. My wife is not working, she is running a few projects here and there, my kids are both in school grade 6 and grade 3.
Everything about my job is my favourite, I absolutely love my job and I couldn’t fault it in any way. I love interacting with these patients, how they respond when I am around them is priceless. Talking with them, knowing what is happening in their lives moreover their sickness makes me to be more concerned about their wellbeing.
As I said previously there is nothing least I don’t like about my job, I wake up looking forward every morning. This place makes me rejoice, I couldn’t be happier.
The day in my work: When I get to work, I open all the consultation rooms, check if all is in order and if its clean. If not clean I call the cleaners out to clean before the day starts or sometimes I even do that myself. Secondly, I switch on my computer to see who has a theatre appointment on the day if there is a theatre list I call the patients on the spot to check if they are still coming or to remind them that they have an appointment, I might have done that the previous day but it’s now a different day. For example, today we had two appointments and I had confirmed with them yesterday but they did not turn up and their phones were switched off when I tried calling them. I always have to follow up with the patients. By that time, probably 2-3 patients are around for clinic. I have to check on them – do they have a registration stamp? Do they have a file? Do they have the conditions we are going to see at clinic today or not? Before clinic, I need to check that each and every doctor has everything they need in their rooms. Then after that, we are preparing everyone that is going to theatre. I talk to the doctors, check everyone has a consent form – this must be signed before the operation. If there is no consent, I have to see which doctor is around to come and do the consent, but consent doesn’t mean they have to sign and then leave – consent means we have to explain to the mom what’s happening and what the procedure is all about so I must translate. If somebody needs me to explain or interpret – I’ll leave my desk and be there. Answering the phones, explaining to everyone what’s happening, registering everyone that is there. But everything I do is my favourite – I love my job. Every day I look forward to it. That’s why I am happy when I am here.
My wish for South Africa is to see the crimes going down, it’s really not good for a person to go to work in the morning not knowing if they will make it back home alive to see their families, or they will be robbed and taken all their belongings. That is very scary!!!
