Do Thi Kim Oanh has worked 12 years in the intensive care unit (ICU) of Hospital 19‑8 in Hanoi. Her daily routine is filled with beeping monitors, night shifts and moments when a patient’s fate can change in seconds. Reading her experience helps us see how professionals survive such pressure.

In the central ICU, nurses must constantly monitor patients, intervene quickly, and handle life‑or‑death moments within seconds. Any delay can directly affect a patient’s chance of survival, so the team stays alert to every tiny change in vital signs.

Oanh chose to specialize in emergency resuscitation after her cousin died in an ICU, a loss that made her want to do something better for patients and families. The role demands technical competence and continuous learning, which she has pursued since joining the hospital in 2014.

During her career she has seen both tragic outcomes and remarkable recoveries. Very young patients brought in after traffic accidents sometimes do not survive, while other cases—such as a police officer who arrived in a coma, received ventilation and brain surgery, and later regained consciousness and could breathe on his own—show how small improvements can bring great hope.

To balance the stress of night shifts, Oanh walks, plays sports, studies English, and exchanges ideas with colleagues and senior professionals from major hospitals. These habits help her keep energy and composure for the next patient.

Oanh’s 12‑year journey teaches that staying vigilant, updating skills, and caring for one’s own well‑being are essential for handling the intense pressure of ICU work. Her example shows that resilience is built through both professional dedication and simple personal routines.