Work.

Sure, I passed the boards, I got my license last September and I took my oath last Monday, but why is it that I still feel a thorn on my throat? Maybe it's that sense of responsibility that keeps haunting me.

I got a job recently. But it's only for 2months so it's somewhat part time. But at least I get a few bucks in my bank account to help in my training in the near future. I actually heard that the Department of Health issued a memo that hospitals shouldn't train nurses anymore. But I'm not sure if that meant that if hospitals should just go on and hire nurses or if any form of training should just be removed altogether. If it's the former then that would be good in a sense that when they get you, you're hired. Though that can also mean that it would be hard to get in 'coz of course, a hospital can only hold so much nurses. But if it's the latter, it'll be a bomb on all of us unemployed nurses right now. There are hospitals who require their applicants to have experience first, so if the training program is removed, what would happen?

But anyway, I'm taking it one step at a time. Although I've come to realize that it's not such a good thing to not have a plan for yourself. I mean, of course I have a plan because there are some things that I want to achieve in life, too. But the way that everything is unsure regarding the future of professional nurses, it's quite hard to have a fixed mindset on how things should be. I just don't know why I am finding it hard to even make a tentative plan for myself. Haha. All I have is something like I plan to earn, train and work. Haha. Hay. I should seriously start planning about my future, huh?

Am actually here at work, rushing and cramming the deadlines. Hahaha.

Later days,

~coffeeandmusiclover~

Hey hey hey, are you okay?

When I was studying for the boards, I was a zombie. I'd sleep at 6am and I'd wake up at 3pm. It was really hard to break that habit. But then, last week, I had to seriously do something about it. I was going to have my BLS and SFAT training so I had to sleep early in order to wake up early. So last Saturday night (meaning Sunday morning, around 6.30am), I decided not to sleep. That way, I'd be knocked out by Sunday night. To my surprise, it worked! Haha. But my mind was somewhere else for the entire Sunday! Haha. I barely remember that day, honestly. :p

So anyway, Monday came and I was on my way to Red Cross for the training. The day actually started out really bad. I went to the Port Area branch, their main branch, because when I inquired via phone, they told me to go to that branch. To my dismay, they don't hold training seminars at their HQ, hence, I had to go to Intramuros, the Manila Chapter office. It was a good thing that I was going to train with Mara. It would've been so hard without her because there were a couple of people from FEU who knew each other. We also bumped into Chiqui and Charice. It was really comforting to see some familiar faces again, especially because of the tension of the results (which are due next week!) Monday was all about Basic Life Support and since it's the first day, it was just lecture. Of course, the Red Cross Training Program was made in a way that it's understandable for lay people. We even had three classmates who weren't in the health care area. So everything was easy to follow and comprehend.

Tuesday, it was still about BLS but it was exam day. The exam was pretty hard. Mara and I were not confident in any of our answers in the multiple choice part and the enumeration part was a killer. Haha. But it went well. Our names even got called for having good grades. :) But the practical test was just nerve-wracking! (is that the right term?) We had to do CPR for an adult, a child and an infant! The child and the adult were similar but the infant was a bit hard! Everything had a reason and you had to give the rationale all the time! But the baby dolls were so cute because the chest really rises every time you give a rescue breath. In fact, they check if you really are able to make the chest rise. Haha. So anyway, I was able to finish early because I was one of the few who were called first. Mara had a different situation, though. She was one of the last two to take the practical exam. Hehe.

Wednesday was all about First Aid. Again, the discussion was easy to follow. They would even give mnemonics for all the management for every condition. The problem was that, since there were so many conditions, it was hard to memorize all of the mnemonics because they'd get jumbled up in your head. Haha. But it was fun. :) I mean, it's really close to what they teach us in school. But it's nice to study the first aid treatments and not just the medications for the conditions. So it really felt something like a nursing action because the doctor was only there for referral after you do all your first aid treatments.

Thursday was really fun. We discussed about bandaging and rescue & transfer! It was hard but it was really cool and fun! Haha. Especially in the rescue and transfer part because Sir Fritz really demonstrated each of the techniques. And it was really funny. Add to that, the victim always comes from us. Hahaha. :p We all had a good laugh because of it. My favorite demonstration would have to be the FIREMAN'S DRAG. :p Hahaha. I'm afraid only my classmates would understant why. Hehehe. :p

Friday was the exam for bandaging and rescue & transfer. Bandaging was hard! We had to move really fast! In 30ecs, you must read the situation, analyze your victim's injuries, fold your bandage properly and apply the bandage correctly. But they were, of course, very considerate since we weren't that used to all of it just yet. In the exam for rescue and transfer, we were supposed to rescue and transfer the victim according to the method that the instructor would say, taking into consideration the wounds and injuries that the victim has. They were EXTRA considerate in this part, especially in my case because of my back problem. Haha. I'm really thankful for that. :) For the final event, it was intense! Wild! But fun! Even though there was "blood" splattering everywhere! Hehe. :p

Aw, I miss them all already. :( Ma'am Jaime said that our class was really bonded, despite the size. We were quite a big group and yet we still managed to bond as a class. We were all happy to hear that. :)

I also miss the small canteen where Mara and I would eat for lunch. It was really cheap there and the food was okay. The owner is so hospitable that when he said last Friday, "balik ulit kayo ah?" Mara and I looked at each other and just smiled. We felt bad because it was our last day and it was unlikely that we'd ever have to eat there again.

I also miss the instructors! They were really great. Especially Sir Fritz! When I become an instructor someday, I wanna be just like him! haha. I'm actually thinking if I want to be a volunteer there. :)

I hope that when I get my certificate two weeks from now, I'd see the proof that I passed the training. It would be nice to say "I'm a TRAINED first aid provider, can I help?" :)

Later days,

~coffeeandmusiclover~