Rumors of the hospital reform began with a Monday morning meeting.
The head nurse stood in front of the nurses' station, holding a stack of notices, her expression more serious than usual. Instead of speaking about the ward situation first as she normally did, she cleared her throat and said, “The hospital has recently been reviewing positions, and the nursing department will also cooperate with adjustments to the personnel structure. Everyone, pay a little more attention to your work records, attendance records, and complaints during this period.”
The nurses' station fell silent for several seconds.
Xiao Zhou asked the person beside her in a low voice, “What does adjusting the personnel structure mean?”
No one answered.
Shen Nanxing lowered her head and looked at the nursing records sheet in her hand, but her heart suddenly sank. She had been at the hospital for so many years that she knew all too well what certain words meant beneath the surface. Optimization, review, adjustment—phrased with dignity, but when applied to specific people, they could mean reassignment, a pay cut, or even leaving.
After the morning meeting ended, the head nurse called out to her. “Nanxing, come here for a moment.”
The office door closed, shutting out the commotion outside. The head nurse poured her a glass of water. Her tone was not particularly harsh, but it carried the implication of an advance warning.
“You’ve been in the Emergency Department for twelve years. I recognize your professional abilities.”
Hearing this, Shen Nanxing felt even more tense.
Many unpleasant conversations began with recognition.
The head nurse continued, “But you also know that the hospital is under a lot of pressure right now, and the costs of nursing positions are being calculated as well. The hospital favors younger employees and more flexible employment. With two children at home, arranging night shift work for you really is inconvenient.”
Shen Nanxing gripped the paper cup, her fingertips growing slightly warm.
“Head nurse, my family has never affected my work.”
“I know. I’m not saying you’re inadequate.” The head nurse sighed. “I’m just warning you in advance: don’t make any mistakes lately, and try to avoid complaints as much as possible. The people above look at the data. They may not look at the process.”
Data.
Shen Nanxing suddenly felt that word was cold. Twelve years of night shift work, twelve years of emergency rescues, twelve years of moving back and forth between patients’ and their families’ emotions—everything might ultimately be compressed into an age, a contract type, the number of leave requests, and complaint records on a single spreadsheet.
When she left the office, Xiao Zhou was holding an infusion card and looking for her to verify it.
“Teacher Shen, I’m afraid I read this dosage incorrectly.”
Shen Nanxing took it and quickly confirmed it. “It’s correct, but slow the drip rate. The elderly patient has poor cardiac function.”
“Okay.”
Xiao Zhou looked at her and suddenly said, “Teacher Shen, I feel at ease as long as you’re here.”
Shen Nanxing smiled.
Those words made her heart ache. The young nurses felt at ease because she was standing here, but the hospital might not necessarily need an experienced nurse who made young nurses feel safe. The hospital needed lower costs, more flexible scheduling, and better-looking data.
At lunchtime, several people from the department colleagues discussed the reform in low voices.
Someone said, “I heard they’ll start with contract workers.”
Someone else said, “No way. Our department is already short-staffed.”
Another person lowered their voice. “Being short-staffed is one thing; saving money is another. New hires have lower salaries, and they can still work through the night.”
Shen Nanxing sat beside them, eating silently. The food had little flavor, but she continued swallowing it one bite at a time. She could not panic. There was still the mortgage, her two children’s tuition, and the possible future medical expenses of the elderly patient in her family.
After work that evening, she passed through the hospital lobby and saw the promotional screen scrolling the words, “Building a modern hospital with warmth.”
With warmth.
Shen Nanxing stopped for a second and suddenly found it somewhat ironic.
The hospital could of course have warmth. It was just that the warmth was often given to patients, to honors, and to the publicity boards.
When it came to nurses like them, who had run through the corridors for twelve years, what remained might be nothing more than a cold calculation of their positions.