Chronicle #54: Extra Challenge
Posted at 04:21 AM in Nursing Chronicles
As a nurse here in the Philippines, one has to learn and master the art of juggling tasks between 8-13 patients per shift for private hospitals and as many as 25-50 patients for government run ones. Sometimes the task of taking care patients becomes too much of a burden in institutes where there is a shortage of experienced nurses. It's a sad fact that one of the least compensated jobs here in the country is that of nurses and other allied health professions (Let's exclude doctors because we all know that they earn bigtime when they get to be consultants). No wonder that the exodus of nurses has become severe that the brain drain has turned into a brain hemorrhage.
When I started working as a registered nurse, I realized how heavy the responsibility nurses have on their shoulders. During the first several weeks in the hospital, there were days when I wished that I had a different profession. There were days that it took me all the strength that I had to get up from bed and get ready for work. There were days when I counted the hours till my shift ends. It was really difficult adjusting at first. I got sick at times, my back pain worsened and eventually I got hospitalized for a long time and was terminated from work. Depression seeped in after several weeks and I had a difficult time dealing with the losses that I had. I recovered after four grueling months after series of psychotherapy and medications. When I had the strength to pick up the scattered pieces of myself, I went to apply to another hospital and was luckily accepted. TMC gave me another chance at life, another chance to prove myself as a nurse. As expected, adjustment was difficult but was less compared to my previous work. During the probationary period I nearly burnt out because of the patient load. I struggled to love my work, to love my patients, to love my co-workers and especially to love myself. It took sometime to work through the system but eventually, with dedication and patience I was able to pass the probationary period and was regularized after six gruelling months of hardwork.
When I look back at all the things that I have done during the last two years as nurse, I can say that I have done so much to deserve more than a tap on the back. When we have trainees or new nurses on the floor, I always ask them the big question which is "Do you really want to be a nurse?" I ask them this not to scare them away but to make them realize the responsibility they are given as health care professionals. I ask them this as a measure of their committment to their chosen profession. In the two years that I have spent in The Medical City, I've learned a lot more than pathophysiology, pharmacology and the like. I've learned to value patience and hardwork. I've learned how to manage patients, juggling them between tasks and ensuring that our service exceeds expectations. I learned how to be humble and own my shortcomings as a nurse.
Lately, the unit has been quiet because one wing is closed (due to construction) meaning that our census only totalled to 18 patients. I enjoyed working with only 5-6 patients per shift and I am proud to say that I have given my patients the best care I can give. It only proves that less patients equals more care. I'm not saying that we cannot render quality care when we have more patients, what I'm pointing out is that we, nurses are able to function better when our loads are rational. With less workload, I am able to interact morewith my patients, organize nursing tasks, chart better and have time for personal needs such as toileting and eating. Deep within the recesses of my soul, I want to change the system. It's difficult to make things happen. It's difficult to ask the hospital management to do such because of the cost of hiring more nurses. I don't know where to turn to but I am hoping that the government will do something about our ailing health care.
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I had a patient who underwent explore laparotomy due to small bowel obstruction secondary to post-operative adhesions. I will confess that she was a difficult patient at first and I hated her for that. She had so many contraptions that prohibited her from moving about--an NG tube to a gomco suction, a JP drain, a subcutaneous drain, two IV lines a foley cath and a big post-op incision on her abdomen. Despite the fact that she was a demanding patient, I took care of her with all my might. I took it as a challenge and eventually I won her support and won her heart as well. At times, it is difficult to understand patients but when we look at it at another angle, when we look at the situation from their standpoint, we'll realize why they act in such way, why they become demanding. After handling her for three days I told her that I'd be gone for quite some time because I'll be going on leave. I felt that she was sad about me leaving however, at the back of my mind I was pleased because somehow I know that I have done a good job taking care of her. At this time I am not sure if she has been discharged already. I will be coming back to work on Saturday and hopefully she's not confined anymore.
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Hindi na ako takot maginsert ng IV sa pedia patients nandyan man o wala ang bantay/parents sa bedside. Ang lakas na ng loob ko ngayon maginsert na pinapatulan ko na ang children below 3 years old. Pero pag tipong 1 year old lang eh hinahayaan ko na ang resident ang maginsert, baka kasi maburdahan ko lang ang kamay o paa ng patient. Kakaiba pa naman ang feel ng gauge 24/26 na neoflon compared sa venflon na pang adults. Mahirap din minsan maginsert sa pedia kasi matataba pa ang mga kamay at paa. Pinakikiramdaman ko rin muna kung toxic ba ang parents o hindi kasi baka sabihin eh pinagpapraktisan ang kanilang mga chikiting.
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I had some blood test done early this morning. As I had expected, the med tech had a difficult time locating viable veins under the thick adipose tissues that I have. Hehe. She ended up picking the veins on my left had and filled up 3 different colored vials. The experience made me all the more frustrated in shedding some weight.
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I'd be retaking my IELTS on December 6th and I'm nervous. It's has been two years since I had taken the exam which had expired already. HCCA was kind enough to lend me a review manual for the exam and tomorrow I'd be taking a dry-run exam in preparation for the actual one. I had a 7.5 during the first exam and I'm hoping to get an 8 or higher. Hehe, dream high!
