The Chinese Nurse

This was my third trip to China, and I was there alone to approve colors and quality for critical components that were holding up the launch of an innovative product. The project came with immense pressure from leadership and a pressing need to resolve the issues.

I arrived early at the factory, and while examining the samples, a pair of scissors fell and landed point-first on my foot.

The damage wasn’t severe, but the scissors were rusty, and my tetanus shot was almost as old as they were.

When I got to the hospital, I had to enter the treatment room by myself. I didn’t speak Chinese, and the doctor didn’t speak English.

We stared at each other for a few moments, both wondering, “What now?” Then I remembered I had a photo of the scissors on my phone. What followed was an exaggerated reenactment of the scissors falling on my foot, complete with splash sound effects. The doctor seemed to understand, responding with an amused “ohhhhhh ho ho ho.” I was also handed a vial labeled in Chinese, and I thought, “God help me, I hope he understood!”

I sat down in the designated area and instantly became a tourist attraction; I obviously stood out and caught everyone’s attention.

A woman in the hallway, dressed in a nurse’s uniform reminiscent of World War II, moved about with commanding authority. She shouted orders as if she were a general.

The supplier approached and, to heighten the drama, informed me that she would be my nurse. She was the head nurse, and the other nurses seemed intimidated by having a foreigner in their midst. As someone who was not a fan of needles, I must admit that this added to my tension.

Finally, she called me over, and this time, I used gestures to ask where the injection would take place. With a mischievous grin, she instructed me to lower my pants. I barely felt the needle! It was quick and painless.

Since that experience, I have no longer feared injections. I learned a valuable lesson from the Chinese nurse.

She taught me that being a leader is not just about managing people; it’s about taking responsibility, tackling the toughest tasks with courage, and leading by example and experience. True leadership involves not just the right attitude but also decisive actions.