Greendale Asylum - Chapter 3

The alarm sounded like a high-pitched bell, ringing on and off as the bustle of staff in front of her swarmed the nurse station ahead of them. The Ward was set out the same as Ward B, the long corridor leading into the nurse's station where the patient rooms, living areas and dining areas were all situated.

Amber stayed at the entrance of the Ward, not moving giving Rebecca a firm look. 'Stay here, behind me until the alarm stops sounding.'

'I've had PBS training, if a patient comes our way I can help.' Rebecca smiled; the alarm unwavering as they raised their voices to hear one another.

'PBS training is good Rebecca, but not when you don't know what your handling, when you've met the patients then I agree, you can help but not when you don't know who could be coming at you. You're a student still, you're my responsibility, don't risk yourself.'

Amber's stern voice stood Rebecca to the spot, she nodded at her, the growing excitement in her chest being pushed down by the need to be sensible and professional in front of her new mentor.

Ahead of them, the alarm became apparent. A young man, looking to be around the same age as Rebecca, came bounding into the corridor. A number of staff care assistants following before knocking him to the floor. Raised voices were heard, talk of an assault on a member of staff, he was physically restrained to the spot, the same restraint training he had been given for her PLS training. His messy dark blonde hair fell over his face as he attempted to lift his head and body from his fallen position. Each of his limbs were pinned to the floor by a different member of staff as he arched and cried out defiantly in defence of his actions. A nurse, wearing the same tunic as Amber, but older, in her 40s with a dark complexion appeared from behind the restrained male. She unsheathed a needle, a relaxant or sedative she presumed as they injected him quickly. The man continued to fight for a few seconds before looking up at Amber and Rebecca, eyes locking with Rebecca's, a smile gracing his features to meet her own smile, a smile she was unaware she wore until an unamused glare from the older nurse was shot in her direction. Her smile dropped as the man's eyes rolled back into his head, going limp under their restraints.

'That's Cameron, you'll get used to his outbursts.' Amber chuckled quietly as she led Rebecca into the nurse station, following after the care assistants who were transporting the now unconscious Cameron to his room. 'Looks like he's going to be late for his medication again today, can't say Dr Kirkland is going to be too pleased with that.' Amber went back into her ritualistic preparation of the small clinic room, similar to that of Ward B but the storage in the room was far larger.

'He's another of Dr Kirkland's patients then?' Rebecca laughed slightly, an embarrassed look on Amber's face, seemingly something she had preferred to be an inside thought to what she had said out loud. 'Yes, he is' a sarcastic tone to her voice as she spoke.

'He can be a bit of a handful our Cameron, we'll have to try and give him his medication at lunchtime instead. Hopefully the others will be more settled.' Amber looked out across the large room as Rebecca followed her gaze. The men's Ward was manic, it smelt of urine and the men themselves were either bickering with one another or sat subdued in corners.

She watched as Amber dispensed the medication, walking in and out of the clinic room. whereas the women lined up for their medication the men were far more challenging. Amber advised Rebecca to watch, leaving introductions until she found her feet. The care assistants on this Ward were primed and ready for restraint, they watched everything Amber did, ready to defend if necessary. The Ward was far more tense than the women's, she could tell from Amber's expression, she was on edge every minute. She watched as a number of patients refused their medication, needing intervention to calm down. Amber looked exasperated from the experience, and they had only been there for not even a half hour.

Rebecca felt the anxiety in her chest grow but also excitement. 'Sorry Rebecca, it's a bit manic in here today, you can come and meet Nate with me if you'd like?' She smiled at her, shoulders dropping as if her stress was over.

'Nate?' Rebecca watched Amber dispense the last of the medication into a kidney dish.

'Yeah, he never gives me any trouble at all, he would probably be your best bet at introductions today. Not much of a talker but you never know he may acknowledge you.' She smiled, laughing sarcastically as she locked the clinic room door behind her.

'How big of him.' Rebecca laughed back as she crossed the Ward with Amber, towards a solitary male, sitting in the corner of the Ward, book in hand. His black chin length tresses lay heavily across his eyes, reminding Rebecca of a shaggy black dog. He was pale in appearance, muscular and she could tell if he stood, he would tower over Amber's short stature.

'Time for medication, Nate. I hope you don't mind I brought Rebecca with me, our new student nurse to introduce to you.' Amber spoke sweetly to him, though Nate didn't take his eyes off the book in front of him. He outstretched his arm, taking the tablet in one swallow.

Rebecca laughed nervously, making introductions didn't come naturally to her. 'God taking tablets without water, I don't know how you and Sharlena do it.' She laughed, alongside Amber who smiled in agreement.

Nate's attention shot to her, cold blue eyes baring into her, making Rebecca want to shudder all over. It was a flashed look before he turned his attention to Amber.

'She's taking her tablets again?' His voice was deep, concern lacing it. Rebecca looked confusingly at Amber who smiled sadly at him. 'She's getting there, she'll be back in the shared room any day, I'm sure!' She sounded optimistic as she said it, Nate's eyes baring into her for a few more seconds before turning back to his book.

Amber raised her eyes briefly at Rebecca as they turned away, back towards the clinic room. She released a breath she was holding. 'There's a shared room?' Rebecca followed after, looking back briefly at Nate who was now looking distantly out of the window beside him.

'Oh yes! In the afternoon's the patients can go into the shared room, it is connected to the outside garden and has some games and such in there for them to play games together, now were done here I'll take you back to meet with Sarah and we can meet again later for that, we always have nurses on standby in the shared room, in case we need any emergency treatment, if you get what I mean.' She smiled sarcastically at her, before closing up the clinic room and leading Rebecca out of the Ward once more.

They headed back towards the office block, back to their shared office with Sarah and Jessica. They had not arrived back yet from the older Wards. Amber used the office opposite Sarah's, meaning that they would all be within knocking distance of one another, Dr Kirkland's office remained closed with the blinds shut, she wondered when she would get the chance to meet him.

She took a seat at her new desk, getting her notepad out and taking notes on the patients she had met this morning, she liked to keep a diary of sorts when working on placements so she could look back and reflect on different things, she decided it would be the best time to do this when fresh in her mind, waiting for Sarah's return.