Ko-fi

Late on my first day. Just my luck. With a wife and two kids to feed, and £40,000 of nursing school fees hanging around my neck, I literally couldn't afford to lose this job. Certainly not before I'd even started.

I ran down empty, sterile corridors reeking of disinfectant, searching for the ward. It was no great surprise that there was no staff member to point me in the right direction - as one of the most cutting edge hospitals, much of the patient care at Donchester Royal Infirmary was automated. A roomba scudded along the floor behind me, soaping and sterilising each footstep. Almost as many technicians worked here as nurses!

That was one of the reasons I was so happy to lland this job. Even though the contract was zero-hours and unbreakable for two years, I signed on the spot.

Finally there it was - Ward 12B!

The steely gaze of Doctor Hardwick cut through me as I blurted my apology. It was as though he was sizing me up.

"Here at the DRI, punctuality is paramount. We expect everything to run like clockwork, including our staff." His tone softened. "But... I'm confident this wont happen again. Let's go fit you into your uniform. I'm looking forward to working on you."

"Um. I look forward to working with you too."