From clinical to comic: Chinese nurse repurposes surgeon gloves

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Latex surgeon gloves don't exactly evoke happy feelings, especially for sick children getting ready to go under the knife. But a nurse in east China's Shandong Province has taken a comic spin on the clinical gloves, turning them into animal shapes and cartoon characters.

Zhang Hui, from the Second Hospital of Shandong University, likes both her job and children. But dealing with young patients in pain weighs down on anyone in the medical field, so Zhang got creative and turned vinyl gloves into balloons, drawing on them so they could look like peacocks, rabbits, Mickey Mouse or everyone's favorite Japanese monster Totoro.

The nurse uses her inventions to bring comfort to kids when they're undergoing surgery.

A Totoro made by Zhang Hui with medical gloves /Photo via Qilueveningnews

Most of the patients in the children surgery department are under 18 of age, with those under 12 years old accounting for the great majority.

Their young age makes it hard for them to cope with surgical procedures.

Some cases require the administration of general anesthetics, while others only require local anesthesia, hence kids stay up as doctors proceed with their surgery. These times could be scary for children, and Zhang tries to make things a little less hard on them.

A peacock made by Zhang Hui with medical gloves /Photo via Qilueveningnews

"I totally understand these children’s fear and stress. No family member accompanies them in the strange environment of the operating room, so I want to try my best to satisfy their requirements to make them feel relaxed," Zhang said.

She comes up with different ways to communicate with little patients to appease them.

Other than the balloons she hands out, Zhang also uses her mobile phone for kids to watch cartoons.

"For older children, I like to talk to them to reduce their fear and stress."

A child holds the surgical "balloon" after an operation. /Photo via Qilueveningnews

Lele, 13, underwent a surgery for a leg fracture earlier this week. The surgeon had decided not to induce unconsciousness, and so the boy would be awake during the operation.

But Zhang was ready to make the trip to the operating room as least frightening as possible.

"He just looked reluctant when he stood in front of the operating room. I tried to chat with him and learned that he likes to watch cartoons. I immediately downloaded some shows on my phone for the operation," Zhang said.

Throughout the hour-long procedure, Zhang had to hold her phone for Lele to watch cartoons, but that didn't tire her.

"I did not feel tired. It’s normal for my work to make children at ease," Zhang said with a smile.