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