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Hmmm… it’s been a while since I last blogged…

I was busy… —was… :]

December is a month, full of parties, get together, and happy times… I for once, had several parties with different groups of people. We celebrate for the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. We attend Misa de Gallo, Simbang Gabi or the 9 mornings. Children are singing their caroling from house to house. Students are grateful because of the long vacation— me included. People detoxify with all the stress and pressure we have had with our work or schooling. Everything’s alive and everyone’s happy.

They say December is also the time wherein family will bond as a whole and reunite with their other relatives. It is also the time that each one of us should have a “loved one” or “significant other” that we could share the holiday with. (A lot of people are like shopping for boyfriends and girlfriends this season…)

I know you are familiar with “SMP” or THE “Samahan ng Malalamig ang Pasko” wherein singles as well as those who are heart-broken belongs to that group. In addition, for those who had lost their loved ones, those whose families are not complete because of work, and because it’s just the way they are for some reasons— this Yuletide Season.

With all that instances, December has become both a source of happiness and a source of depression. (Plus the fact that it’s COLD… brrrr…)

For me, December has become a cliché with all those traditions and criteria people attach to it, — that “Christmas should be this and that” (I really hate that “thinking”). I believe it should not be the case. I mean, every Christmas is a new experience, a new beginning and a new life. We should not be stagnated with all the bitterness we once had in our lives when December approaches.

Why don’t we just be thankful with what we have and we are having, for we only live once, and so, we should seize every moment, be happy and at least try to change our attitude towards it whether we are complete or not.

Christmas is where people share, people love and people give.

I hope the spirit of Christmas is not just for December.

May it be in our hearts in each day the Lord gives us.

For the long hiatus at blogging, here are my rationales… (LOL!)

It was November 3, 2008 when I started my last semester as a college student (awww…). You may have noticed that I haven’t blogged the things that I should have blogged about for the reason(s) that:

• November 3, 2008 was the start of my duty at Medical Center Parañaque. My shift was from 1 PM to 11 PM; imagine the long travel from Monumento (Caloocan City) to Parañaque… My clinical instructor really let us home at exactly 11 PM (whew!). I was assigned at the ICU and Hemodialysis room.

I also had our “last” general orientation in the morning. The subjects, rules and regulations were discussed to us. Our professors were also introduced to us. The dean leave us an inspiring message to strive hard with our Nursing Audit (In-House Review as others would call it) in which our battle cry is 3-5-90! (I better get reviewing…LOL!)

• November 6, 2008 was the start of my Nursing Leadership and Management lecture (NCM 104), in which our time is from 7 AM to 5PM with only one professor… (you guess how’s that…LOL!)

• November 8, I had my first Nursing Audit (NCM 105) review with Mr. Emerson Aliswag. Our concept was about Communicable Diseases. We only had two (2) meetings with him, it was short but I really learned A LOOOOOT! He’s one heck of a reviewer. No dull moments and his strategies were superbly effective. *applause*

• November 10, 2008 was the start of my second clinical rotation at Legarda Elementary School. I experienced being a school nurse (well, not really because of conflicting schedule). Instead, we were bombarded with paper works such as project proposals, daily action plan and accomplishment reports. Actually, its not hard to do those, what’s hard is that we have plenty of data gaps and we we’re bound to assume (the mortal sin of NURSING). Nevertheless, our clinical instructor Ms. Edina Jacob was cool and so it was compensated…LOL!

• November 24, 2008 was the start of my third clinical rotation at C&E Publishing in Baesa, Quezon City. It is on-going until next week so hopefully, I will experience to be an Occupational Health Nurse. We had a trip at their work place and the book process was discussed to us. We were given the chance to observe how the book is being done and our task is to be vigilant and keen as to the health hazards present in their work.

• In between those days, my group and I are busy doing our thesis about the Effectiveness of Stress Relief Balls in reducing the test anxiety among students in a selected school of nursing. Actually, we’re planning to do our pilot study next week so, Good Luck to us. Here’s our research pictures… LOL!

coffee bean @ trinoma after doing research...

monopoly @ my crib while doing research...

starbucks midtown after national library...

I am only at school for just three (3) weeks but it felt like I am on the half of my semester. I still can’t believe that I am on my senior year and this is my last semester. I am now anxious as to what will happen next. At times, I feel the pressure but then again, it must not hinder me, instead, do what ever it is to meet my goal and make my family proud.

P.S

My extra-curriculars are still not included in those reasons but one thing’s for sure; it didn’t allow me to blog for a long time. How I miss blogging! However, the great part is, I am busy but I can still attend to blogger events. LOL

To my batchmates… Luciat Vex Lustra! Let your light shine! 3-5-90!!!

Checking my account at Friendster, I noticed this one post at the Bulletin Board from FEU TAMbayan account:

Iam Bieryle John B. Agnir RN from class of 2007 (BSN 714-grp 53). I have received a text message from my former group leader, containing this:
This message was forwarded by mam Filoteo. Please pass as many as you can.Laury
Mam Eli dela Cruz is not an ordinary faculty member of I.N. She devoted much of her time and effort to I.N and o its students. For many of us, she taught us to be self directed, she helped us unleash our potential in use of them to the fullest. She inspired us to care for F.E.U-I.N. Though in her 60s, she is still physically, mentally, emotionally and intellectually fit. However, she was only given a few units this sem and may not teach next sem, a directive which was made known to her this sem. There are exceptions to rules. And these exceptions were granted to faculty retirees. They were allowed to teach even after retirement (eg. Ms. San Vicente, Ms. Punongbayan). For once, for someone who stood for us… Let us speak on her behalf. Join us in texting/calling/e-mailing the dean that mam Eli be allowed to teach still in INnext scjool year and be given additional load this sem. After all…SHE is far from ordinary.
—Nothing follows—
My dear colleagues, as I read this text message from my former leader, I felt sad. We clearly know who mam dela Cruz is, and we know how intelligent she is. Mam DC has a large passion in teaching the tamaraw nurses. She did a lot of change in our institute. She is one of the pillars of our institute. She was there when the institute was in its pedestal and she is still with the institute today in where the institute is striving hard to bring back its glory. Ms. Elisea dela Cruz is already an institution in our institute. And I believe that she still has a lot to share with the institute. Let us act my co-tamaraw nurses and nurses to be.

Click here and here to verify that I am not making this up.

Ma’am Elisea Dela Cruz or popularly known as Ma’am EDC was my professor during my Community Health Nursing Concept last semester. I know most of us are guilty that when we heard the name “EDC” we will immediately think about “TOXICITY”— that she is a terror, strict, serious and “will-make-you-tachycardic” professor. Well, I can definitely attest to that. She usually have recitations and she wants a “complete” and exact (well… who doesn’t right?) answer. If you’re wrong and you can’t answer her question, you’ll going to stand for as long as she doesn’t tell you to sit. If she caught you not paying attention, she’ll check the seat plan, ask you a question and then you’ll be sorry that you didn’t pay attention (I experienced that!) But then again, I managed to take back the [X] mark at my name for I have recited enough to redeem that (I remembered when I and my seat mates would coach each other when reciting we call it “Pondong Recitation“). LOL!

Me and my seatmates while waiting for Ma'am EDC's class...

I could clearly remember the palpitations and hyperventilations before my NCM class way back, thinking of the questions I might not answer and will make me stand up. Also, the tension of the class when she wants answer and we don’t know it. The brain-bleeding and neuron-damaging examinations that I can’t believe I passed (Thank God!). Lastly, the grilling-hot seat times when you are reporting in from of the class (many have shed tears maybe because of fear and shame…) Until now, when I see her at the faculty room, I still have palpitations though she doesn’t do anything but when I greeted her and she smiles, then I relax.

For once, I didn’t like her because of THE adverse effects (I am sure most of us do) but then again, I started to broaden my mind about her purpose on doing this to us, her students. For me at least, she let me see that I am NOW fourth year nursing student. She opened my mind on what qualities I should develop to be able to be a competitive nurse someday. She taught me to be responsible—more responsible.

I thought she doesn’t know how to smile… I thought our class won’t make her laugh or even just smile good thing, we did because of our group presentations. Her seriousness, I believe is just her professionalism. I once saw her near the faculty room, playing with a little girl, and then I said to myself, Ma’am EDC is not stonehearted after all.

I say Ma’am EDC should stay for your IN years won’t be complete if you didn’t experience being under her. As what was said in the Friendster bulletin, she had established herself in our institution and she really had given great efforts in producing skilled Tamaraw Nurses. I‘ll definitely NOT forget her.

DISCLAIMER: This is not a charity. I just want to share my Ma’am EDC experience.  

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!)

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 haven’t got the chance to blog during the official start of my Semestral Break… (how I love the word BREAK. LOL!)

October 12 was the official start of my semestral vacation but then I signed up for Red Cross Seminar about Leadership Development that lasted for 2 days (to be blogged soon) and so, I was finally on vacation last October 15.

Karren's B-day Treat (also our last day...)

Counting the days before vacation, I had written all the things to be accomplished with its deadline and posted it at the top side of my study table. I was very TOXIC that time.

You can never imagine the pleasure of crossing out the things that I have done already…

When the final requirement was done, I just said to myself AMEN!!!

October 17, my grades were released and to my delight I was satisfied for I actually thought I will get a low grade this semester (low meaning, I will not reach the average I was maintaining for myself, which is 2.00). I even prepared my mother for the result, Yes, the party started after that!

After party at MOA courtesy of Pantene LOL!

Then, I followed up for my completion cases then read a novel, then shop, then read again, then finally blog and update you to what I am up to for my vacation. I came to recall the previous days, I had a pretty busy vacation after all. — but with a different reason… LOL!

I have 2 weeks ahead of me to relax and enjoy. Thank God! =)

Last Saturday, I have had the most shameful experience so far being a student nurse.

My patient is a 10 year-old male with a provisional diagnosis of T/C CNS Infection. He has body weakness, episodes of vomiting and he was very irritable. However, he still is conscious, coherent and oriented in three spheres (person, place and time).

During the shift, I took his Vital Signs, I noted that he had fever with a temperature of 38.2C so I performed Tepid Sponge Bath for my nursing intervention, then I rechecked his temperature after 30 minutes and it was 36.8C. I took his blood pressure though he is just a pediatric because of his episodes of high blood pressure. True enough, I noted 120/90 mmHg for his BP and it’s really high for his age.

For about 5 minutes later, a medical intern (or is she?…hmmm I don’t know) rechecked my patient’s Vital Signs, she copied the temperature I got but she, on her own got the cardiac and respiratory rate. Here comes the problem. When the doctor checked his BP, at first she didn’t got it because of the patient’s constant movement and noise and do she pumped again. I observed what she was doing, she pumped at 140 mmHg then release. She read the measurement and relay a 140/100 mmHg reading.

I was shocked. REALLY SHOCKED.

What the HELL happened there? I was really definite of my reading few minutes before. The mother was also shocked because I said to her that her child’s BP is just 120/90 mmHg. I didn’t take any move.

The doctor explained that the other doctor endorsed that the patient has consistently high blood pressure since admission, he even had a reading of 160/140 mmHg (as far as I can remember). At the back of my mind, I was battling with her statements I mean, that BP reading was before the client got medical management for his condition. If she could review the chart, which I thoroughly reviewed, his BP now was ranging from 110-130 systolic and 80-90 diastolic.

She even tested for Kernig’s and Brudzinski’s sign roughly. She didn’t asked the patient face to face if he experienced nuchal rigidity even if he can answer it directly, she just asked the patient’s mother to do it for her. What’s the point right? What kind of assessment was that?

Minutes after that “i-don’t-know-what-kind-of” doctor, the mother approached me. She said “Minuto lang ang nakalipas, sabi mo 120/90 lang, ngayon ang taas na…” I just said in a low tone of voice, “yoon po talaga ang nakuha ko… 120/90 po talaga yon…” then I left.

If ever I’d be assigned to the same patient again next week, I don’t know if I still have the face to render care to him. I was on shame at the same time I was pissed.

FEU Student Nurses are trained to get Vital Signs accurately without altering the results (well at least for my group). It is our forte considering it is what we do almost all at the time during clinical rotations especially if the hospital is benign (non-toxic) with matching NCP and Drug Study making. It has become our routine and our specialty. Sad but true. To be questioned in what I know I do best is a big slap on my ego.

I reported this incident to my clinical instructor and she just said “Hayaan mo yang mga yan, mga insecure lang yang mga yan. Ganyan talaga yang mga yan.”. I still can’t move on with what happened. I just said “Sige, kaysa naman yung doktor yung mapahiya, ako na lang kasi estudyante lang naman ako…” even though I know I am right.

Altering Vital Signs is crucial for the well-being of a patient. It can kill. If you would refer to my previous post.

I hope health care providers will possess the virtue of veracity because it is life that we are dealing with and not just a toy which you could by another if broken.

So yeah, after I have finished one module in our E-Learning, here I am today enjoying myself in our cozy home at the same time, being absent for my E-Learning schedule. Yes, my mom knows about it. I actually asked her permission regarding my absence. LOL!

For the past 2 weeks, I have been on straight duties and lectures. No free day, as in no time for rest.

Here is what happens when you are sleep deprived.

taken at Q.I

He is really sleeping...

2 in a row! LOL!

Student Nurses, if given the chance (even if there is no chance…LOL!) would steal even just a minute for sleep. Yeah, I am dead guilty. I have actually learned a skill for that— Sleeping in anywhere (be it on public transportations or in the hospital itself) and in any style you want as long as you don’t get caught. The best part in that skill is I can sleep with eyes OPEN. LOL!

I just realized, taking stolen pictures will help me not to have sleeping pictures. LOL! My skill in taking such unique photos is another story…=D Beware…LOL!

Oh wait, I still have loads of things pending to be done… arggghhh!

Free day is the new “Do-My-Schoolwork-Day” *sniffs.

*Now this would make me a good student. (Sarcasm again. tsk)

I am sure every one of my batch mates would agree to me if I say we are…

B.S in Nursing Major in Rizal and Speech!!!

Why?

In Rizal’s class, we were asked to create a dramatic play of the characters in Noli Me Tangere or El Filibusterismo as our Final Exam… (how demanding right?)

I played Maria Clara

In Speech’s class, we were asked to formulate our own product and advertise it to the whole class as for our Midterm Exam. This Finals, we were asked to act dramatic speech for our Final exam and a news reporting for our Finals Recitation grade. Whew!

Sorry for the rough shot...

I feel the need to prioritize them for they entail much time for practicing. But that’s not the case right? I should be focusing more on my NCM 103-B subject because it is a 16-unit subject and definitely on great weight with my future career.

You could just imagine how much students would do just for grades, you will see them doing crazy stuffs just for a 3 or 4-unit subjects. Meeen! That’s rough. If you just watched our performances with each class… Some of them are in my YouTube account. It’s fun but if you would look at it closely, it’s not of great weigh with our course.

My Classmate, Jojo (selling deodorant)

Mon as Maria Clara and Jo as Tiya Isabel

Good thing I finished the Rizal’s play and the Speech’s product endorsement.

However, THERE’S MORE TO COME!!! *horror tune…

Good luck to all of us…

Honestly, when I learned that our clinical exposure for our communicable disease is at Quezon Institute, I was dismayed for I really wanted to rotate at San Lazaro Hospital, where there are grave cases of different communicable diseases. However, I knew that Quezon Institute is also a tertiary hospital, which caters not only Tuberculosis, one of the most common communicable disease but also other respiratory diseases. In that case, I can appreciate my communicable disease concept.

Before entering the ward, I envisioned of the normal room setting and everything for a tertiary hospital. My expectation was right. The beds where side by side with each other with enough space for each client and a window. This is not to belittle the hospital because honestly, I really want to be exposed to the real scenario of hospital setting in the Philippines. Quezon Institute, at least though, in just a small span of time opened my eyes to what at real hospital set-up is.

Compared to my previous clinical exposures, the difference of Quezon Institute is the personal protection equipments that are being used by the care providers. This fact, in my own point of view, is a hindrance for building rapport with the client and providing the proper nursing management for them. If only I would not put myself at risk for acquiring the disease, I would not wear those. It is also true with the stigma attached to the tuberculosis patients, which made them receive less nursing interaction and management because of fear and disgust— for some.

Honestly, I am not afraid of the TB patients because I believe I have the knowledge as my tool in proper approach and management for them. I was just not at ease with the PPEs we wore. Good thing, my clinical instructor really assured us that we are safe. She really assisted us with everything that we do for our patients. That, made me confident enough for I can see her handling patients with just a mask as her protection. I admire her for that (not to be a teacher’s pet or what so ever…).

When it comes to the care I gave with my patient, my assessment skills was improved though there are some observations that I wasn’t sure of. I proved that with the proper knowledge, you can never go wrong. I also learned that, nursing profession is really a risky job. Nursing is not just a job and you don’t do it just for financial purposes. As from what I can see, it is like a vocation, which entails passion and dedication. You have to take care of your patients but not compromising yourself.

In Quezon Institute, my learning is pure realizations, which I know, will never be placed into my unconscious mind…=)