Mohammad Arfat Wani
On the first day of April 2026, I entered SMHS Hospital Srinagar not merely as a student, but as someone stepping into a profession that demands patience, compassion, and responsibility. A quiet mix of fear and excitement stayed within me. The long corridors, the steady movement of staff, and the silent pain on patients faces made me realize that this was not just a hospital, but a place where life is tested and hope is restored. My posting began in Ward 5 of the medicine department, where I met nursing staff including Bilal Sir and Rozy Maam, whose calm and welcoming nature eased my nervousness. I also observed my seniors, Imtiyaz Sir and Seerat Maam, who were skilled, kind, and humble. Alongside my fellow students Yasir, Owais, and Aiman, I began this journey with hope, though uncertainty remained.
On the very first day, our Clinical Incharge, Sakia Maam came and asked us questions. It was not easy. She was checking both knowledge and confidence. She said one thing that stuck later, that observation is half learning. At that time I didn’t really get it properly. We were told to maintain a clinical diary. Slowly I started writing it, but in the beginning, my time in the ward felt very limited. Most of the work was just medication rounds, and there were too many students, so chances to do things were less. I started feeling like I am just coming, watching, spending money, and going back without much learning. Sometimes I even felt maybe this is not useful for me.
On the third day, an incident changed everything. While breaking an ampoule, it slipped and a sharp piece pierced my thumb, causing heavy bleeding. I had done it before, but this time it went wrong. I was taken to the emergency department, where I was advised stitches, but I chose dressing. What stayed with me was not the pain, but the care. Tabasum Maam was concerned about me, administered an injection herself, and insisted that I take two days of rest because of the loss of blood. Her kindness showed me that healthcare is not only about treatment, but about humanity. After taking permission, I stayed home for two days, recovering and reflecting. I realized that if I truly wanted to learn, I needed to take initiative.
When I returned, I decided to move to the emergency department. With the help of my friend Junaid Shafi from GMC Srinagar, I shifted there. He personally brought me and stayed with me for hours on my first day. The environment there was active, demanding, and full of learning. It was here that I met Navi Maam and Rafiya Maam. At first, I thought they were senior students because of their friendly and simple nature, but later I realized they were staff members. I even told Navi Maam that she still felt like one of us. When she noticed my hands still marked with blood, she said with concern, “Zan chuth kath moormut,” which showed her attentiveness and care.
Apart from being exceptionally skilled, Navi Maam and Rafiya Maam were exceptional due to their humanness. These two taught me with a lot of patience, ensured I understood every aspect of what they taught, and ensured that I did not get intimidated in any way. My confidence levels grew thanks to them. Both of them exhibited great humanness in the way they treated patients and the students. I remember how Rafia Maam once introduced me to another staff member by saying, “This is my cousin,” a small gesture that made me feel valued. In their presence, I never feared mistakes, because I knew I would be guided with kindness.
In emergency, everything started feeling real. I started spending more and more time there. Sometimes I stayed till evening, sometimes I came back again early morning around 7. In around ten days, I learned more than I had learned before. I started understanding patient care in a real way. I saw how medicines are given oral, IV, IM. I learned how to set IV lines, manage drips, insert cannulas, and give glucose. I also learned blood sampling in a better way. Slowly my confidence increased. I also understood how important hygiene and infection control is. And communication that was another big thing. Talking to patients and their families in a respectful way matters a lot.
I was present in the emergency ward throughout from 10 o’clock till 2 o’clock at night. In this process, I earned great experience and learning opportunities. But during this duration, an accident happened due to the negligence of the patient’s attendant, resulting in a prick on me, making Navi Maam and Rafiya Maam quite worried about me. They sent the blood sample of the patient to be tested and got the test kit from my pocket. Luckily, the result was negative, but still it was a very stressful situation for me. I am extremely grateful to them for all the trouble they took for me and even consulted the doctor themselves.
They tried their best to make arrangements for me to stay in a room but did not have to bother as I have some friends in this area who helped me stay in their rooms. They provided me with a doctor’s room, and I slept there till 6 AM and then continued my duty.
In the early hours of the morning at around ten o’clock, four students visited in the emergency ward. They inquired about my presence there because it was not included in my shift roster. Consequently, Maam became aware of this and messaged in the group saying that Arfat will be absent for seven days. It broke my heart as I intended nothing but to learn something.
During this time, I also started feeling responsibility. Many patients and attendants started calling me “Sir.” It felt good, but at the same time it also made me serious. I started thinking more carefully about my behavior and actions because people were trusting me.
The following day, while visiting my ward, a father of Member of Parliament Engineer Rashid was admitted to the hospital. His brother MLA sahab and other family members were also there. Thus, I had the chance to draw blood sample from him. I felt satisfied and happy as it enabled me to put into practice what I had learned.
One strong thing I felt during this journey was emotional connection with patients. Many times I saw them and somehow felt like they are my own elders, like my grandparents. That feeling changed me. I stopped seeing them as just cases. I started caring naturally. Every patient has a story, pain, and struggle. I realized dignity and respect matter as much as treatment. That made me more sure that I am in the right field. I don’t just want skills, I want to be useful for people.
The encouragement of senior students like Rahil Sir and Shakir Sir contributed to my growth as well. The senior students guided me in terms of processes and knowledge sharing, making me understand that health education is something to be undertaken as a community. But retrospectively, I find that my frustrations in Ward 5 were actually very beneficial to me. They made me take things into my own hands and make the most appropriate decisions for myself.
In addition, I extended an apology to the clinical in-charge, Saika Maam. Even though there were other college students present, they did not receive the same treatment as mine, and this affected me greatly. It made me reflect on the type of environment that I belong to, and at times, I feel that my college is overly strict, and it mustn’t be like that.
Despite everything, I acknowledge the fact that the lessons I gained from the emergency ward will probably never come by in the other wards that I was assigned to. In this regard, the situation taught me several things that contributed to strengthening my patience, courage, and love for learning.
I did not come into nursing with big dreams. It was simple for me, just to help people in some way. But now that simple thought has turned into something stronger. I really want to serve people with honesty.
To every nursing student, I would just say one thing don’t rush. First observe, then understand. Confidence will come slowly. Every patient teaches something. If your intention is real, you will grow automatically. This journey is just starting, but I already feel that real success in healthcare is not only about skill, it is about staying human, kind, and present for people when they need you.
(The author is a freelancer. He hails from Kuchmulla, Tral and can be reached at [email protected])
