Night Swimming @ 8 Waves

This was totally unplanned. But so much fun! Woohoo! Hoping for more unplanned trips soon!

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Rejection

I hate this. Argh. Makes me feel weak. Unwanted.

Minsan Lang ‘To!

I’ve been keeping something to myself for a few days now. I don’t want to sound mayabang, and I really didn’t get confirmation or anything. It was just sent to me through txt. But since I got my confirmation a while ago at the nursing service office, I’ll say it out loud and proud.

I topped and got 90% in the comprehensive evaluation exam for BMC Nurse Trainees Feb-May ’09 Batch. Woohoo!!!!

Please forgive the suddenly windy ambience. Hahaha. It’s nice to finally get this out of my chest.

It would have been better if this changes anything in my pending application at the provincial capitol. Unfortunately, it doesn’t.

Back to reality.

David Mania!

I made an entry for Archuleta, sa I should make one for Cook as well haha. He was at Eat Bulaga and sang “Always Be My Baby”. So I thought that David A’s appearance yesterday was hard to beat, but after I saw David C, I think they both made huge impacts on the Filipino crowd.

Their interview on 24 Oras that night:

I wonder what David Cook’s reaction would be when he finds out what Balut actually is.

David Archuleta in Manila

I had to wake up early for this haha. I heard David Archuleta would be on SIS, and me being a huge American Idol fan, just couldn’t miss it. So I was expecting to see the small, colorful, overused set for the interview/tribute on TV; but they made a wise decision by holding the appearance on GMA’s newer and bigger studio. The crowd just loved David, and so did the hosts and all the guest singers; they just couldn’t let the hour pass by without getting a picture with him! David looked so comfortable and humble as always.

I just wish they had chosen better singers. But it wasn’t really that bad, not just very good haha. I’m sure the videos are up already at YouTube.

Next was Eat Bulaga, and I’ll have to say, the interview questions were much better, and so was Pia and Julia’s delivery after David’s performance of Crush. Pia revealed that she was following David A’s twitter, and learned from there all about David’s experiences in the Philippines so far, and how much he loved Philippine mangoes.

I wish the back to back concert with David Cook on Saturday at the Mall of Asia will be shown on TV here, or at least be available in DVD or something soon. Please.

(And I’m pretty sure the folks over at ABS-CBN are so, very much jealous at GMA right now I didn’t see any sign of the Davids on their news)

Trip to PGH

This is all Bea’s fault. No, just kidding haha.

The trip was planned just the night before, for Quennie and I to enroll for the 5 Day BLS/ACLS training program of the Philippine General Hospital. While on the bus, I got a call from Bea and, it changed a lot of things haha. Well, I THOUGHT that the training program, which costed P4,500, included a basic ECG reading training and that there was a certification from the AHA (American Heart Association). But I won’t blame her anymore, since she’s secretly reading this blog hahaha. I also secretly kept this from Quennie until we met

I got to PGH first, and waited at the nearby Wendy’s. 30 minutes later, Quennie arrived and made me order a large frosty despite my objections. HAHAHAHA! And then I told her what I just found out from Bea. We weighed our options carefully, on whether to still pursue it at PGH, or at some other center offering the same trainings, and more, at a less expensive price.

So to the ER department of PGH we went, to confirm things. After asking around, we were led to the Chairman’s office where we got to ask questions. The lady did confirm that there was no ECG training included, and said that “ACLS trainings here in the Philippines are not AHA accredited. It is costly just to have accreditation and there are certain fees that we have to pay for. But our instructors here all had training under the AHA. And this is UP-PGH already, what do you expect?”

Yabang ah. Just kidding hehehe We politely left the office after we got our answers. I was thinking very hard whether to reserve already. Quennie already said she wouldn’t. She told me to think hard and while doing that, we went to look for the ECG department which also held trainings according to Bea. So here’s what we got:

PHILIPPINE GENERAL HOSPITAL
University of the Philippines Manila
CENTRAL ECG STATION
521-84-50 local 3154

ECG Observership Training Program
(3 weeks training on hands-on ECG reading)

Requirements:
- Letter of application addressed to:
Carmelo A. Alfiler, M.D.
Director
Philippine General Hospital
Through Channels

- Biodata with 1×1 picture
- Xerox copies of: Transcript of Records & College Diploma
- Fee – P1,800.00 (payable on first day of training)
- 2 1×1 pictures for ID
- Attire: White uniform or scrub suit

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It was expensive just to come here for 3 weeks, so it didn’t really interest me haha. Quennie said she’ll think about it.

Long story short, I did not make a reservation.

We ate calamares on the way home. Someone saw kwek-kwek and decided to eat some more hahaha. We parted ways after a few minutes.

I rode a jeep to Dapitan from Pedro Gil, not really sure where I was going haha. I first wanted to see Roch, but then I thought of my board certificate which could be available already. So call me crazy, but I went down in Quiapo and walked towards PRC haha. I needed exercise anyway. I reached the window for the claiming of board certicates. Well just my luck: license numbers starting in 503xxx can already claim theirs. My license number was 504xxx. The personnel told me to try next month.

I walked again; this time, from PRC, up to Roch’s house in Piy Margal. So for those who can imagine how far that is, call me crazy again hahaha. It was also raining at that time.

I was ready to collapse at Roch’s. I probably stayed for an hour, making kwento and stuff, and borrowed some DVDs from her. We planned to watch a movie, then eat outside, but we ended up buying drinks at a convenience store haha.

So that was my day. Whew was I exhausted.

Dara Park 박산다라

Anyone recognize her? No it’s not Sandy, Sandara, or Krung-krung: It’s Dara Park! She’s definitely made it into Korea’s showbusiness having appeared in TV commercials, music videos, drama series (The Return of Iljimae), and is now part of an all-girl group, 2NE1 after staying there for less than 2 years now, since she left the Philippines. I wasn’t really a fan of hers when she was here, and despised her “In or Out” music video haha. Allright I did see her movie (Bcuz of You) once haha, and maybe I thought she was cute there. But seeing her more matured and good looking today, and because I’ve always loved Korean stars, I might become one of her fans. Just maybe. Someone slap me out of it! hahaha

The BMC Experience

How fast time flew by! It’s been 3 months already since I started the Nurse Trainee program at Bulacan Medical Center; just the other day, we were all busy attending to patients at the medical ward with dislodged IVFs, mixing IV drugs, taking CBGs, assisting in CPR and intubations; and today, I’m on my last day with all the other nurse trainees to pass our summary of duties, daily time records and take an evaluation exam. 

Applying as a volunteer/trainee at BMC was not in my plans; even when I had my IV training here last year, it didn’t cross my mind. Why? Because it was too far from home, I was not very familiar with the area, and I was still a volunteer at Baliuag District Hospital at that time. But then, a friend of mine from college expressed her desire to train there, seeing herself becoming a competent nurse once she’s survived the 3 long months. My cousin and another classmate from elementary also wanted the same. It seemed fun to train there with people I know, so it entered my agenda and when I was done at BDH, my cousin and I finally passed our application and other documents at the Nursing Service Office of BMC. 

But then, my college friend suddenly got a job somewhere; my elementary friend got accepted as a volunteer nurse at BDH; so it was just me and my cousin left; which didn’t last for long, actually just after the 5 days orientation, he became busy with his application for UK. Ang bilis.

Wow. I really am alone now. A stranger in Malolos City.  But I didn’t want the effort I spent on the week long orientation to go to waste. It was also an advantage that I had experience at BDH, which slightly boosted my confidence. I took a deep breath. Here we go!

1st Rotation: OB-Operating Room

So honestly, I wanted my first rotation to be toxic. Weird, right? But life at the OB-OR was different; the number of patients we catered depended on the patients ordered for CS. There WOULD be days when the number of patients is endless, and other days when the census is 0. On my first day, 3-11pm shift, our first patient arrived.. 10:00 PM.

I enjoy being toxic more than doing nothing, but this was my assigned area, and instead of complaining, I just needed to be efficient in the tasks I was given. The staff were all very nice. Si Sir Kenneth lang ang toxic (joke lang hahaha). Pwede ko na ba sabihin ang sikreto? Tapos na ko mag volunteer! I’ll also miss giving critics over Ma’am Suzette’s handwriting haha!

2nd Rotation: OB-Emergency Room

This was just adjacent to the OB-OR, so I had no trouble finding it haha. And believe it or not, it was my first time to be on night shift duty. Back in college, we didn’t have night shifts. Anyway. I was the only trainee assigned at the ER, and 2 others (Camae and Kuya Joey) in the LR/DR also adjacent to the area. We were oriented by Ma’am Isabel to the area, but it was Ma’am Maja and Ma’am Aisa who were on duty with me at the ER the rest of the rotation.

I enjoyed duty here, admitting patients, calling watchers on the mic, inserting gauge 18 cannulas on patients in labor, and being able to chart a little bit more than the OB-OR haha. Sayang naman kasi ung Trodat ko, hindi ko masulit hahaha . And out of all the areas, dito lang ako walang absent.

3rd Rotation: Pay Ward 3

I thought that all wards had many patients. I was wrong haha. Payward 3 had the most expensive rooms at BMC, so it was understandable. But I was sad again that I had a maximum number of 2 charts per duty here. Hahaha. What I loved here? The gifts and food the patients left us when they were discharged . And of course, Ma’am Gemma and Ma’am Jean and our chit chats haha.

 

<- – - – Debbie, Ma’am Gemma, Ma’am Jean

 

 

4th Rotation: Pediatric Ward

Coming from the ward with the least number of patients, I was assigned next to the ward with the most number of electric fans. Supposedly, the ICU was my next rotation but due to some issues, all nurse trainees had been pulled out from all special areas. Bawal pagusapan dito hahaha. Shhhh..

The census was less than 30, but I was ok with it; I finally get to chart more than 2 patients hahaha! Ma’am Tess oriented us on our first shift, and then it was Sir Gian who was with us the rest of the rotation. I enjoyed it here, honestly . The more patients I had, the more I felt like a nurse. Naks! Although it was really, really, REALLY hot in the ward, I had no complaints monitoring febrile babies, administering OGT feedings, suctioning secretions, removing dislodged IVFs, assisting in insertions and finding teeny weeny veins. But the most memorable part for me, was that I was able to achieve one goal of mine before I left: insert a cannula into a baby vein! Was more cool because I was able to do it in one shot. Thanks to Salim for giving me the patient:)

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Salim, Eko, Ma’am Rhea, Jemie, Ma’am Rona, Sir Gian, JJ, Marje, Jaymie, Joana, JC

5th Rotation: Medical Ward:

I wanted this, so I wasn’t complaining: many patients! On my first day though, I was confused and had a headache haha. I didn’t find any endorsement sheet from the last shift; it wasn’t long before I realized that we had to search and scan the charts one by one (which was the right thing to do anyway, on any patient, on any ward, and on any hospital) for the diagnosis, medications, special endorsements, but with the number of patients here (60 with 1-2 staff nurses on duty), an endorsement sheet could have helped save a lot of time. But I’m here to help (and enjoy haha), and I didn’t think twice in accepting the high pile of charts for my documentation hahaha. Also, there were many patients due for IV reinsertion so it was great.

w/ Sir Vincent, Francis, Monica, Ma’am Gigi, Ma’am Tess, Ma’am Alpha

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I’ll miss everyone I had worked with. In my 3 month experience, the staff nurses during my shifts were all very nice, helpful and approachable (I just don’t know about the others haha). I made new friends who kept me company, especially at times when I felt out of place; if it weren’t for some of them, I would not have pursued the training here. So, thanks again. If you’ve made my duty fun, made me laugh, helped me out with a task, heard some of my patient problems and helped me deal with it, and you’re reading this, yes it’s you! (Special shout out to BFF, di tayo na kapag picture nung last day hehe)

Feb-May ’09 Nurse Trainees Batch 1

I wish everyone good luck. Although the path ahead does not seem very very bright, the least thing we could do is give up. Here’s one of my favorite passages:

Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Sana na-inspire kayo hehe