AM I NOT A NURSE?

I know that every relative has the right to say anything to the nurses that’s taking care of their relatives. I mean, if I were on their place, I will also be concerned about my own family member in the hospital. What I don’t get is why some relatives tend to become so all knowing that it’s almost as if they’re already telling the nurses what to do.

That’s what happened to me today.

At the beginning of the shift, I already went to see patient A, an 96 yr old, ventilated patient with resp. failure, sepsis and pneumonia. Did my assessment and positioned him on his back. Then, I went to see my other vented patient who was on isolation for MRSA.

While putting on my PPE’s or personal protective equipments, I saw the son of patient A coming towards the nurse station and asking about me. I told him that I am who he’s looking for. He then approached me and said, “I think my father hasn’t been turned” . I told him that I just came out of his father’s room and I just turned him on his back. He then started telling me that his father needs to be turned every 2 hourly, starting from this side to this side and then to this side because he had bed sore before and it’s now healed, blah, blah, blah… I just looked at him and told him that I know that and that I’m always turning my patients every two hours. He then started asking why the patient is not on air mattress and then started explaining to me why air mattress is much better etc. etc. As calmly as I can, I explained to him that special mattresses needs to be requested via my supervisor. He then asked me where is my supervisor. Before losing my patience, I asked our PCA to explained to him why we don’t have air mattresses. After the explanation, I asked him is there anything else that he would want me to do and he said nothing.

So, I then proceeded to do my nursing care for my other patient.

After I came out of the room, another RN told me that the son told her to tell me that his father needs socks. He said to remind me because I might forgot and then he left.

I started to give my medications for both patients and started to do my patient positioning for patient A when our PCA called me, I went to the nurses station and that’s when I saw the son again. We opened the door for him eventhough it’s not visiting hours anymore thinking that he only wanted to ask me something because that’s the reason he gave when he rang the doorbell. But instead, he just went directly to my patient’s room and telling me that I need to do this and that.

With all my courage and before the tone of my voice becomes rude, I told him that what he’s doing is offensive for me as a nurse. Do you think that he acknowledged what I said? Well, sorry for me because he just went on and on about how he was the one taking care of his father for 6 years and that when the patient was admitted in the stepdown unit he stayed with him and he was helping the nurses blah blah blah….

I just told him, okay, and then I left.

I sat in the nursing station doing my drug administration record in the computer and he came and told me that when I turn the patient, make sure that the skin doesn’t rub against each other (or something to that effect). I just looked at him and nod. I didn’t have the strength to say anything anymore.

After he left, I went to the toilet and calmed myself because I was already upset and furious.

Upset because I felt that I was looked down upon as a nurse. Furious because I’m the kind of nurse who works really hard and turns patient religiously even without help that sometimes my back aches because of the patient’s weight.

But what do I get for being such a good nurse? Nada. Zip. Nothing.

Do you think I’m overreacting? Do you think I’m being too sensitive? Do you think that I don’t have a reason to feel upset and mad with the son? Tell me please.

YES, I’M STILL HERE…

I know I’ve been so lazy updating this blog. Not because I have nothing to say but because I have no computer at home! Huhuhu…Poor me.

Anyways, 10 more weeks for me and I’m leaving my so-called life here in the Mid-East. Honestly, I don’t know what to really feel. I mean, yes, I’m excited to go back to the Philippines and all but then, I feel sad and scared at the same time.

Sad that I won’t be earning as much as I’m earning here ( so materialistic, I know ) and scared that I might be jobless when I get home!

Sometimes, I don’t want to really think about what will happen and just think of the now but I’m just human. I can’t help but worry about the future.

My career in the US is still not so clear with the retrogression still going on so if I don’t get lucky finding a nice enough job back home, I’m considering to look for work in the UAE and even Singapore.

*Sigh* If only I’m filthy rich then I don’t have to worry about working at all! Hahaha…

TEACHING vs HOSPITAL WORK

A fellow blogger and good friend, Nelson, commented that I should consider going into teaching Nursing once I go back home this September. He believes that I have the experience and knowledge that I can share all the Nursing students back home. Teaching also earns more than bedside hospital nursing in the Philippines so money wise, it’ll be a good profession for me.

My take on this is that, although I do appreciate the vote of confidence, Nelson, I do feel that teaching is not the right choice for me. I did not inherit the teaching qualities of my mother and I know that I will suck on it, big time. Yes, I do believe that I’ll be earning a lot more than working in the hospital with few competitions in the field but I wouldn’t feel confident.

My first love is bedside nursing.

I live and breath in the hospital doing whatever I can to save and preserve someone’s life. It does get frustrating at times, yes, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything else.

I get the high whenever I see a patient getting well. The highest high when they come back and say thank you for being the nicest nurse ever.

There will be times when I’ll go home after a very tiring shift and that all I can do is cry because of frustration and hopelessness for the patient I’ll be caring for, but after 9 years in the Nursing service, I’ve come to accept that that’s the way it really is.

I know I’ll be waiting in line for a month or more before I can be accepted to any hospital that I’ll be applying for in September. I may be paid not even Php 10,000/month ($238/month approx.) but I just have to bear with the consequences of choosing going back home and working there.

It still doesn’t end for me, of course. There are still other options that I can take if financial problems become unbearable. But I don’t want to think that it’ll be hard. I mean, I’ve worked and lived there before with only a mere sum of money. Not even $200 mind you. But I was able to cope.

I think I just need to learn to “LIVE WITHIN MY MEANS”.

Now, if the retrogression for foreign nurses gets lifted in the US in a year or two then that’s a different ball game all in all. But until then, I just have to learn to accept whatever come my way when I go back to my homeland.

WHAT THE….????

I’m presently blogging here at work. My home computer has been “sick” for about a week now and I’m going to have it check during my days off.

I didn’t start my shift in a very good mood. Actually, I was a bit pissed when my CN was giving out the choices for our patient assignment. Can you believe he was speaking in their goddam language?! I mean, I was there, hello? I told him, he needs to speak in english because I couldn’t possibly understand what the fuck he was talking about! He just smiled at me like I was still joking!

I already knew a few days ago that I’m not going to enjoy working tonight. I’m in the company of lazy people tonight so you probably have an idea what it feels like to be on my shoes.

As much as possible, I try to just get on with work eventhough I’m not happy anymore. I mean, I came here for the money and earning the money means working so I shouldn’t really complain, right? But what really gets to me sometimes is the rudeness of the people. They couldn’t even be considerate of others working with them. And then they have the nerve to even ask me why I’m quiet! Gggrrrrr…..

Anyway, 4 more months and I’m gone!

I already got my one-way ticket going back to the Philippines.

I don’t have a job yet when I go back. I’m already expecting to have a lot of competition with the available nursing jobs at home but I’m still trying to keep an optimistic mind. I’m actually excited to work again in the Philippines. I mean, we may not have the advance equipments and technologies as any other country but I believe that nurses back home are more passionate with their work. They can manage with minimal resources and best of all, we can all speak the same language!

SKINNY ME

Haven’t been very good in writing here this past few weeks (or months). Everytime I think of writing something, I get pre-occupied that I tend to forget what it was that I was thinking of blogging.

Anyway, just to start a topic, before it slips off my mind again, let me just tell you that finally, I’ve started going to the gym!

Hahaha… Not so exciting, I know.

To tell you frankly, I’m not overweight. My BMI says I’m actually healthy. So, you’re asking why I’m now going to the gym? Well, it’s because I have this obnoxious tummy! I look like a 3 or maybe 5-months pregnant lady!

And there’s this Victoria’s Secret two-piece bikini that I just bought online and I look gross wearing it so, that motivated me more to tone my body.  Pathetic isn’t it?

TO BLOG OR NOT TO BLOG?

That is the question a fellow blogger tagged me with and I’ll try to answer it the best possible way that I can.

I started blogging a few years ago during the time when I was preparing to take the english exam (IELTS) for my requirements for a US License. I initially blogged about the ups and down of my personal life but then my blogged evolved into a nursing blog because most of the things I really talked about was my work and being a nurse.

Blogging helped me get the frustration at work, that I usually keep hidden inside myself, out. Blogging not only helped me practice writing in straight english but also helped me deal with my emotions. Happy or sad, blogging became my source of release.

Another reason why I continued blogging for this long is because I want to help others who are turning to web for informations, find what they have been searching for.

There are times that I couldn’t think of any topic to write but I wouldn’t turn my back on blogging any time soon because it has been my own personal therapy. And the best part is that, it’s free!

TAGGED, I’M IT!

This is the first time I got tagged since I started blogging. I guess it means, I don’t have much audience….hehehehe…But thank’s Steph for tagging me. I’ll try my very best to keep the tag flowin’.

*******************************************************

In 8 facts about yourself, you share 8 things that your readers don’t know about you. Then at the end you tag at least 8 other bloggers to keep the fun going. Here are the rules:

RULES:* Each blogger must post these rules first.* Each blogger starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.* Bloggers that are tagged need to write on their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.* At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.* Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

*******************************************************

1. I always worry about the future although I spend a lot of money like there will be no tomorrow.
2. I don’t drink coffee.
3. I’m good in acting. If I have the looks, I could have been an actress.
4. I always pretend that I’m talking to somebody.
5. I say the F word and the P word (tagalog/filipino version) a lot!
6. I don’t talk to some people not because I’m shy, but because I just don’t like talking to them.
7. I’m very religious.
8. I’m actually a kind person.

Whew! Okay, I’ll tag Jenny, Jen, May, Nelson, Jaro, Peace, Kathy and Yna. Your turn guys!

OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS

So, I have been blogging for like a year or two already and it never occured to me that blogging is now one of the huge markets out there.

I chance upon Snapbomb while reading another fellow blogger who is also a fellow bride to be and I became interested in earning a few bucks for doing what most people love to do. Blogging!

Who would have thought that one of my hobbies could turn into something that can earn money?

Registering in Snapbomb is as easy as 1-2-3.

Just enter the info needed and start blogging about things that interest you, products to die for and most importantly, things that would draw a lot of interest into your blog. More audience, more chance of earning quick bucks! How cool is that?!

So start now!