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"You ONLY work 3 days a week" an understatement to nurses

I often hear non-medical people say " You ONLY work three times a week ". As I hear this statement, I usually try to put in mind that they would never understand what we are doing because normally, ordinary people only see a fourth of what is really happening in the medical field. I have been a nurse for years. Recently, I have been assigned in the Burn unit. A unit where we take care of patients who are severely burned or wounded. As soon as a patient enters our floor, pain medications, electrolyte replacement, intravenous fluids and all other medications and care for the patient SHOULD be given ASAP. On top of what is mentioned which other medical services don't do is to medicate, dress a burn or decrease the bleeding of a wound. These are only the things a nurse will do right? Well, wrong. If imbalances of these things would occur, we should inform the doctor right away and follow his orders to keep the patient alive. And then we chart, we document everything we ...
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Foreign Nurse in the US

I am a Filipino working as a burn nurse in the US, its been 6 months since I entered my job. If nursing is already a tough job, it is tougher for foreign people, or at least to me. Here are some of the hurdles I had encountered in my first 6 months, 1. Language Although in my country, English is our second language but there are a number of medical terms which is pronounced differently from how we pronounced it in Philippines. Example: HEMOGLOBIN, in Filipino English, we pronounced it as "he-MOH-glo-bin", but when I practiced here, it is pronounced as "HEE-mowg-low ". Different right? 2. Tardiness In Philippines, if you are late for work, even for a day, you will be called and be asked why. In here, you can be tardy all you want, no one would ask since they are understaffed 3. Equipment All machines and gadgets in this country are all state of the art. In our country, its left in the cavemen era. IV pumps do not exist in our country but the traditional d...

Love

"And they live happily ever after ", a phrase usually used in Disney films to quote the joining of two people in love. A belief most avid fairy tale fan put at heart, that when you see your prince charming its all smiles, happiness and love.  For the most part, it is. However, there are also steep and rocky sides of  it which Disney films did not teach us, hurdles and obstacles are also evident. For relationships aren't the intertwining of two perfect people, but two imperfect people perfect for each other . Real love is not a Disney Film. There are ups and downs. It is when people choose to be with each other and to love one another despite the differences. I for one admits that I am not perfect, my partner isn't either.  Unwanted words was spoken , Unacceptable deeds done, and suddenly, silence took its toil. Although hurtful, my love for my partner stays no matter how steep it would become.  I am not good with words, only with writing, so I am expressing...

Unforeseen

" Life comes in many shapes. You think you know what you got until it changes And life will take you high and low. You gotta learn how to walk and learn which way to go.."  a line from one of my favorite song by Micheal Learns that I always love. More often than not, we plan our lives like that of a television sequel properly planned, scripted and reviewed before it is revealed to the public. In similar ways, we direct our lives just like that because we are afraid of failure.  We plan our lives too hard and exert too much effort on thinking about the pros and cons about our life's movement that before we know it, our lives are never designed to follow a procedure but is an unpredictable road map that is ever changing which we must encounter, endure and survive.  One might plan that in 6 years, he will land in a high paying job without shedding a drop of sweat but later realizes that it is impossible to have a good salary without exerting humongo...

Mr. Acosta

Dear Mr Acosta I want to thank you for all the things and sacrifices you did, do and will be doing for me. i want to thank you for loving me and never giving up on me  even when I am most certainly the biggest pain in the ass that you could’ve ever imagined. I want to thank you for being so patient with me, especially when I’m being stubborn (90 percent of the time) and refuses to admit I’m wrong (even though I know i definitely am). I want to thank you for making time for me, when I know you would rather be playing video games (gears of war) I want to thank you for every single chick flick you’ve ever sat through with me, and actually acting like you care that they fell in love and lived happily ever after.  (but admit it you like "the notebook" and want to watch it again.. lol ) I want to thank you for enduring the emotional roller coaster that PMS takes me on every single month, and not calling me a psychopath in the process. I want to thank you for every time you tell me ...

Success Through my Eyes

Success, a term wanted by everyone but only achieved by some. I often hear people say achieving your goals are as impossible as an ant carrying an elephant. In my 27 years of existence, I learned that success all boils down to how badly you want it. The journey towards success isn't always an eye candy. The first step in following your dreams isn't always the easiest. Careful planning and researching is needed in order to make the big step. It is always not easy to have trial and errors and experiencing the consequences that might arise from your choice. It maybe difficult but it is never impossible. Taking the big step is the hardest part, You would be giving up most of the things at your comfort zone. Adjustment is undeniably hard but if you fix your eyes on the things that you will gain as a replacement of the things that left, You would know its the right choice. In order to gain more, you should lose some. It is only for people who know when and how to take a risk....

When in Denmark

Pictures are what people perceive things to be but the painful reality behind the camera is hidden. I only lasted for 4 months in there because I know if I stay, I will go crazy. Don't get me wrong, the scenery was great, the salary was superb and most people are smiling (at least as what I see they are). After I fell on my knees from my Canada experience, I still did not give up on my dreams to see the world. I heard about a school that supports students to work and study in Norway. I told my mom i want to try and she agreed. I studied Norwegian language and I was proud to say that I am somewhat fluent in speaking the language. I took registration as a nursing assistant in Norway and was approved and gained registration there. After a year, Norway closed its gates for immigrants ( another half million pesos wasted). Norway become very strict. Another unfortunate event in my life but I seem to think a blessing in disguise. A friend of mine endorsed me to apply to a certain si...