Early on the morning of April 26, 2022, Majun, a nurse, explained to her colleagues the conditions of patients who need to be paid close attention to in the CCU (coronary care units) of the Affiliated Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Xinjiang Medical University (the Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region) in Urumqi, northwest China’s Xinjiang.

Photo taken April 26, 2022 shows nurse Ma Jun dispenses medicine for patients. (Photo by Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily/ Su Luping)

In 2016, twenty-first-year-old Ma Jun entered the Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and the first department of her nursing clinical rotation was CCU. Seeing her teachers saving many dying patients, Ma Jun deeply felt the value of being a nurse. After the rotation expired, she chose to work at the CCU.

One day when she was on the night shift alone, a patient with coronary heart disease combined with hypertension and diabetes died suddenly due to the overexertion of defecation at 4:00 AM.

Ma Jun and the doctor on duty immediately performed CPR on the patient, established venous access, applied tracheal intubation, intravenous infusion and invasive Respiratory Support. However, after longtime chest compression in turns and fighting for more than one hour to save the patient’s life, they still failed.

This made her feel helpless, even made her feel discouraged. With the help of the matron and the medical staff of the department, Ma Jun got through the period that led to a growth in her life. The failure made up her mind that she must improve her professional knowledge and skills to save patients’ lives as much as she can.

Every time when she takes a ward round, she records every detail. When she works on three shifts, she will ask for help and solve problems as soon as they come up. She attends every department training session and makes as much preparation as possible before every test. “There are many derivative and inter-related subjects to CCU, and the hospital often sends us to corresponding departments to study. Now, I am more calm and professional than before.” said Ma Jun.

Ma Jun still remembers the experience of saving the life of a 70-year-old man who had sudden cardiac arrest. Catching the golden hour, Ma Jun and other nurses cooperated with doctors to perform CPR, establish venous access and apply tracheal intubation, and finally, the old man gradually regained his heartbeat. Through considerate medical treatment and care, a week later, the tracheal intubation was removed and the old man discharged from the hospital.

As a nurse in CCU, Ma knows the significance of CPR. In spare times, she always popularizes relevant knowledge and methods to those around her in various ways. “The Party and the government give a lot of care to our medical workers, and the hospital provides us with a broad platform for our own development. I wish I can help more patients through my continuous effort.” said Ma Jun.