www.littlenars.com | Dianne Peña

I know my post is a bit late. Nevertheless, I wanted to share something about GLOBAL HAND WASHING DAY.

During my AHSE days, I was 2nd year college then, we we’re required to teach at some public schools about health for our NSTP subject. For that, we have chosen the most common topic yet very important, the PROPER HAND WASHING.

I would remember when I was 2nd year at my Primary Health Care class, we would demonstrate the proper way of hand washing, and no… it’s not simple for us nurses, there’s an art and you have to memorize each rationale for each step. Good thing, there are now Hand Sanitizers LOL!

Anyway, we taught from grade 1 to grade 4 pupils for they are much prone to diseases regarding hygiene. They are very active that they tend to touch whatever they want and go to places no matter how dirty it is. They should be properly taught about hand washing on when to do it and how to do it properly.

We first had a discussion and then we had them demonstrate to us what they have learned. We as instructors have so much fun and we can say that the students also had fun in learning about hand washing (surely, they had fun in singing happy birthday to determine on how long they will wash their hands LOL!).

Let’s always practice hand washing and prevent contamination from microorganisms— kidding, simply to prevent diseases. Indeed, it’s one of the simplest and universal precaution.

As for me, when there’s no sink or water for me to wash my hand, I always bring with me my handy alcohol. (My friends and I would joke that we’re becoming “oc-oc” obsessive-compulsive because every now and then, we would pour alcohol at our hands. LOL!)

I have always had a sweet tooth. I think I got it through genetics from my fraternal side and of course, Filipinos are fond of desserts or “Panghimagas” in Filipino. When I was growing, we would always have ice cream or cake after our lunch or dinner.

Then came, The White Hat.

I first knew about it from my brother, Jeric. When he first tried it, he never ceased to tell me how delicious and mouth-watering it was. He said that I should try it since he knows I have always had a big heart for sweets and so we did one day at Robinson’s Place Ermita, Midtown.

It never failed me. I remembered the taste of a frozen Yakult (my mother would always buy that for us when we were a child and sometimes until now. LOL!!). It is not actually an ice cream yet, it’s a new dessert you could try instead of your plain ice cream. It’s an ITALIAN FROZEN YOGURT, which is 98% fat- free and will definitely not make you guilty of the calories you will get and also, they use low-fat milk and added live, active yogurt cultures to make it even healthier.

However, the calorie content depends on what toppings you will going to choose with your frozen yogurt. No, I am not going to lecture about calories here (I actually don’t care how sinful it is as long as it’s delicious. LOL!) You could add 1 or more toppings depending on your preference and you could choose for over 21 fresh and premium toppings.

from The White Hat website

When you tasted their Italian frozen yogurt, you’ll know what makes it different from any other desserts. I loved my White Hat Classic Frozen Yogurt with Strawberry and Kiwi… Their frozen yogurt will bring you to pearly gates (I am exaggerating things am I? LOL!), sweets would always make me hyperactive. This is one heck of a must-try dessert. I am sure to invite my friends there.

So go and experience this one innovative dessert, White Hat Italian Frozen Yogurt at their branches in Robinson’s Place Midtown Wing and SM Mall of Asia. You could also check their website at www.thewhitehat.com.ph.for more information.

Here are some text messages I have received about health and about life…

Top 10 Biggest BRAIN DAMAGING HABITS:
1. No breakfast
2. Overeating
3. Smoking
4. High sugar consumpti0n
5. Air p0lluti0n
6. Sleep deprivati0n
7. Head c0vered while sleeping
8. W0rking brain during illness
9. Lacking in stimulating
10. Talking rarely

If this is true, I think I don’t have a brain anymore. LOL!

BULLETIN FOR A HAPPY LIFE:
1. More veggies, less meat;
2. More vinegar,less salt;
3. More fruits,less sweets;
4. Chew more,eat less;
5. More water,less soda;
6. More deeds,less talk;
7. More sharing,less desires;
8. More walks,less rides;
9. More laughter,less anger
10. More prayers,no worries!Ü

I definitely believe in this quote. Prayer is the best.

What to do when you wait for Operating Room and Delivery Room Cases at the wee hours of the night—or morning should I say?

playing BLUFF

Roe, PLaying Jackstone LOL!

playing pick-up sticks

after playing Hi Jack...

I know, it’s illegal but what can we do right? We could sleep but some of us, including me can’t sleep properly…

Lyne, mastering her skills at sleeping... LOL!

as well as Llanah...=p

For the third time, our group was assigned at Rizal Provincial Hospital only this time, we are at the OR/DR. During this rotation, (sad but true) was my first time at really performing the “handle”— the one who will catch the head of the baby and deliver the placenta. Though, I haven’t got the chance to catch the head because I don’t know what to do and the baby’s head was already out, I was the one who delivered the placenta. It was easy though the gush of blood stained by OR shoes and scrub suit. Waaaah!!! Nevertheless, it was a great experience. At least, I experienced that before I graduate…=p

with our clinical instructor

Another thing was, our group experienced our first mortality. Though, it really wasn’t our fault and the hospital itself, the baby was delivered dead already. It’s a condition called Intrauterine Fetal Death wherein the baby died inside the mother’s womb. It’s really heart-breaking to see the baby violet-colored, cold, unresponsive. He was just covered with white cloth on his side, lying in his own arms. I want him revived but there’s no resuscitation done because he was already dead probably hours before his delivery. My other group mate even cried. It was really sad.

During my DR completion last summer, I was able to observe a baby being resuscitated for almost 15 minutes because I will do the cord care. My heart stop as well as my breathing because the baby has no reaction to stimuli. Good thing, with constant compression, hyperventilating and suctioning, the baby was revived. As soon as he was revived, my breathing resumed and my heart started to pump.

I don’t want to see a baby dying as much as possible. I want them to live. After killing the baby during our VINES exposure, I’ll definitely make it good!

P.S: Pleasssseee… don’t tell this to the authority… or else… we’ll bite you and kill you with our venom ’cause we’re a PAITON snake (one of my group mate’s surname)… LOL!

.....hisssssssss.....

I am always fond of looking at the billboards as we travel and go to places. I envy those pretty ladies with alluring bodies because I once dreamt to be a model (LOL!!!!). Anyways, we know for a fact that there were— are some sexy- R18 billboards and ads not suitable for the mass people to see that gained much of issue and intrigue. Yeah, it definitely caused traffic and worse, accidents. Those billboards certainly caught drivers’ attention, which should not be the case.

Being trapped in a traffic, for some it’s a form of a distressing fact because they can rest their eyes, for some they are whining for they really want to get home early. But what if there would be pleasant billboards around in which passengers and even drivers would enjoy seeing?

That’s a different case.

Last October 16, 2008, there held a blogger event at Fully Booked, Bonifacio High Street entitled The Art of Billboards: 2nd Media Opens the Biggest Outdoor Gallery in Asia. The event is just small but they really relayed their aim in this endeavor. I am always interested in paintings as I am a frustrated fine artist (no, I can’t even draw. If that’s what you think…LOL!)

Dubbed as the biggest outdoor gallery in Asia, this endeavor features artworks from 10 most promising Filipino artists. Sharing a theme that highlights environmental awareness, these artworks located in key locations across the metro, is in support of the ongoing international movement rallying for nature conversation.

Not only they wanted to change the image of billboards but also, this could be a very effective tool in making the people knowledged and opening their eyes in certain issues.

With the disparaging issues regarding billboards, I say two thumbs up for the 2nd Media- the Public Affairs arm of the Outdoor Advertising Association of the Philippines’ (OAAP) endeavor in improving the image of billboards in our country.

Here are some of the artworks that you will hopefully see in the near future at South Luzon Expressway, North Luzon Expressway and EDSA:

This one is my favorite because of its health theme:

Coronary Angioplasty or the Percutaneous Coronary Intervention is an invasive procedure that uses a balloon tipped catheter to dilate a stenotic area of a blood vessel. It can improve the blood flow to the heart.

This procedure is done to manage arteriosclerosis, a common disease of the arteries in which the lining of the small arteries are being thickened and atherosclerosis, also a disease of the arteries which affects the medium and large sized arteries caused by accumulation of fats, calcium, blood components, carbohydrates and fibrous tissues referred to as plaques.

It is also done to reduce the damage to the heart muscles caused by heart attack and improve symptoms of coronary artery disease such as angina and shortness of breath.

Most angioplasty is a success but this is not a permanent intervention. Plaques may reoccur months after the operation when doctor’s orders and other lifestyle modification interventions are not followed.

One famous artist who had undergone angioplasty for the third time (I think) is Ely Buendia, the former vocalist of the band Eraserheads who just recently suffered from a heart attack last August 30, 2008.

This is lifted from Medical Surgical Nursing 10th edition by Brunner and Suddarth

For more information on Coronary Angioplasty click here.

*photos are from here and here

I have receive this HEART ATTACK SMS few weeks ago. I don’t know if its true because reliability for text messages is much lower than articles or books right? However, I believe that the very first intervention for a heart attack is OXYGEN ADMINISTRATION so I think this is partly true or reliable I must say. Here it goes:

Medical msg – HEART ATTACK sms

If ur alone and if u hav symptoms of chest pain that radiates to ur arm and up to ur jaw, it is a “HEART ATTACK”.

if No one to help and a hospital is far u cant wait. U have to help urself
-cough repeatedly and vigorously.
- take deep breathe before every cough.
-Deep breaths gets oxygen to lungs,
-coughing keeps blood circulation alive.

please forward this to ur friends and relatives..u can save life..

To add, Persons present and the patient itself should NOT PANIC because panic can constrict blood vessels that may hinder the blood and oxygen circulation in the body causing the condition to worsen.

*just comment if tis text message is wrong…=D

I killed a person today.

I thought what I know was enough to revive Hal but I was wrong. I let him die— well, our group let him die.

Our group was assigned to the FEU-VINES (Virtual Integrated Nursing Education Simulation) Laboratory for our duty on Acute Biologic Crisis concept and with this concept, we will going to simulate a cardio-pulmonary resuscitation to the mannequin named HAL. The scenario was, the client was coding (with our clinical instructor controlling his status) and we should revive him the best way we could according to what was taught to us.

During the simulation, we have given too much epinephrine to Hal without the interval of 3-5 minutes that made him more critical and so, still with constant compressing and hyperventilating, at times defibrillating, our clinical instructor just said, ok Post Mortem (meaning, we didn’t revived him.) Then, stopped and pronounced the time of death.

My critical mind tells me, “We we’re used to our AHSE (Associate in Health and Science Education) days to just assume things and not “really” do the procedure that is why we forgot to say “After 3 minutes blah blah blah…” which killed Hal. I learned that “To assume is a mortal sin.” Also, our adrenaline rush and increase of our excitatory neurotransmitters leads us to forgetting things. — That was I, using Rationalization.

Though Hal is just a mannequin, he was still my patient and I was frustrated because our efforts was not enough to revive him as much as we do want him to survive. (In VINES laboratory, mannequins are treated as “real” persons).

I was on mixed emotions because I felt like a real nurse (we are even called “junior nurses”) in that scenario but I was saddened by the fact that we didn’t revived him. I enjoyed the simulation because I learned a lot of things but I was dismayed for the little mistakes we’ve made. Nevertheless, this will make me to bear all the things I’ve learned today in my heart and not repeat the same mistake over again.

Don’t worry. I am Ok now. =)

I am sure everyone knows that the band Eraserheads will be having their reunion concert this August 30, 2008 at the CCP Open Grounds. Upon knowing that it was sponsored by Malboro, I was shocked.

I learned in my Community Organizing concept about the RA 9211 or the Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003. It is stated in here that:

Section 26. Ban on Sponsorships. – Beginning 1 July 2008, cigarette and tobacco companies are hereby prohibited from sponsoring any sport, concert, cultural art or event, as well as individual and team athletes, artists, or performers where such sponsorship shall required or involve the advertisement or promotion of any cigarette or tobacco company, tobacco product or tobacco use, name, logo or trademarks and other words, symbols, designs, colors or other depictions commonly associated with or likely to identify a tobacco product; Provided further, That no manufacturer may register a tobacco brand name as a company name after the passage of this Act.

So clearly, this Republic Act was violated. I am not against Eraserheads. I actually wanted to watch their concert. My classmate even told me to register to get tickets at Malboro’s website. You should be 18 years old and above to be able to register and you must present an I.D where they can validate your age. Though they see to it that participants in this event are 18 years old and above and it was stated in RA 9211 that:

Section 25. Restrictions on Sponsorships. Beginning 1 July 2006:
a. No sponsorship shall be provided for:
1) an event or activity which bears a tobacco product brand name, unless there is reasonable basis to believe that all persons who compete, or otherwise taken an active part, in the sponsored events or activities, are person eighteen (18) years of age or older;
2) a team or individual bearing a tobacco product name, unless all persons under eighteen (18) years of age or older;
3) a sponsored event or activity reasonably believed to be particular appear to persons under eighteen (18) years old.
b. Tobacco brand sponsorship shall be prohibited except where there is a reasonable basis to believe that:
1) attendance at the sponsored event or activity will comprise no less than seventy-five percent (75%) persons at least eighteen years of age or older;
2) the sponsored event or activity will not be of particular appeal to persons under eighteen (18) years old;
3) the sponsored event or activity will not receive exposure, other than as a news item, on television or radio or the Internet, unless such exposure complies with the provisions of this Act governing tobacco marketing through those media; and
4) the principal activity associated with the sponsorship does not require above-average physical fitness for someone of the age group of those taking part.
c. All persons authorized to bear tobacco product advertisement, logos and brand names at sponsored events shall be at least eighteen (18) years old.
d. All forms of advertising associated with or ancillary to sponsorship shall comply with the marketing provisions of this Act.

It isn’t an excuse. There was a new policy implemented, why is there such a big glitch existing like this? This is not to be nerdy and all. I am just concerned. A lot of people doesn’t know about this law but I, I want some explanation regarding the said matter.

Politics? Greed Purposes? Hmmmm…

*source

Why do guys always give chocolates and flowers to the one they like or love? Why do these things the main symbols of courtship? Except of course the song they offer to serenade the woman he is courting… Why do these things considered as a peace offering?

I have learned in our Biochemistry class that chocolates are composed of a chemical known as Phenylethylamine which have a physiological effect in our body. It causes changes in blood pressure and blood-sugar levels leading to feelings of excitement and alertness. It works like amphetamines to increase mood and decrease depression, but it does not result in the same tolerance or addiction. Phenylethylamine is also called the “love chemical” because it causes your pulse rate to increase, resulting in a similar feeling to when someone is in love. It is also said that this certain chemical is also present in the petals of a rose.

To the ladies, don’t be fooled by the things your suitors gave you. Be sure in making your decisions… or else… oh well, I don’t know! LOL! For the gents, now you know all these, make sure that you always give chocolates or roses when courting. It will definitely help you in making the girl fall for you and give her sweet yes. LOL!

Resources: http://wikipedia.org/wiki/chocolate

and http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/neuro/neuro04/web1/kcoveleskie.html