Sunday, July 11, 2010

To summed it up

I still remember the first day I had my duty in medical-surgical and OB ward was a “toxic” one. “Toxic” is an adjective or a term that we used pertaining to the situation that we encountered during our shift. I think in layman’s term are busy, irritable patients and family members, and patients who were in critical who need immediate care. It amazed me how I overcome that day and finished all my tasks. I even missed to eat my lunch and I don’t attend the birthday celebration of dear childhood friend who really expect my presence. Thanks to our new Resident on Duty, that time he was my Superman who saved me. Since then, we became friends----- “feeling close”. To my co-nurses and other staff who became my mentors and friends.

Wow! That was three months ago, and now nine days to go before the expiration of my contract in the hospital currently I am employed. That hospital molded me of being what I am now, from a novice nurse turned to be an advanced beginner. (Novice and advanced beginner are Benner:level of competency.) I learned a lot of things working in that hospital, on how to face different kinds of situation and how to deal with it. I encountered different kinds of people who possess unique personalities. In other word, this is the real world, the real battlefield where I need to be strong and brave in order to survive.

I am uncertain what would be my life after the expiration of my contract on that hospital. Is there any job opportunity waits for me in other hospital? Is there a renewal of contract in the said hospital? Who knows? God only knows what future brings into my life. This shows my worrier heart. I believed, God is faithful in my life, however, my human heart and mind worries everything. He answered my prayers and even gave beyond what I’ve asked. Why should I worry as what He promised on Jeremiah 29:11.

My favorites

As I walked to path of my profession, there are things that I loved to do. These things really inspire me and I can say molded me as a nurse and at the same time as a human being.

First, I really love to talked (chika) with my patient and family members. There is eagerness in me of knowing the reason of seeking health care attention. It is a sort of assessment in my patient.

Second, this task had a great responsible and you are accountable with your patient, administration of medication to my patient. In this part really takes my time and effort to rechecked, rechecked and rechecked. It reveals my obsessive-compulsive personality. In giving medicines you should know what the indication of the said medication based on the medical condition of the patient.

Third, doing the intravenous insertion to my patient. I just discovered this eagerness to learn and to become an expert to this task last June 2010. I really love to make “tusok-tusok”. I really love to do intravenous insertion. During intravenous insertion, I silently pray “Lord, kaisa lang unta nako matusokan akong patient. dapat in ko Lord para isa lang sakit.”(Lord, please just one attempt and I hope would be successful, for the less agony for my patient.) I know the feeling of my patient because I tried it to have intravenous insertion. It really smile me when I see back flow of blood on the needle and silently shout “Yes, naa dugo! in ko! hehehe” And made an assurance to the patient that I succeed “ tapos na po Ma’am/Sir.”

Hand of Anne. Our dummy during the intravenous therapy training.

Are you ready Anne?
Fourth, doing rounds with the attending physician or resident on duty. I really love to have rounds with attending physician because that time I learned a lot of things regarding my patient. During rounds, there is an opportunity the physician explain the present condition of the patient. That is sort of lecture in Pathophysiology of different kinds of diseases it helps me to understand the condition of my patient. And rounds with the resident on duty is my happy moment especially if my “crushie dokie” is the resident on duty. LOL! Nothing compares that moment. If my “crushie dokie” is on duty no worries I am not hesitant to refer any unusualities regarding my patient condition. Well, it’s an opportunity to talk with him on the phone.


Fourth, like the students in school who love break time, me too love break time- lunch time, snack time dinner time. I can’t deny the fact that I really love to eat especially chocolates. Since, I had my duty in ward, chocolates greatly help me to have energy because most of the time during my duty I skip meal because I am thinking of lot of things to do and there is no way to take a pause and eat my meal. Time is gold. I know skipping meals is not a good habit. It is unhealthy one.

Lastly, I love to receive food or gift of gratitude from our patients or simply there simple “thank you” and smile from there fades the exhaustion that I felt during the shift. It means they got satisfied on the nursing care that I gave to them.