Far Eastern University - Dr. Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation Duty

    Third rotation for our Neuro concept and we're assigned in the Pay Ward (3-C); 3pm-11pm shift. We stayed in that beautiful hospital for three weeks. The facilities of the hospital were well-maintained. What we've enjoyed the most is the benign duties of the RN's and student nurses because the Junior Interns are hands-on to each patient, and yeah, the unli-alcohol also! You don't get that in Government hospitals a lot.

Day 1 (February 6, 2012)

    First day = Orientation day. We were toured in the hospitals and given orientation about the hospital's policy and its history. FEU Hospital was located in Morayta before and it wasn't made clear if it's really personal issues between the bosses why it was transferred to Quezon City. Anyhow, our Clinical Instructor was kind and considerate, it's just that she never dismissed us early enough even though it's just the Day 1 of the duty. We've had our patient and we were given homeworks (individual NCP and drug study). I arrived home 5 minutes before 12mn. Whew.

Day 2 (February 7, 2012)

    Same routine duty. This is what I don't like much about being exposed to ward, it's just the same cycle you're going through every time. We did our charting as fast and as accurate as we could so we could go home early but then again, because some of our groupmates failed to cooperate, we went home just like the night before.

Day 3 (February 13, 2012)

    Valentine's eve as what we call it. Nurses are no exemption to this kind of events, call of duty is call of duty. Hearts day and such won't be considered holidays. Anyways, we had our patient that is diagnosed with Stable Angina, oh, not really diagnosed -- it's still a to consider condition. He was kind to us, his children are already working abroad as nurses too. "Hayaan niyo, konting tiis na lang at makakarating din kayo ng ibang bansa." he said. His wife stayed by his side all the time. How a sweet couple. His really jolly and we have had good healthy conversations.

Temple Run made our night livelier than ever, beating one other's score was the game. Haha!

Day 4 (February 14, 2012)

    Heart's day! Valentine's! It's that time of the year again for the couples and all the people who wants love-love-love. Whether platonic or romantic. As usual, V-Day is a duty day. Whether you're single, taken, or in a complicated relationship, it doesn't matter. Call of duty is call of duty. Deal with it. I've received a bouquet of flowers and butterfinger chocolates from a special someone -- significant, I must say.

    We were shocked by the news that our patient last night died because of Cardiac arrest. We wondered why it happened when in fact, we left him in a good condition and his Vital Signs were stable. We were saddened by what happened but we need to go on our duty and move on to caring new clients.

Day 5 (February 20, 2012)

    Last day in the ward because tomorrow would be case presentation. We had benign patients so the shift went smoothly. We were dismissed very early -- good day! Rest-a-lot before the case pres + long quiz.

Day 6 (February 21, 2012)

    Final day for the third rotation! We've divided into two groups so we get a chance to critic one another's work (Case pres and EBN) The discussions and defensing of our requirements becamse hot. It came to a point that some members of the other group were pissed on how we laid our comments but ALL IZ WELL, It's just business after all. We had our quiz that's a bit tricky like shiz but I think I did well. We were dismissed after the requirements has been passed. At last! Bye long trips from Makati to QC. Haha!

    Being exposed to a Private Hospital like FEU-NRMF is a good learning experience because you get to see how nurses really function in a desired setting -- ideal nurse-patient ratio that could lead to better nursing interventions and outcomes. I'd gladly accept the challenge of being rotated there again -- t'was fun -- if only the place was convenient to where I'm coming from.

    Here are my group mates (two are missing in action, me [because I'm the photographer] and Niknok [because he's excited to go home])

Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital Duty

    DJNRMH was the second hospital that we were assigned to this semester also, the hospital where we had our first duty for 2012. It is located in Tala, Caloocan (very, very, very far to where I'm coming from) and was known for curing and rehabilitating patients with Leprosy. Our group had a chance to see patients with the said disease up close (more info in the later part of this post). Our area supposedly was in the ward but we ended up having our rotation in the Emergency Room. A bit advanced for our level, but we accepted it because we have no choice and it's somehow for our benefit too , so, t'was actually nice.

Day 1 (January 2, 2012)

     First day as usual, is all about orientation. We've been oriented about Leprosy, and the facts and misbeliefs of the disease. We met our Clinical Instructor too. She was really nice and good in discussing ER topics, professionalism and experience are evident by the way she carries herself. She taught us how to do suturing, remove sutures and the basic protocols in the hospital. We've been dismissed early so that we can rest and prepare for the actual duty the day after.

Day 2 (January 3, 2012)

     Woke up at around 3:30am, took a quick shower, dressed up with proper grooming, ate breakfast and headed for a long trip on my way to duty. I should arrive at the area on or before 7:00am. It took me almost 2 hours to get there. It's actually fast because I rode the "killer" but to avoid being late. Luckily, I reached my destination just in the nick of time. Saved by the bell!

     We had our quiz (got a high score), she further discussed IV insertion and how to fill up the ER form properly and cautiously because it can be used in legal cases. Four of us are assigned in the bedside, my other group mates were in the information area and others are lucky to be in the assist of minor surgeries.

We also had our tour and met patients with Leprosy. It's sad how they are left behind by their loved ones. Some of them are admitted in the year 198 and they are still there, alone and just being cared of by the staff. We also met some patients who are still capable of showing their talents besides of their unfortunate condition. Still goes to show that there's still hope in them. :)

     After the tour and lunchie, Our C.I. gave us the requirements for the rotation and we were supposed to be dismissed early but the C.I. of the other group jumped into the picture and discussed some Neuro-related stuff (cranial nerves and assessments). After his long discussion, we were formally dismissed.

Day 3 (January 9, 2012)

     THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE OUR GLORIOUS REST DAY (because it is the Feast of the Black Nazarene and classes are cancelled) BUT WE ARE OBLIGED TO HAVE OUR DUTY for the reason that Caloocan isn't affected of the traffic re-routing and all that hassle. My rants or complains wouldn't change our C.I.'s made up mind.

Again, we're still assigned in the bedside, we've prepared and administered anti-tetano meds. One of our patients was a Tumblrista and it was a surprise that she knew me even if I was wearing a mask and my name plate's not on. It's really fun to meet new people by chance. While we were administering meds, A 3-year old kid was admitted and he was vomiting bloodwith Ascaris (worm/parasite). Her mother stated that her child was having those manifestations for about 3 days. He was immediately monitored and attended by the ER staff nurses and doctors of the hospital.

     After all the 3-yr old kid looked fine, We decided to have lunch. One of my group mates treated the whole group free Domacs (McDo) lunch. Yeah! Cheese-B meal and PJ to satisfy my tummy.

ER really is a place of unexpected situations. Just after we ate, the kid who vomited blood with a worm had a cardiac arrest. He was given CPR and was resuscitated but all of the said life-saving measures weren't enough. One of the doctors said that the worms might have blocked the airway, causing obstruction and lead to the death of the patient. Here's a picture of one of the worms he vomited:

     It's a sad point to end the duty for the day. Our Clinical Instructor further emphasized on the importance of Health Teaching and Handwashing specially in the community-based setting.

Day 4 (January 10, 2011)

     We've extended hours of duty this day, good thing everything seems to be at fast pace for us. We just had our quiz (sorta like exam), passed our requirements and attended a seminar on BLS - CPR (this was the one who killed the duty time. veryyy looong and a bit boring) After the seminar, we had our lunch and our C.I. decided to dismiss us earlier than expected. Hooray for the last day of duty!

     I can say that I gained a lot of experience in this rotation. I've seen rare cases and had a hands-on nursing care in the ER. The hospital was a good place for student nurses to be more independent. It's just that it's too far. Whew!

MetroDocs: First Rotation (3rdyr - 2ndsem)

We had our first duty for this semester at Metro Docs. It is located at Rizal. We stayed there for 4 days (Graveyard Shift). The hospital is not that big but it sure is clean and comfy (basing on the ambiance) and it’s really far from where I’m coming from (Makati) I need to transfer rides five times before reaching the destination. The place within the hospital’s vicinity is actually nice since it’s full of commercial establishments. We’re assigned in the ward and it’s nothing new for me. My groupmates are also retained (except for three, so they were replaced by new people that I also know) so there’s no hassle when it comes to working relationship.
Having the duty on the ward was not really my favorite because it’s like a never ending routine without that much of action compared to OR/DR cases. I’m still doing my job though, even if taking Vital Signs was boring, I have to because as what is stated.. it is VITAL and it’s my responsibility too.


First day
Muri (my group mate/sis/friend) shared duties for one patient. She would take the RR/Temp and I’d take the BP/PR. Our patient has been diagnosed with CAP (if I’m not mistaken) She’s 73 years old and has so many contraptions (IVF, ET, NGT) She can’t even talk and she looks so weak and pale. I was the one assigned by our Clinical Instructor for the first feeding (via Nasogastric Tube) it was my first time in the real setting and I find it fun. Our patient responses by just nodding her head and rasing her eyebrows whenever I ask her questions or whenever I knock at the door and tell her that I’d get her VS and whether it is Normal.
My groupmates and I had fun together we always talk about The Walking Dead, Zombies, Ghost stories, Movies and stuff, we’d also like to exchange jokes just for us to be kept awake.


Second Day

I’ve got the same patient in the second day but now, I’m by myself because there’s a lot of patient in the ward that day. I was the one responsible for taking her VS every hour. She seems to be recovering because she’s a lot energetic than she was in our first day and she seems happy. I, again was instructed to feed her and change her IVF, the usual things you do in the ward. At the last hour for taking VS, I said goodbye to her and her significant other watching her. We’ll not be seeing each other for a week and I’m also not certain by that time if she would still be there or if she would be discharged.


Third Day
Our group is starting to cram, again. I hate it because our sub-group never had those kind of experiences when it comes to deadlines and paper works requirements. Maybe it’s because our new leader doesn’t also know us all that well yet. I don’t know, I wish we could make this work our for the whole sem, because we have to. Aside from me, doing the AnaPhy for the case, I also started to edit the Initial Data Base and the other information needed in the Functional Health Patterns of our case. There’s just too much to revise and add on from what my other group mate has done.
I’ve got a new patient also this time. He’s a 2-year old kid and he’s situation is not that critical compared to my first patient. There’s a lot of drama this day because we’re all stressed on how to handle our time for there’s also an upcoming orientation 5 hours after our shift (WHAT IS SLEEP?!) But I can’t complain, I wanted this and I have to live with it no matter what.
Just an hour before we’re about to be allowed to go home, one of the patient had Cardiac Arrest. It’s just sad because who wants that kind of situation anyway? And I also received a news from one of the staff nurse that my previous patient (73 y/o) has died few days after our duty. Muri and I were really shocked because she seems to be recovering at the time we left.

Final Day
All of us (the group) are deprived from quality sleep. We all look like we’re pandas and zombies. I’m just thankful that it is the last day and we’re gonna have some deserved rest after. The afternoon before the shift, we had our orientation at PNPGH. It’s our group’s second time to be in there.
My patient this time was a young girl with DHF. She’s having fever still so we need to monitor her closely but because of case pres, we’re not that required to look after her (the staff nurses are the one’s doing the job for the shift) We presented our case and there’s a lot of correction to be made. The lack of supporting details especially the laboratory results and diagnostic examinations ruined it all. We should have planned it better. I wish we can bounce back and have a better requirement to pass the next rotation.
What I’ve learned about this rotation: TEAM WORK really matters. SLEEP is priceless for Nursing (as always and good time management can save you from toxicity. I wish we’d have a better performance next rotation. Oyeah!

Call of Duty (3rd Yr - 2nd Sem)

Simula na ng adventurous duty days.. again. Maraming makakasalamuhang tao at mga sakit at iba't-ibang sitwasyong expected at unexpected. Duty sa ward, sa DR (favorite), sa OR (favorite), Mental Hospital (first-timer) Bagong pakikisama sa mga bagong ka-grupo at mga C.I. at bagong mga destinasyon na makukuhanan ng pagkatuto.

Marami na namang bagong experience ang mararanasan. Dyahe lang dito 'pagka medyo toxic ang environment, pero as long as maganda ang jive ng grupo eh tsak makakayanan din lampasan. Sandamakmak na paperworks, ubusan ng pahina ng tickler, paraphernalia para sa Vital Signs, ang Clinical Uniform, ang white shoes ko na medyo pumapalag na ang pagka-puti at hindi na makipagkasundo sa Kiwi White, at ang scrub suit kong ang sarap isuot pagtulog.

Good luck sa duty ng grupo namin ngayong Sem. Sana umulan ng cases, sana maraming bagong learnings, sana maipasa lahat ng case pres, sana konti lang ang gawing NCP (imposible), sana hindi magastos. Update pa lang din ito, babalikan ko at gagawan ng review ang bawat duty sa bawat tapos ng isang rotation.

Third year - First Sem: Anyare?

Ikatlong taon sa kursong BS Nursing. Unang semestre. Ano nga ba ang mga nangyari?

Simulan natin sa mga Minor Subjects.. Hindi ko akalaing swerte pa pala 'ko sa mga professors ko. 'Yung sa Humanish*t kasi at sa Rizal eh hindi ko talaga trip ang ugali, pero ok naman pala sila magbigay ng grade. 'Yung sa Humanities parang laging give-away, well, lantaran kasi 'yung kopyahan sa subject lalo na sa likod. Ganun din sa Rizal na sobrang pa-major pagka exams na. Cover-to-cover nga 'yung Finals namin eh. Inamin ko, may mga pagkakataong nagkasalang-estudyante rin ako, hindi maiiwasan 'yun at kung sasabihin mong hindi mo napagdaanan 'yun, sisipain kita sa noo! Kung tungkol naman sa Biopetix, este, Bioethics, ayos lang ang tinakbo ng subject, may mga film showing at mas naging aware ako kung morally right ba ang mga nangyayari sa paligid.. Nuks, kala mo totoo. exempted nga pala 'ko sa Final exam sa subject, nag-report kasi ako eh.

Additional info: Talsik-laway prof namin sa Humanities, Rakistang hawig ni Tado sa Rizal, at mukhang semenarista naman sa Bioethics!

Major-major subject. NCM. 6 concepts, 6 din ang pinagdutyhan, 12 (6 sa lecture, 6 sa duty) na iba't-ibang C.I. ang pinakisamahan.

Oh, duty muna tayo.. Masaya at fulfilling kahit nakakapagod at hindi maiwasan ang pagiging toxic sa paper works. OPD sa PNPGH (aircon dito, susyal!), DR sa CSV, OR sa Tondo Med., Pedia Ward sa Ospital ng Sampaloc (bawal maupo kasi magagalit si Sharon), Community sa Corazon De Jesus, San Juan at sobrang magastos na DR/OR sa Zamora Medical Clinic sa San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan.. Kung ako tatanungin mo, babalikan ko 'yung CSV at Tondo Med. Madami kasing case at super sarap kasama nung mga C.I., swabeng duty ba. Hindi 'yung masyadong toxic.

Oh, dito na tayo sa lecture part. Ito 'yung 4 hours straight na klase na swertihan na lang kung mataas o mababa magbigay ng grade 'yung mga C.I., Surgery, Endocrine, GIT-Metab, Fluids & Electrolytes, Oxy-Respi, Oxy-Cardio. Nakakakanta pa kami ng shufflers sa unang limang parte ng lecture, pagdating sa Oxy-Cardio.. PLAKDA! Hindi naman sa bagsak pero ma-ala tigre 'yung C.I. namin, pero infairness.. magaling talaga siya magturo. AMPOTA! IDOL! Marami naman akong natutunan, 'yung iba lang talaga eh napaka-boring magturo na lumalabas pa 'ko ng room para matulog. I'm so sorry.. Nga pala, meron pa akong pinagdaanang Revalida at Compre Exam. Pasado ak osa Revalida.. 'Yung sa Compre.. muntikan na. Almost. Almost. Hehe.

Maraming experiences at adventures ang nakapaloob sa Sem na 'to. Makabuluhan at masaya. Sana eh mas magalingan ko pa sa susunod na Sem! Kaya 'to! Salamat sa Diyos at matino ang grades ko! :)