A Walk to Remember

                “Unta dili ninyo makalimtan tanan natun-an ninyo diri sa MCMHC…” a sunbae from my immersion field mentioned on her post. With enthusiasm I posted my comment, “Dili jud namo malimtan Ma’am Lay. Salamat kaayo!” After some few moments she asked me about what would exactly be the thing I would never forget and I replied “Na ang PNSS color green hahaha”. We laughed and in that moment we both knew my answer to her question is more than just the dextrose thing. J

                Too many to mention – that’s the most appropriate line to say about our learning during the immersion period. Everything was just perfect in its own ways we never thought. We were filled, we’re already full and yet we still wanted for more of that taste to our dreams. Call us a glutton but we will definitely continue to seek of those types of learning.

                Here are the 18 of the countless things that made my walk to the immersion path worthy to remember, the 18 things I learned, those that I would always keep and never forget.

   1.       “Better hours too soon than a minute too late.”

This thing was just the best to all of the people out there. It is not just about arriving on time for work but also being on time on everything, their assignments, duties, etc. Ma’am Kim, the nurses, the pharmacists, all of them, they never make things wait and they are making me love that way of life. There is no such thing as “unya-unya” when you know you can do it at the very moment. It’s not easy to wait when you’re still sound and good sitting right there how much more for a patient hardly breathing and crying with ache.

   2.        “There is no room for our very own, Miss Laziness.”

You have to keep on working if you want to be productive, if you want to avoid being the topic of the showbiz talks (everyone chitchats there hahaha), or simply if you don’t want to get scold. It’s just that laziness fuels more laziness which is a big NO when you are at work. No working, no learning.

   3.       “Miss not, even a single stuff.”

I really adore that systematic feature of those people in MCMHC. Ma’am Dang being not forgetful of the littlest things dragged my attention. They are just so organized and I hope to be one soon.

   4.       “Hear things beyond what are not said.”

Communicate properly and understand everyone’s side all the time, may it be to the clients or co-workers. Listen and be polite.

   5.       “I love the medical language!”

Endorsing patient’s records and carrying out patient’s chart brought us the world of medical language. I now understand the meaning of the q. d., P.O., IV, and many more. The feeling was awesome like “Good job self!”

   6.       “Be patient with patients who are not patient.”

That says it all. Working day and night making rounds with doctors, catering emergencies, carrying out orders, facing all kinds of diseases is undeniably draining. With that, include a mad patient and your experience would be VERY WOW. Stress is super real in this field and it takes an inexhaustible supply of patience to enter and endure.

  7.       “Also lengthen patience for tongue-twisting medicine names and the ever amazing doctor’s notes.”

My mind would go round and round reading   the notes for medications. When assigned in the pharmacy, I spent most of my time identifying the letters the doctors’ have written. They ar very complicated but the seniors told it’s normal to feel frustrated at first. We’ll get used to it someday; we just need to be more patient.

   8.       “Every drop counts.”

Be accurate in measurements because when this thing gets wrong with medicines, your patient will get the wrong dosage and it is not an act of helping his/her heal.

   9.       “Dextrose is not just dextrose, it comes in different forms.”

Before, all I know is that you’ll be infused with the same dextrose with other patients when admitted in the hospital, turns out I was wrong. Dextrose is just one out of all the kinds of things nurses infuse to patients. Those things, known as solutions for intravenous infusion comes in different types which vary for different patients. They are color-coded and look so cute.

    10.       “Vital Signs! I finally know how!”

I’ve always wondered what is the mystery behind “number over certain number” thing they call blood pressure. Thanks to immersion the questions are now answered and my skills on taking vital signs are now complete.

  11.       “Your second child will die if you’re an O NEGATIVE!”

That’s what the medical technologists told us. Feeling thrilled and somehow scared, we badly wanted to know our blood type so we did the activity where we pricked ourselves and discovered the magic of chemistry with Anti A, Anti B, and Anti D solutions. Luckily, I’m an O POSITIVE and no one of us got the scary type. (Well, O NEGATIVE is rare and to have a second child or not with that type still varies so there’s nothing to worry.)

   12.       “Sucking blood is definitely addictive.”

Well, I know now how it feels to be a vampire. Our supervisor allowed us to do venipuncture and it was not easy for the first few times. It took me seven shots to perfectly hit the vein and fill the 3cc syringe with blood. It was very frustrating for the first six but the moment the blood came out in the seventh was very satisfying. I almost felt like crying out of joy and now I badly want to do more.

   13.       “Urines and stools are not that gross, by the way.”

I feel so cool when doing the basics of urinalysis and fecalysis. The way I dip the chemical test in the urine and watch for reactions, shake and feel (with a stick) the stool, and watch tiny things go big in the microscope makes me feel like a I’m a pro. With gloves and mask, rubbing alcohol and Lysol at your side, fear no waste girl.

   14.       “There are accountants in hospitals too.”

When working one is working in a hospital, we might think that he or she is into the medical field but actually it’s not. There are also accountants in hospitals and they are very essential. Without them, a hospital would barely survive.

   15.        “Focus. You can’t serve two masters at a time.”

Being with your phone when at work is very dangerous. Never let yourself be tempted with the popping notifications of your Facebook or whatever it is. There is a time for everything and the time for saving lives is only for saving lives.  Work is work.

   16.       “When all else fails, follow directions.”

Simply follow directions, such things are made to be followed as a way to success and deviating would definitely be very delicate. During the immersion we were always instructed to properly follow instruction because life is at stake to every move we make.

   17.       “Take care and be healthy. Never get yourself admitted.”

It’s too costly! Tiny ampules and vials tear much out of your pocket. And it hurts! It hurts to be shot so many times with those sharp edges; you’ll get one for the blood test, one for the IV infusion, another for the skin test, and many more depending on your case. However, I’m not telling you this to avoid the hospital and suffer the pain at home for this is my way of telling you that health is really the best asset, the real wealth. Instead of abusing, love yourself.

  18.       “The strongest factor for success is self-esteem, believing you can do it, believing you deserve it, and believing you’ll get It.” – Ma’am Kayle Jocelle Flores, RN