#nurses notes

[kent3ndo]

Coke tumbler let's go! Haha sumakto ang letters C-O-K-E kagabi noong nag dinner kami sa duty. Sabi namin hiraman nalang sa pag gamit hahahahaha

Pero dahil competitive ang tito mo bumili ako ng 12 pcs coke sakto sa Iloilo Supermart *aton guid ini!* Haha so far O palang ang nakuha ko.

[kymchiwrites]

207. 

Our CNO was making rounds the other day and I was surprised when I was called to the nursing station. She had our charge nurse and our CNA there also because she said that Room 207 mentioned the three of us by name when she asked him about his stay there. Apparently, he told them that everyone was great but out of everyone, we were “exceptional.” 

I always wondered if our patients ever remembered us. With the sheer number of patients that go in and out of our unit, I’m sorry to say that I can’t remember every single one by name. But our patients only see the same set of nurses every day for at least 2 weeks. So hearing that made me smile, because hey, maybe I am making a difference. 

That’s why when I came back to work and found out that his wife, who I had seen visiting him a few days ago, had a stroke and passed away, my heart broke. She was literally just there, feeding him spoonfuls of pudding because he didn’t have any appetite to eat anything. And now, she’s gone. 

So today, even though he wasn’t my patient, and even though I had 1000000x other things to do, I sat next to him and I held his hand. I mouthed “I’m sorry,” he nodded, and we just sat there in silence. No words needed. But right before I left, he gave my hand a squeeze and said “Thank you.” 

Being a nurse is hard. It’s physically and mentally demanding. I knew that. 

But they never told me it could hurt this bad. 

[kent3ndo]

I miss the time when people don't just cough loudly in public spaces. 😷

[kent3ndo]

Sayang sana pala ginamit ko na ang valentines day kahapon para makapag send ng flowers sa crushie kong nurse sa third floor, ala secret admirer ba. Kasi kanina meron ngang nag padala ng flowers sa security guard tas di alam kanino bibigay... so noong nag rounds kami for attendance pabiro kong sinabi kay crushie na uuy baka sayo yung flowers sa baba kanina sa guard, ngumiti naman sya at nag blush tas tumawa. Hay yung puso ko, ang cute nya talaga... Anyways pag balik namin sa guard, wala na yung flowers. Sana allergic ang totoong binigyan hahaha inggitero at bitter lmao....

Sike!!! walang ganun! Bawal sendan si crushie kasi may bf na yun na doctor... hahaha wala lang, extra cute nya lang kanina, sya lang nagpa ngiti sakin ngayon kahit super bitter ko sa mundo, kahit na alam ko namang bawal mabighani sa kanya... Hahahaha hayyyyy...

[kent3ndo]

Jaro Cathedral

Early nag simba ang tito nyu. Dami kasing kasalanan. Hahaha jk.😇

[kymchiwrites]

One Year

Well.

It’s been a year since I started working as nurse. Yey. X number of years to go before I retire hahahaha. 

But in all seriousness, this year was equal parts tough and amazing. 

I’m so thankful that I got to start this first year at Paradise Valley Hospital. I honestly can’t imagine a better place to get my bearings and test my nurse-wings out in the real world for the very first time. 

I’ve bounced around three different units but the people I’ve met have been so welcoming and always made me feel like home even though we didn’t know when/if I would leave. 

I’ve learned so much--not just skills wise but also lessons from my coworkers, doctors, and even patients. 

I’ve had patients curse and yell at me. 

But I’ve also had patients ask me how I’m doing, bring the nurses lunch, and try to make my work easier for me. 

There are so many stories, so many lessons that I’ve learned over this past year. There’s not enough time to write about them all. 

There are days when I come home exhausted, crawling into my bed and wondering why I ever decided to become a nurse.

But there are also days when I see my patients making progress, when I get to sit and laugh with them, that my heart swells and I think to myself “This, this is why I became a nurse.” 

One year. 

It’s flown by so fast. 

I’m excited to see what this next year will bring. 

[kymchiwrites]

It’s been a while since I’ve written about work, which I attribute to feeling a little overworked/unfulfilled lately. Right before I went to work, I literally told my mom “Ugh I’m so bored; I have nothing to write about lately.” 

Sometimes the universe listens to me, sometimes it doesn’t. Today it did char haha. 

I only had 3 patients but I was so tired from the past few days at the wound center that it was taking a more energy to do the minimum amount of work. Thankfully, it’s like my patients were heaven-sent. 

Patient A would always say “thank you,” after every little thing that I did. She’s on contact precaution for C-diff and she can see how much time it takes to glove and gown right before entering her room so tinatanong/pinapagawa na nya lahat ng kelangan nyang itanong/ipagawa once I’m inside so I’m not constantly going in and out. I appreciated that. Then, before the end of her shift, she called to say that she had to use the bedpan and then commented “I’m so sorry, dear. I tried to hold it as long as I could because it’s so much work for you girls.” *Cue tears* Nurses take care of patients. And I can understand when they’re grumpy etc. So having a patient care about me... that’s something. 

Patient B called me into his room to ask about “Ung puting pagkain na may laman sa loob?” We were able to figure out that what he was asking for was siopao. My initial reaction was a) pretend not to find it because b) he’s just going to make a mess while he eats it in bed. And who will clean up that mess? Me. But he was really intent on finding it that he texts his wife to ask where she left it. It was actually in a cup right next to his bed (that I pretended not to see). Fine, he won. I took a siopao and handed it to him and he said “No. Hindi para sakin. Para SAYO.” *Cue tears* What did I do to deserve this kindness T.T 

So there. Thanks universe for giving me another reminder why I do why I do :”)

[kymchiwrites]

Work has been somewhat tough lately because of the high census and low staffing. 

I’ve been working extra hours and picking up extra shifts and I’m so exhausted. 

Then you add needy, verbally inappropriate, temper tantrum patients and I’m left wondering what else I have to go through to survive a shift. 

Side note: Why are some patients total jerks to their nurses? Is it fun for you? Do you get some sort of satisfaction ordering us around? Ginagawa na nga namin lahat ng kaya namin para maging comfortable kayo pero it’s like all you can see are the things we lack. 

But somehow, there is a silver lining.

204, who always smiles and asks me how I’m doing even though I’m not the nurse assigned to him. 

211, who high fived me when his blood sugar was low and wouldn’t need insulin, and who I overheard telling his son over the phone how nice I was *cue tears*

I don’t really know how else to end this other than to remind myself to always find something to thankful for.  

Here’s to facing a new week that’s sure to be full of struggle, but also of blessings.