Angel in the Sickroom

Ten Tips for Staying Healthy

2012-01-12T16:29:00.002-07:00

Don’t be poor. If you can, stop. If you can’t, try not to be poor for long.
Don’t have poor parents.
Own a car.
Don’t work in a stressful, low paid manual job.
Don’t live in damp, low quality housing.
Be able to afford to go on a foreign holiday and sunbathe.
Practice not losing your job and don’t become unemployed.
Take up all benefits you are entitled to, if you are unemployed, retired or sick or disabled.
Don’t live next to a busy major road or near a polluting factory.
Learn how to fill in the complex housing benefit/ asylum application forms before you become homeless and destitute.

Source: Raphael, D. 2000. The question of evidence in health promotion. Health Promotion International 15: 355-67. Table 3, "The role of ideology in health promotion."

Ethical Dilemma: Forming Biases and Judgments Towards Patients

2011-11-07T18:45:00.000-07:00

As I was doing my patient research for one of my patients who had hepatic encephalopathy, I had found my self forming judgment and biases against my patient. I read that EMS had to transport her from her house because her home care aide reported that she had increased confusion. The EMS report stated that they found empty beer cans in her room and she reeked of alcohol. When I read this, I quickly remembered a discussion I had with a classmate about a doctor who told his patient that "She did it to herself". I couldn't help but agree with how the doctor thought. Here is a person who was terribly sick because of years of abusing alcohol, smoking, and doing street drugs. She is in the hospital occupying a bed and using up so much resources, which could have been better allocated to someone whose illness wasn't self-inflicted.

That would have been my thoughts if I wasn't more aware of the determinants of health and other ethical principles such as not judging a person by pure face value. As I have learned from my past clinical experiences, what is said on the chart is not always 100% accurate and there are other vital information that aren't included and can only be known from the patient themselves. It is very easy to fall into the trap of forming hasty generalizations because of a limited information provided to us. I do not know my patient very well but I am sure that there is a reason behind the self-abuse. Although the information was limited, I have noticed that she has bipolar disorder. From the mental health course that I have taken, I have learned that substance abuse is one way for people to self-medicate. Bipolar disorder is a condition in which people go back and forth between periods of a very good or irritable mood and depression. Mental illness is not something that people chose out of their free will and they deserve the help that they need without the negative attitude that some people would have because of the misconception that "they did it to themselves".

Some would argue that they did have a choice to abuse substances, but again as a health professional, our role is to promote health and help a patient to the best of our resources and abilities. Just like a person who smokes, we cannot change them through force, we have to form a partnership and work with them towards mutually set goals when they are willing and more accepting to learn. It is difficult not to form biases, but we have to wear our nursing caps and leave our personal biases out the door.

These are just my thoughts on this subject.

Thoughts on Dying and Upholding the RN Image

2011-11-06T21:47:00.000-07:00

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/facing-death/

Watching the Frontline video titled "Facing Death" has brought about questions regarding morality and ethics: How far will you go to sustain the life of someone you love or even your life? Dying is a normal part of the life cycle, but no one wants to die. The program has showcased how modern medicine can keep a human body functioning for years but the poor quality of life of someone who is on life support sometimes outweighs being alive. Prolonging someone's life could actually be more harm especially if someone is always suffering from excruciating pain or worst, brain dead. But again I always believe that the right to live belongs to everyone, therefore it is also their right to decide what happens to them. This is why I think it is important for everyone to have personal directive, so that one's wishes will be respected during an event that someone loses the ability to choose. The video didn't talk about euthanasia, or assisted death, but this will always be a topic of controversy around end of life care. No one wants to be in excruciating agony, therefore making sure that someone is comfortable during the last hours of their life is important. Again if we look back on the principles of beneficence and non-maleficence, letting people die with dignity and peace seems to be the right thing to do. Also, if treatment will only cause more pain and suffering for a patient with little to no chance of surviving, that treatment plan should be revised or all out discontinued. Morality will always have a grey area and much discussions about this topic should be pursued for improvements in end of life care to occur. I also find it important for a nurse to be aware of the process of grieving (Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance) so that a nurse can find the right timing to talk about options left for the patient.

For the journal that I have read regarding the impressions we leave, I find it important for nurses to always be professional with their interactions with their patients. This is especially true for registered nurses as they now have to prove their contribution to health care as licensed practical nurses are able to do what they do and are paid significantly less. Registered nurses should always let their patients know that they are registered nurses, and by informing their patient's this, nurses should definitely need to leave a good impression. As I have seen in clinical, socializing and chatting at the nursing station should be only done when one has made sure that absolutely everything is done for the patient and that one actually spent time to know the patient so that one will have the necessary information to plan competent and compassionate care. Excellent communication skill is really highlighted as this determines the majority of the patient's first impression for the nurse.

Working as a Male Nurse in a Gender-Biased World

2011-10-21T23:07:00.002-06:00

If you’re working as a male nurse, you know the odds are stacked against you. Women, who have been monopolizing this role for decades, may resent you stepping into their employment territory, especially in this economic downturn. The media pokes fun of male nurses, and a lot of older folks don’t trust a male nurse. However, you can shine in your position if you take the following steps:

Show Off Your Strengths

One of your primary strengths is probably exactly that—physical capability. Offer to help other nurses with the physically challenging duties such as moving patients, lifting equipment, and carrying supplies. You may also be one of those men who possess admirable emotional strength, which will come in handy in your position as well. Be ready to step in when tempers flare or drama floods your floor. You can be the source of strength your core group of nurses relies upon.

Overdo Professionalism

You can’t take professionalism too far in this role. It’s too easy for some homophobic old guy to accuse you of inappropriately changing his bedpan or some suspicious woman to accuse you of leaning into her in a sexual way while you moved her from her gurney to her hospital bed. You’ve got to be on your guard at all times to make sure you:

Treat others with respect, even if the patients (or visitors) are not respectful of you
Use professional medical language
Ask permission when appropriate
Explain what you are doing and why you are doing it before you perform your nursing duties, especially if those actions could possibly be misconstrued
Get another nurse in the room with you if you have to perform any task on a patient who you suspect might not trust you

Develop a Sense of Humor

Sure, there are going to be guys who take pot shots at you and other nurses who might not give you the respect you’re due until you’ve worked with them awhile. Still, it never helps to be defensive or sour-natured. Come up with a few dismissive lines and learn to laugh off anything that smacks of an insult. Remind yourself that in time, you’ll show both your coworkers and your patients who you are: a strong male nurse who can carry them across the room, handle their breakdowns, and drug ‘em up so they feel better again. What’s not to love?

Bio:

Erinn Stam is the Managing Editor for scholarships for nursing students. She attends Wake Technical Community College and is learning about nursing scholarships for men. She lives in Durham, NC with her lovely 4-year-old daughter and exuberant husband.

23 Years Old

2011-08-12T00:12:00.000-06:00

The lake shimmered like a silver mirror, as the full moon casted it's rays upon it. Nostalgia hits me as I remember seeing the same scene not long ago. In my head I told myself, "OMG! I'm as big as the moon!". My emo moment ended right there and I was saddened by the thought that I'm actually outside 10 at night jogging. MLIA.

I then forced myself to think of more serious thoughts and remembered that in a few hours I was going to turn 23 years old... Gawd, I'm this close to being an old man and die.

I then reminisced and thought to myself that my life hasn't been a total waste. It was exciting actually. Although the majority of my life was wasted in pursuit of academic excellence, I did have a taste of social life. Like I met friends, enemies, and people who at one time were special to me. I do not regret my decisions in the past as regretting will not not correct my mistakes or alter the consequences. I do on the other hand relive these mistakes in order for me to learn from them and at least become a better person. I am sorry though for the people I've hurt and offended in the past. No excuse or apology will atone for my crudeness and selfishness. Hopefully in the following years we can learn to forgive and forget and start afresh.

I thank the people who have stayed by my side despite my shortcomings and unpredictability. I hope our friendship and camaraderie will stand the test of time and all other obstacles on the way. To the people on Facebook who took a few moments of their time to greet me, I am honored and thankful. I appreciate it a lot and I am glad to hear from all of you again.

I am now 23 years old... I am a young adult. It's scary how time has passed so quickly. I now start a new chapter in my life. I am excited.

***
Photo Credits to Thinaar's Blog

Muslim Are Our Neighbors

2011-06-30T21:55:00.000-06:00

With the recent events such as the September 11 attack, many Muslims have become a centre of fear and hate. Many Muslims become victims of stigma; Stigma is defined as an occurrence of labeling, stereotyping, and discrimination. Stigma is usually caused by lack of education or knowledge about the Muslim culture.

This is why My Fellow American is such a wonderful website. It helps people realize that Muslims shouldn't be outed because their culture and religion is a bit different. My Fellow American showcases many stories from real people whose lives were touched by Muslims. Here is a video of how someone helped a Muslim family helped feel more at home in their neighborhood:

Just like with any other group of people, it is unfair to be making generalizations and assumption about someone based on stereotypes. Sure, relying on stereotypes to help us make sense of someone is easier but it's just wrong. Take this for example, you go to a school with a really bad reputation like having really low grade averages. Just because you come from that school doesn't mean you are stupid, because you might actually have a 4.0 GPA (or A).

I have several Muslim friends, and I can honestly vouch that they are very different from stereotypes.

Rejection Sucks

2011-05-30T22:06:00.001-06:00

This is how I feel right now... my heart feels heavy and I'm about to cry right now. I guess I should start getting used to rejections if I want to be dating people. Well let's do a post-conference on my short-lived romance:

Let's name this person K, to protect their privacy. K is a 23 year old Filipino, and we met on an app on the iPhone. What a great way to start a relationship right? Well we were chatting and I started liking K because K had a great sense of humor and K was smart. We then met one day and I was just swept off my feet. K wasn't really attractive but I was into K a lot. We spent the whole day and the conversation was fantastic. Well I thought so anyway, I don't know what K was thinking...

Well I just talked with K and K said that K was more into a friend and K didn't want to mislead me or anyone else... which was kinda misleading because previously, K said K was in no rush to be in a relationship... but whatever. At least K told me head-on on what to expect.

My heart hurts right now, but I still am thinking of K. K says we could still be friends when I asked, but I have a feeling that this is actually the end of the road for us...well for me at least, since there was no us to begin with.

I'll be ok somehow, I'll be able to move on. I feel horrible and uhm... rejected? Things will be better? I have no idea... I don't care anymore...

2011-05-28T06:04:00.001-06:00

There are days when I just feel like laying in bed and doing nothing, this is one of those days. Well I feel like this every day but once I get to work everything just falls into place and I get to do my actual job.

I actually love what I'm doing, it's just the act of trying to wake up that sucks. Well I prefer the day shift as compared to the evening shift anytime.

Well I guess I should head to work right now.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Night Shifts Make Me Loopy

2011-05-23T17:36:00.001-06:00

These past few days has been sort of exciting and new for me. I have been picking up night shifts, something that I would never ever would have done because I value my sleep a little bit too much.

Anyway, something interesting happened. I had a sudden realization that I love what I am doing. I remembered the Lady with the Lamp, Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing. I'm no lady (that's for sure) but like her, I was dressed in white and I walked along the corridors of my hospital checking on my patients. Well it was more off doing a sleep monitoring sheet, but still... I was emulating a nursing characteristic of being observant.

On a personal note, night shifts on my unit could be very boring and repetitive since every one is asleep but I still find it enjoyable. The camaraderie that I have with the nurses and the other psychiatric aide is amazing.

I just wish they give me more than an hour before they call me to work an 11 PM to 7 AM shift but I guess it can't be helped. Night shifts do make me loopy at times, making it more important that I know my limits since I do not want to work unable to think incoherently. I could pose as a danger to myself and my patients, this is why honesty and integrity is needed in nursing as well.

I am looking forward to more night shifts.

Finals Blah and Fitness Action

2011-04-17T16:53:00.000-06:00

Ok that wasn't the most creative title that I could think of, but it captures my emotions right now. I'm at university on a Sunday trying to study for an exam which I am sure I could pass. But again, overconfidence is a deadly thing. I just have to look on the bright side, just two more years and I'm finally done with nursing school.

I do have a positive topic in this entry: I'm finally doing something to lose weight! Yup I had enough of being overweight. Sure I'm not really big but I'm not slender either, if you catch my drift. I was planning on taking a run outside since it's already spring but I kept having a lot of excuses not to. A great excuse is that we actually had a heavy snow fall so running outside would be considered a suicide attempt. My other excuse was that it's too late to run whenever I get home and I'm lazy (laziness not being a good excuse, of course). I did manage on the other hand to buy a treadmill. Yup you heard me, I decided to invest in an exercise machine because this way I don't have to pay horrendous gym membership fees and this time I could actually go on the treadmill whenever I want... well unless my ex-brother and his hoodlum friends decide to sleep over.

Anyway this morning I think I had an allergic reaction of some sort. I woke up at the crack of dawn because I felt a lump in my neck. It felt like there was a foreign object dislodged in my neck and it just won't go away even with a sip of water. I was going to go to the emergency room when it finally went away. I was thinking that it could have went into my lungs (which would lead to pneumonia or pulmonary obstruction) or into my stomach (which could possibly lead to bowel obstruction) which would be very bad. Later in the day I realized that I might have had an allergic reaction to the water bottle that I drank from. I noticed that paint was chipping of and I only felt the tightness in my esophagus everytime I took a sip from it.

I also read online that it could also be caused by stress as some people seemed to have the same problem as me. There's nothing physically wrong with their throats but stress is causing their throat muscles to spasm. OR... I could go to a doctor and have it looked at... which I'm not really interested to do cause it would take too much time... but again... time or my life... seems like a no brainer, I'll do it after finals if I'm still alive.

Casey Heynes: I Support You!

2011-04-05T10:40:00.004-06:00

I was very disturbed by this viral video that I saw on YouTube. My heart goes to Casey Heynes who was bullied for most of his life just because he weighed a few pounds. It pains my heart to hear him talk about suicide because he couldn't take the bullying anymore. People say that violence is never an answer but in this case, I support Casey Heynes, the Bully Punisher. I see Casey as a hero, a beacon of light for all of the people who are abused by people like Ritchard Gale.

Ritchard Gale is a little liar! He said that Casey attacked him first but it is clear from the video that Ritchard came along with his group of bullies and attacked Casey. I don't feel sorry for you Ritchard Gale and I hope this event will haunt you for the rest of your life. Casey was defenseless (a gentle giant) and was against the wall when you punched him several times. You deserve everything that you are getting right now. I know I sound horrible but you are a liar. If you just said sorry like you meant it, you might be hated less.

To Casey, you are not alone. The whole world supports you and we are proud of you! I am happy that you have a family that loves you. Casey said that he had 9 friends who deserted him... well you have hundreds of thousands of friends around the world now!

I was bullied as a kid too and I was very young when I first knew how fear felt like. I was so miserable and I felt so lonely because no one was there for me. Like Casey I had a few friends (who were there when they needed something from me) but when I was being teased that I didn't have friends, I told my bully that I did have friends and pointed at my supposed to be friends. It was so painful to be told right in front of your face that they never considered me as a friend. Children could be so cruel especially when they are ruled over by a school bully.

This is Casey's message to all people who are bullied: "Look for the good days, keep your chin up and school ain't going to last forever".

For more information on this historical event, you can visit http://www.caseyheynes.com/.

Nursing Uniforms

2011-03-30T23:27:00.002-06:00

When I first started working as a psychiatric aide, I gained a great appreciation for scrub suits. It is unfortunate that the traditional nursing uniforms (the all-white uniform) have now been laid to rest and have been replaced with scrubs that not only give you more comfort but it is also more practical. It's also great that you have a choice at different colors and designs--- well if you're female that is. Men on the other hand are stuck with the plain blue scrubs. Well you do have a choice of light blue, dark blue, aqua blue, and black (not really a color).

Although I do wish for more choices for male nurses but I guess we have to make do with what we have now. I’ve recently been out shopping for scrubs and I’ve been surprised at how expensive some scrubs could be. Even with my 10% student discount, scrubs would still cost me around $40 to $80 for a set. Makes me wonder why they’re so expensive, but it does help to know some cheaper alternatives like buying scrubs online like at http://www.nursinguniforms.net/. They have really affordable scrubs so you could buy a dozen so you won’t be stuck wearing the same scrubs in a monotonous cycle. They have a decent selection of scrubs and I’m pretty sure they’ll be adding more brands soon. With a purchase of $100 or more you will get free shipping so you could spend more on scrubs and less on having it sent to you. I especially like the warm upscrubs, great for chilly mornings or frigid nights.

Another neat feature of http://www.nursinguniforms.net/ is their blog. I really found it interesting how the nursing profession’s history and other nursing concerns are laid out and discussed thoroughly so it is a great site to visit to know more about nursing.

As a special treat to all nurses and everyone else who works in the health care field, Nursing Uniforms will provide a 20% discount when you use this coupon: NU2011. A great way to start spring would be to throw away your dark, gloomy scrubs and buy yourselves bright, new scrubs.

Stigma in Mental Health Care

2011-03-21T19:04:00.000-06:00

Boy it's been a while since I last posted something of substance (not to mention nursing related) on my blog. As always I have been unproductive in my student life, doing things other than studying (like blogging). Anyway, I guess it's better than being out in the streets late at night partying right (defensive mechanism: rationalization; I'm actually just a lazy bum)?

So on with my post... I've recently applied for a position as a psychiatric aide in a geriatric mental health facility where I formerly worked as a dietary aide. I'm pretty happy to have taken the position as it is pretty hard to get a job in the health care field with out the proper education (I'm still a 2nd year nursing student).

Many people would ask why I decided to work in a mental health facility in the first place. People think that people with mental illness are dangerous. Well ladies and gentlemen, that is a MYTH. You will find more aggressive people at retail stores than a mental health facility. The problem with mental health is that it is surrounded by stigma. Stigma is defined as an occurrence of labeling, stereotyping, isolation, discrimination, and status loss (Björkman, Angelman, & Jönsson, 2008, p. 170). Mental illness is just like any other disease: it is treatable; yet so many people treat people with mental illness badly and shun them away. It is said that people with mental illness already suffer the disabling symptoms of the mental illness, plus they have to suffer the social isolation from it. Some people with mental illness would rather suffer in silence from voices in their head or depression just because they fear of being labeled as crazy, wacko, nut job, and other derogatory, hate-laden labels.

I have worked with people with mental illness and I could tell you right now that they are the most sweetest people and I enjoy being with them every single day. You have to understand that they're talking to themselves or are not making any sense because there is something wrong with the neurotransmitters in their brain.

Media has portrayed people with schizophrenia as dangerous just like the picture above. In reality, people with schizophrenia are more likely to hurt themselves than anyone else. They are not dangerous and they don't have a multiple personality as the picture erroneously portray.

Understanding what mental illness is and educating people about it is important to reduce stigma. Mental illness is very common and you may not know that your close friend has it, yet he still seems normal. Mental illness is just like having hypertension. We should never treat them differently.

I have written a paper about stigma and I was surprised that some nurses who work in somatic care carry more negative attitudes and beliefs against people with mental health and they believe that people with mental illness are intrinsically bad and that they are causing their own problem. People with mental illness come to the emergency room to seek help but they are just dismissed by nurses since these nurses think that depression is just a matter of "will power". Like other physical disorders, mental illness should be treated and these patients should be referred to the appropriate mental health professionals.

Did you know that there is great difficulty getting access to mental health services? Your problems are not taken seriously until you prove that you are a danger to yourself or to others? How on earth will you prove that? Well I guess you have to wait until your disease progresses and you do something against your own will.

There are several problems in mental health care right now. First is of course the stigma that comes with mental illness, second is difficult access to services, and thirdly we even lack funding and professionals in mental health because of stigma.

I hope for a day when stigma will be totally eradicated and that people with mental illness will gain access to the treatment and support (even their own family will disown people with mental illness) that they need. Mental health is interesting, I might be a mental health practitioner someday... who knows.

References

Björkman, T., Angelman, T., & Jönsson, M. (2008). Attitudes towards people with mental illness: A cross-sectional study among nursing staff in psychiatric and somatic care. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences, 22(2), 170-177. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-6712.2007.00509.x

These people make me sick.

2011-03-14T14:28:00.002-06:00

http://www.3030fm.com/3.jpg

Japan has suffered great loss when they had the earthquake + tsunami + radiation exposure crisis, yet these people mock Japan and are even happy for Japan's disaster. I have never seen such sadistic people in my life. These people are not worth calling human beings.

Nurses Need to Know More About Hockey

2011-02-25T11:50:00.002-07:00

Tried to initiate a conversation with a patient but he was talking about hockey, so I then changed the topic to his delusions of him being the authority of cats and dogs. I realized that I needed to be more knowledgeable of hockey in order to initiate therapeutic communication.

Twitter-like Function on Blogger

2011-02-15T22:55:00.000-07:00

Blogger should have a Twitter-like function so that I could frequently update my status. Yes, I am one of those annoying people who updates their status on Facebook about every single thing that goes on in their heads or whatever they do.

Tweet!

Valentine's Day Update

2011-02-14T15:14:00.000-07:00

Hello world and to all the people who actually follow my blog and rants. As you would have guessed from the post title, today is Valentine's Day... yipee dee... Yes I am this ecstatic about it... not. Anyway, I still wanted to greet the lovely couples out there, Happy Valentines Day. I would also like to extend this greeting to all the loveless people as you have shown to the world how strong you are even when you are alone or as other lovey doveys would call you as a "half waiting for your other half...".

Well I started my day 1 in the morning as I was cramming for an exam which didn't really need cramming for since it was retarded. I am so negative, let's turn up the mood a bit.

Today I recalled an event in my childhood. I was staying at my grandmother's house when my cousins came home with a nest filled with hatchlings. These birds were so cute. Innocent as I was cute, I got our cat and showed him the nest of birds. I thought that he was staring at amazement and shared the same feelings of awe as I was when he was taking a moment and stared at the birds... he then took a bite and began chewing on the poor little bird. I was frantic! I wanted to stop him but I also didn't want to break his neck! What a traumatic childhood indeed. My first encounter with life and death...

How's that for changing the mood? ^_^

***

Photo credits from thevillagepizza.ca

Drug Calculation Quiz Retake

2011-01-30T19:19:00.000-07:00

In my pharmacology class, we had to take a drug calculations quiz. We either get a hundred percent or we fail. Guess what? I failed...

I am angry and bewildered as why I would fail such a simple math exam. I double checked each and every one of my answers but I still ended making a mistake. I hate making mistakes and I hate being a failure. I am not a failure and this event has taken a toll on my self-esteem... specifically my pride.

Sure, this is a humbling event and it reminded me that to err is human and that I shouldn't think badly of others who fail because they too might be just like me... had a case of bad, dumb old luck. Life is a gamble and it's how you deal with what ever life gives you is the most important part.

I was grieving when I found out I had to do a retake. I was in denial (I couldn't make a mistake), I was angry (that stupid teacher checked my paper wrong), bargaining (I didn't really bargain...), I was depressed (I wanted to die), and finally I accepted my failure.

I just lost 2% of my total grade and it really doesn't look that bad. I will make this failure as a sign to work extra hard and be more diligent in my studies.

It does help to think positively.

NEVER BUY A BROTHER PRINTER

2011-01-07T17:24:00.000-07:00

I'm too angry to write an entry right now but I just wanted to say that Brother printers are a complete waste of money. If you want to throw your money away, buy a brother printer!

My Conscience

2011-01-04T18:48:00.000-07:00

Let me first express how I feel so bad about being a jerk to my mail lady. I didn't say thank you to her or even acknowledged her when she said "thank you" to me and I feel really bad... I am such a jerk at times.

I could honestly say that I could never do any bad will to anyone who doesn't deserve it because my conscience will eat me for days. I don't know if having a strong conscience is a strength or a weakness, but one thing's for sure: I have a conscience.

Wikipedia defines conscience as "an aptitude, faculty, intuition, or judgment of the intellect that distinguishes right from wrong" and is "described as leading to feelings of remorse when a human does things that go against his/her moral values, and to feelings of rectitude or integrity when actions conform to such norms."

I find having a good conscience as a strength because it helps me in making the right decisions and it protects me from the severe consequences of wrong decisions. Having a conscience is only a weakness when every one else doesn't have one. You'll end up being eaten, chewed, and spitted out by immoral people. Nevertheless, I try having a good balance with my conscience. I will follow the golden rule, "One should treat others as one would like others to treat oneself". Although the platinum rule ("people should treat others as those others would like to be treated") is better, my moral fibre isn't strong enough. I still prefer the "eye for an eye" logic.

***

Photo credits to David Tanguay

I Finally Work In A Hospital

2010-12-29T14:58:00.000-07:00

If you have visited my blog before, you may have noticed a change in my blog sub-header: from sales associate to food service attendant. I doubt that anyone would notice this but if you did then you must be a frequent visitor to my blog and for that I give you my gratitude. I'm actually pretty happy about the change in my job description as I've applied to hospitals for over a year now and I'm finally hired! Sure, it's not a nursing job but as long as I'm in the healthcare employee database, I'm happy with that.

I've promised myself that I would never get a job in food services since I had bad experiences before but food service in the hospital is different and I'm hoping that I would enjoy it. Some people asked me why I left my retail job for a job that is unrelated to nursing. Well, working at an electronic store is completely unrelated to nursing while food services in the hospital is kinda related to it. The promise of a better pay and the freedom from overly demanding customers is a pretty sweet deal as well.

I already went to the orientations and I'm going for my training tomorrow. I'm really anxious about this new job and I'm kind of doubtful if I made the right choice of quitting my retail job. On the bright side, the new work environment is pretty nice. Everything is brand sparkling new and the co-workers and bosses are pretty nice.

Oh boy, the new year always brings new surprises.

A Warning to Credit Card Holders

2010-12-20T11:09:00.000-07:00

I urge everyone to read this warning. I received this e-mail from my mom and I'm glad I did. The email goes like this:

Just a heads up for everyone regarding the latest in Visa fraud. Royal Bank received this communication about the newest scam. This is happening in southern Alberta right now and moving.

This one is pretty slick since they provide YOU with all the information, except the one piece they want..

Note, the callers do not ask for your card number; they already have it.

This information is worth reading By understanding how the VISA & MasterCard telephone Credit Card Scam works, you'll be better prepared to protect yourself. One of our employees was called on Wednesday from 'VISA', and I was called on Thursday from 'MasterCard'.

The scam works like this:

Person calling says - 'This is (name), and I'm calling from the Security and Fraud Department at VISA. My Badge number is 12460, Your card has been flagged for an unusual purchase pattern, and I'm calling to verify. This would be on your VISA card which was issued by (name of bank). Did you purchase an Anti-Telemarketing Device for $497.99 from a marketing company based in Arizona ?' When you say 'No', the caller continues with, 'Then we will be issuing a credit to your account. This is a company we have been watching and the charges range from $297 to $497, just under the $500 purchase pattern that flags most cards. Before your next statement, the credit will be sent to (gives you your address), is that correct?' You say 'yes'.

The caller continues - 'I will be starting a Fraud Investigation. If you have any questions, you should call the 1- 800 number listed on the back of your card (1-800-VISA) and ask for Security. You will need to refer to this Control Number.. The caller then gives you a 6 digit number. 'Do you need me to read it again?'

Here's the IMPORTANT part on how the scam works - The caller then says, 'I need to verify you are in possession of your card'. He'll ask you to 'turn your card over and look for some numbers'. There are 7 numbers; the first 4 are part of your card number, the last 3 are the Security Numbers that verify you are the possessor of the card. These are the numbers you sometimes use to make Internet purchases to prove you have the card. The caller will ask you to read the last 3 numbers to him. After you tell the caller the 3 numbers, he'll say, 'That is correct, I just needed to verify that the card has not been lost or stolen, and that you still have your card Do you have any other questions?'

After you say no, the caller then thanks you and states, 'Don't hesitate to call back if you do', and hangs up. You actually say very little, and they never ask for or tell you the card number. But after we were called on Wednesday, we called back. Within 20 minutes to ask a question. We were glad we did! The REAL VISA Security Department told us it was a scam and in the last 15 minutes a new purchase of $497.99 was charged to our card. We made a real fraud report and closed the VISA account. VISA is reissuing us a new number. What the scammers want is the 3-digit PIN number on the back of the card. Don't give it to them. Instead, tell them you'll call VISA or Master Card directly for verification of their conversation..

The real VISA told us that they will never ask for anything on the card as they already know the information since they issued the card! If you give the scammers your 3 Digit PIN Number, you think you're receiving a credit; however, by the time you get your statement you'll see charges for purchases you didn't make, and by then it's almost too late and/or more difficult to actually file a fraud report.

What makes this more remarkable is that on Thursday, I got a call from a 'Jason Richardson of MasterCard' with a word-for-word repeat of the VISA Scam. This time I didn't let him finish. I hung up! We filed a police report, as instructed by VISA. The police said they are taking several of these reports daily! They also urged us to tell everybody we know that this scam is happening. I dealt with a similar situation this morning, with the caller telling me that $3,097 had been charged to my account for plane tickets to Spain , and so on through the above routine.

It appears that this Is a very active scam, and evidently quite successful.

Pass this on to all your family and friends

RANT: Apathy In My House

2010-12-19T23:23:00.000-07:00

I thought that I might as well warn people before they read this post that this is a rant. I always rant on my blog to vent, so it's best to label my useless rants from my other posts. Anyway, words cannot express how angry I am and disgusted by the fact that my parents do not care what happens to this house. It is pathetic that I can't call this house my home as I do not want to live here anymore. The only sanctuary I have is my room, because this house is infested by the scum I call my "brother". God has punished me by cursing me to be related to this human trash.

I am so tired of cleaning up after my brother and his friends' mess! I am not the janitor in this house and I hate how our basement is slowly becoming a motel and a bar. I'm not surprised if they're doing drugs down there, but guess what? I don't give a shit anymore. If my parents don't even care then why should I? Although I did invest some money into this house, it isn't mine and I don't plan to stay here any longer. Once I graduate and start earning real money I will leave this shitty place in a heart beat. I will give my parents an ultimatum: I will help pay half of their mortgage if they ban my brother from bringing any of his crackhead friends over, if not then I'll leave and they will never see me again ever.

So right now I won't stress about this right now. My brother and his friends could burn down this house for all I care.

The Nanny Business

2010-12-18T21:26:00.000-07:00

I recently saw this documentary on Global TV about "The Nanny Business". The documentary was about Filipino women coming to Canada to work as live-in caregivers with a promise of a Canadian citizenship after 2 years. It sounds like a great deal right? Like these women can bring their family into Canada to escape poverty in the Philippines. The catch is, you have to shell out huge sums of money to pay for processing fees and airplane tickets. On top of that, you have a great risk of falling prey into recruiting agency scams and find out when you land in Canada that you don't actually have an employer. If you do have an employer, you practically work day in and day out with less than the minimum wage and with unpaid overtime.

This is the reality of the nanny business and I have to be honest and say that it is truly heartbreaking to hear stories like these. It made me count my blessings and I am thankful that my family and I didn't have to be in the same situation. My family had the choice to move to Canada while other Filipinos are forced to work in harsh conditions and move away from their loved ones, just to support their families back in the Philippines.

I have friends who are temporary foreign workers and friends who have been nannies in the past and I really admire their courage and strength to face the experiences that they had to go through. It would be nice if the Philippine economy actually improved so Filipinos don't have to move to other countries just to get a better life.

Why Choose Nursing As A Career?

2010-12-18T02:05:00.002-07:00

Two of my co-workers frequently tease me when I'm at work because I chose nursing for my profession. One is studying to be a pharmacist and the other is studying to be a doctor. They both wonder why I would choose to work in a field dominated by women and why I would want to wipe someone's ass. They said that if I were working in their field, I would earn twice as much (or more) and I don't have to work as much.

First of all, I have to admit that nursing was never my first choice. I wanted to be an accountant just like my mom, because I admired how successful she is in her career. I can't really remember if my mom told me to take something else or if she told me to take nursing instead, because getting a job as an accountant back in the Philippines was horrific. Anyway, nursing is my second career choice as I wanted a career in the health care field. Nursing was my stepping stone towards medicine. My mom told me that it's a good idea since if I ever decide not to pursue medicine I would still have a good career as compared to taking biology and end up not finding a job.

I admit that the huge financial gain of being a nurse was one of my reasons for choosing nursing, but these past few years I have grown to realize that I love nursing and I would still chose it over other career paths. When I moved to Canada, I could have chosen any other career path but I still chose nursing because I can't see myself in any other profession or trade. Nursing is who I am and I love nursing. Life isn't all about money. Sure we need money but I'm happy and content living a simple life like I am today. I don't need to drive a Lamborghini, I'm happy with a Nissan SUV or hybrid.

About the ass-wiping part, I say so what? Other people see nursing as just a job and they see patients as just objects who are just part of the job. Well I see patients as human beings who needs to be cared for. Imagine if your grandma, mom, or even yourself were in a position where you can't clean up yourself. You would want someone to take care of you and help you preserve your dignity. Helping people clean up isn't something to be ashamed of. I did it and I would do it again if it would help protect my patient from getting an infection or to help prevent pressure ulcers. Wiping people clean is just one aspect of nursing, registered nurses (RN's) do more than that. Not to discriminate against nursing assistants/attendants, but some facilities do have them to do the activities of daily living (ADL) such as bathing and grooming.

I am studying to be a registered nurse (RN, BSN). As an RN I am able to perform assessments and I am able to work with doctors (not work under doctors) and other health care team members to formulate a care plan. As an RN, I will carry out that care plan and, if needed, modify the care plan to deliver effective and safe patient care. As an RN it is important to be use critical thinking. I must be competent and knowledgeable so that I could advocate for my patient well. I plan to get higher education to be a nursing practitioner so that I could diagnose and prescribe medication as well. I also have an interest in becoming a certified registered nurse anesthetist as I want to work in an operating room.

There are so many fields in healthcare that are available for me as an RN so it excites me to think about it. I could be a pharmacist or a doctor and earn more while working less, but I don't want to. I see myself as an RN and I enjoy making a difference in people's lives. All health care workers are important and I hope my co-workers would understand this (although I know they were just joking).

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Picture credits to www.upstate.edu