Confessions of a Novice Nurse (My confessions)

On that night..I wore my cap and I was really in high spirits. It symbolizes the responsibility and accountability that Nurses always shoulder. My calves felt so knotted up and I almost couldn’t’ take it. My calves were hurting so bad I almost cry. But I didn’t. It must be so embarrassing to be that obviously emotional and sensitive. I’m scared of the charge Nurse and the doctors. It’s funny, isn’t it? Well, If you’re also a registered Nurse maybe you will laugh at me. Basically, it’s what I felt at that moment.

That had been my first day of duty as a Nurse Preceptee in Vicente Gullas Memorial Medical Hospital & I was on a graveyard shift. I was more than excited than anybody else. Even though we’re not employed in the hospital but still we are expected to work as hired Nurses. We’re very fortunate enough to have our Chief Nurse who is very concerned to us and who has always been willing to enhance the skills and knowledge of Nurse Preceptees by giving us seminars & trainings.

I was assigned to a patient who had a Transient Ischemic Attack. I had to take her vital signs every hour, monitor her intake and output every four hours and do neurovascular assessment every hour. Nursing has always been a challenge for me because my sympathy for the patients always conquers my soul and I always end up feeling sorrow and pity for them instead of being compassionate and empathetic. My feelings were baffling me. I cannot be an effective and efficient Nurse if I continue being like that. The reality now is that I am no longer a student nurse who always have her Clinical Instructor who will assist, help and rescue her when doing Nursing Procedures and other nursing stuffs.

Mistakes that I did that night:

1.) I didn’t spit my gum.

2.) I didn’t bring a 3 in 1 pen.

3.) I forgot to bring my BP Apparatus.

4.) I forgot to review computations for Medications & IV Fluids. (I’m a sucker in Math,ok?)

I laughed at my own expense because:

1.) My two pockets were full of jot down notebook, hanky, calculator, small alcohol and other small stuffs. (Oh..I forgot where I have placed my ward kit)

2.) I was caught in the act by the IV nurse.. Hahahaha. I YAWNED..

3.) I was shaking when I opened the vial ( Nicardipine).

4.) My hands went numb after administering Mannitol.

Learnings:

To render tender, loving care (TLC) for my patients I must always remind myself of these things:

1.) I will always say the Nurses prayer before I set forth. I must always ask guidance and wisdom from the Lord.

2.) I will serve and take care of my patient in a way that I will do if he/she happens to be a loved-one of mine.

3.) I must always wear her shoes so I will know how to take care of her the way I want to be taken care of.

4.) I must always explain to the patient every health teaching and procedure in layman’s term and in a most understandable way.

5.) I will always be compassionate and empathetic to my patients.

Being a patient in a hospital is a frightening thing for anyone. Some people conceal it better than others, but all patients are scared. I want to be the one who cheers up a frightened child, holds the hand of a lonely older person, assists a mother in labor and soothes the anxiety of a nervous patient. But it’s not about me. It’s about God who has done a great thing in my life. He granted me this favor and gave me this calling-to be a Nurse.

my 23d birthday (^_^)

my papa made this cake for me (^_^)

Letter of Request

Mrs. Teresita Calvo

Chief Nurse

Vicente Gullas Memorial Medical Center

Dear Ma’am,

Good day to you! I, Faye C. Dongallo, a soon to be Nurse Preceptee of this respected institution would like to appeal a special consideration with regards to my schedule of duty. I applied for a part-time job in E-Lamp Company at IT Park, Lahug, Cebu City and my schedule of training would be on October 25-29 and November 1-5, 2010. These days are weekdays.

I would like to ask your favor and hopefully will grant me this request to have my duty scheduled on a Night shift during my first 3 weeks of duty specifically October 21-23, October 29-31 and November 5-7. And if ever I would pass my training in E-Lamp, again I would like to make another request from you to permanently have my duty scheduled on a Night Shift particularly on a Friday, Saturday & Sunday every week.

Ma’am, I am really hoping and praying for your kind consideration. I pray that God will continue to bless the works of your hands.

Respectfully Yours,

Faye C. Dongallo

Novice Nurse

I passed the Philippine Nursing Licensure Examination July 2010. God had done a great thing in my life. I was favored. All praises belong to God.

Our Oath taking happened last September 27, 2010. I was very excited. That day was considered as one of the unforgettable moments of my life. On that day I made an oath to God that I would faithfully fulfill my role in the Nursing Profession. I made a promise that I would obey the laws of my country especially the Nursing Law. I made a vow to give my best to render service wholeheartedly to those whom I would serve. I made a promise to myself too that I would love my job, my role, my responsibility –my profession.

Indeed, not all who studied nursing are called to become Nurses. Nursing is privilege- it is a calling. This is my heart’s desire-to be a Nurse. I am still a Novice Nurse- with no experience yet as a staff nurse. But I am now ready to enter the world of Nursing.

Being a patient in a hospital is a frightening thing for anyone. Some people conceal it better than others, but all patients are scared. I want to be the one who cheers up a frightened child, holds the hand of a lonely older person, assists a mother in labor and soothes the anxiety of a nervous patient.

I am looking forward on my first day of duty as a staff Nurse. It will come to pass soon! The best is yet to come. I love it. ;)

My Treasures

I am not a writer nor a member of a school paper. But I have always loved writing since the day I learned how to write. I remembered when I wrote “Lola maldita” (Grandma Bad) at one corner of grandfather’s house. Lola is not bad. She's just too stern & forbidding. But I was just 7 years old back then. Walls, doors, papers and anything bare were the empty spaces where I could express what I was feeling. I didn’t mind if somebody might read it. I made my first love letter when I was in grade one. I missed my mother so much. She worked in Hong Kong at that time. In my first letter, I wrote as short as 3 sentences: Dear Mama Imee, I miss you. I love you mama. Take care always. Love, Yeyi.

Papers and a pen were only my escape. I have no one to share my heart. I chose to keep everything in my heart. But sometimes, I couldn't bear it anymore. It’s too heavy to carry so I wrote it down. But fear hindered me. I’m scared that somebody might or would read it. Not like when I was seven. Now I began to care. I’m afraid they’ll know. So I stopped writing.

But I didn’t stop making letters for Mom. I didn’t stop sending her Birthday cards, Christmas cards and Valentine’s Day cards. I have always loved writing letters for her. In my letters, I mentioned the bullies in school who always made fun of me because I was fat. I always told her how I missed her so much and how I longed for her warm embraces. How my heart ached to have her at my side. How I always looked forward on the day of her arrival. I have always waited for the day when she comes home. I wrote letters to Mom for almost seven years. I didn’t stop writing letters & sending cards for her until I learned how to send an e-mail.

But my heart always told my soul to write. So I became like Bridget Jones (Bridget Jones’ Diaries). I had my first diary when I was in grade four. On my school-age years, my diaries were the only safe places to write about the disagreement I had with my best friend, about how I was badly hurt when I didn’t make it to the number one during the 2nd grading, how I sucked in math, how angry I was when my classmate lied to me and made me believed that she had a dwarf friend in their house only to find out later that it was just her imagination, how I longed for a sailor moon doll and how I always studied hard to be the Valedictorian in class so that when Mama comes home on my Graduation day she would be proud of me and will realize that her hard works and sacrifices were not in vain.

When I reached high school, I began writing letters again. I wrote to my Aunts, Grandaunts & friends. Fortunate enough because I had a classmate named Sheris Mae who responded my letters. I also had letters from Vienna Althea Duran, Algene Mae Rica & Jamie Rose Olofernes, Jaramie Villanueva, Caypeeline Casas, Tyler Flores and from other friends who gave me cards with short but meaningful messages for me in it. In fact I still had their letters in my Little Letter Box. I had also letters and cards from Tita Amy, Lola Madre, my cousins Ate Karen, Stephanie Ann & Ate Heide and from a roommate named Ching-Ching. My Papa, Paul & Hannah also gave cards to me. My Uncle Bob gave me a birthday card on my 5th birthday. I have lots of letters and cards from my Mama, Lola Espec & Anthony. I burned the love letters I received from my first boyfriend & then I broke up with him. I was just so furious that time. I blamed him because since we had been together I was dropped to top 8 from top 4 in our class. Please, Don’t get me wrong. I was just 14 then.

Mama's letters for me were full of love & care. She was far but when I hold her letters, I could feel her as if she's sitting beside me. Lola Espec and Tita Amy's letters were full of prayers and encouragements. But Jesus' love letter for me which is the Bible is the best. These letters are my treasures. Even the richest king in the world can't compare his riches with what I have: my Letters

Writing gives me freedom. It eases my almost suffocated heart. Letters & cards made for me give colors in my life. They're my treasures.

Woman's Ugliest Moment

BUT A WOMAN is at her worst...
When she is screaming at a child.
When she is deliberately trying to make an impression.
When she is talking in a loud voice that carries clear across a public room.
When she is bawling at a clerk, waitress, or servant.
When she is repeating unkind gossip about another woman.
When she is telling how she got even with a person.
When she is trying to act half her age.
When she is seen in public with her hair in pin curls.
When she is pushing and shoving her way through a crowd.
When she is bossing a man around.
When she is listening impatiently to what someone else is saying with a sour look in her face.
When she is getting a laugh a someone else's expense.

Summing Up

IT ALL BOILS down to one thing. That any woman is at her best when she's kindest.
Come to think of it , the woman I consider most lovable has never been to a beauty parlor and her skin is wrinkled somewhat.

-Unknown-

si Faye: ang pinaka maliit na student nurse sa group

1. Anong size ng gloves mo?
--- 6 po

2. First ward na pinagdutihan mo?
--- Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center Male Medical Ward. ^^

3. First case mo sa O.R.?
---Herniorrhaphy

4. Favorite nursing procedure mo?
---NGT feeding

5. Pinakahate mong nursing procedure?
---SUCTIONING secretions through tracheostomy tube
( hehe the more u hate the more u love daw!)

6. Saan procedure ka nahihirapan?
---SUCTIONING secretions through tracheostomy tube
pinaka-easy ito ha pero talagang dito ako naiyak.

7. Namatayan ka na ba ng patient?
---hinde pa naman..^^

8. Nakapag post mortem care ka na ba?
---yes.

9. Favorite area/ward mo?
---OR & DR

10. Pinaka-hate mong area/ward?
---Communicable Disease Ward

11. Favorite C.I. mo?
---saka ko nalang sasabihin pagka-graduate ko hehehe

12. Eh sino naman pinakaayaw mong C.I.?
---I won't mention... secreto..^^

13. Bakit ka nga pala nag nursing?
---bakit nga ba? hehehe
i Love nursing..^^

14. Enjoy ka naman sa nursing?
---sobrang enjoy!!.. nandito na yata lahat!
I can't forget all my unforgettable memories especially when I fainted on my first day of duty @ the Operating & Delivery Room.

15. Anong pinakaayaw mong school regulation para sa mga nursing students?
---&$#@!*

16. Maaga ka bang pumapasok?
---sakto lang.. but im always on time^^

17. Madalas ka ba sa library?
---seldom..
i'm always at the Library's inet cafe..hehehe

18. Favorite nursing subjects mo?
---Psychia, OB & Pedia

19. Pinaka-hate mong nursing subjects?
---Community Health Nursing.

20. May ibinagsak ka na bang subjects?
---what do u think?

21. Madalas ka bang um-absent?
---never! i'm afraid of extensions!

22. Kamusta naman ang Capping at Pinning ceremony mo?
---Love it! Sobrang excited ako non..feeliong ko nasa 4th year level na ko.^^
I enjoyed wantching the Clinical Intructor's
short play about Florence Nightingale's Life.

23. Ano ang favorite mong Nursing Diagnosis?
---Ineffective Airway Clearance