The First Ward Round

Text 1: Bed Nine, by Nikhil Barwell

An original novel extract.

Dr Amara Osei had been a doctor for exactly six hours and eleven minutes, and she was fairly sure everyone could tell. Her lanyard was too new. Her stethoscope was too shiny. Her pockets bulged with a notebook, three pens, a pocket guide to drug doses and a cereal bar she had not had time to eat.

The consultant, Mr Haddow, moved down the ward like a ship with a wake of students behind him. He stopped at bed nine. ‘Doctor,’ he said, and it took Amara a full second to realise he meant her. ‘Tell us about this gentleman.’

Every face turned. Her mind, which had held seven years of anatomy and pharmacology that morning, emptied like a sink with the plug pulled. She looked at the notes. The words swam. Somewhere a monitor beeped, steady and indifferent. ‘Mr Sayers,’ she began. ‘Seventy-four. Admitted with,’ and she stopped, and swallowed. Then she looked at the man in the bed, really looked at him, and he winked at her. It was a very small wink. But it was enough. ‘Admitted with chest pain,’ she said, and her voice came out clear.

How does Nikhil Barwell use language and structure to show Amara’s nervousness on her first day as a doctor?

You should use relevant subject terminology to support your answer.