3 months ago…. I was loaded with paper works, modules and homeworks…

For my second year, 1st semester, I took up Nursing Administration and Cardiovascular Nursing. Booooy! Those subjects made me think twice to pursue this degree or not.

I got busy in interpreting ECG strips that I interpret to be “just scribbles”… Got stiff neck and hand callus once again from sitting and answering long exam questions I don’t know where to get answers… I submitted homeworks, which are 1-2 inch thick or probably a 50-100 pages… Honestly, coffee was the source of EVERYTHING. Thank you CAFFEINE!

I thought I wouldn’t survive the first semester. Now is the start of getting things done “SERIOUSLY”. The past few semesters in UPOU were a happy-go-lucky one.

3 months ago… All my hard work got paid off… I GOT EMPLOYED. Finally, by the hospital I spent 1.5 years of serving… THANK YOU LORD! Thank you that they have seen my efforts and abilities to be called “STAFF NURSE”… Though my status is just “on-call”, it is okay compared to working for free.

3 months ago, I earned new friends from work, from school and got reunited with my old friends…

3 months ago, I have written several incident reports… for some reason that I am not really the “reason”…

3 months ago, I am not asking my mom for allowance… and THAT made me proud of myself…

3 months ago, I lost 3 pounds… after looking at the mirror, I saw my puffy and bulging eyebags and concluded that all the things I eat magically absorbed by my eyebags.

3 months ago, I was super busy adjusting to what was happening with my career and studies and love as well…

3 months after, here I am blogging and telling you all… I will still continue in what I do now… Let’s all hope for the best!

In 2 years that I have been in UPOU, it’s just last July 16, 2011 that I have experienced a first face to face discussion for MAN. Graduate school is different from the undergraduate one mainly because you are not treated as someone novice but as someone with a specialty (Cardiovascular Nursing). I was also delighted to see my classmates again and met new ones. We were more than 20 (i think) and some came from provinces.

Seating at one corner of the classroom, I felt uplifted because Dean Balabagno stressed out that we are not “just” a nurse. It was very timely because I was feeling low of myself due to problems I have encountered recently with my hospital duty.

Our discussion was free flowing that tackled modules 6-10. All the posts from our classmates before me covered the discussion perse. What amazed me was how she integrated all the topics in one simple activity she told us to write our parameters in dealing with high risk, acutely ill, chronically ill and rehabilitative clients then from there she took off. I was like “Oh, nasa module 7 na tayo… ambilis…”. She patterned our discussion with the nursing process.

Risk factors (modifiable and non-modifiable) identification is important because each individual is unique. A middle adult compared to old adult has a better compensatory mechanism. She said that when a patient walks in, you will already know that “Ah, this is a cardiovascular patient!” due to his physical appearance and with general survey.

Dean also said that we must be aware of our own blood pressure, our BMI, waistline, waist-hip ratio as well as with our respective family especially if we know that we already have risks. Cardiovascular disease is preventable with proper health teaching, clean living (no smoking and alcohol drinking), exercise and nutrition.

We must be equipped with the competencies a cardiovascular nurse must possess. Critical Thinking, good assessment (history taking and physical examination), knowledge of anatomy and physiology, the capability to detect normal to abnormal findings, collaboration with the doctors for diagnostic exams, updates with the current management/treatment for each cardiovascular disease, applies evidence based practice in nursing like the bio-behavioral techniques in coordination with the government’s program to combat these problems, ability to conduct health teachings appropriate for the level of our clients and a holistic approach to patient care.

She also discussed the possible nursing diagnosis for each heart disease. She said that we should familiarize ourselves with DASH (Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension) and JNC VII. She added that health teachings for the client should be family based approach for better compliance.

With our study session, I was pressured to read a lot because I was behind chapters that were discussed. I felt that being a nurse has a big responsibility especially that we are the frontliners to our clients both well and with health problems.

Tip for exam: We should know the assessment parameters for each disease tackled in module 6-10, rationale behind or pathophysiologic rationale and how is it measured or elicited. She said that narratives will be included and our FMA1 is a form of review. (That is why I am planning to answer it before the exam.) Good luck and God Bless to us!

That thing that sprouts in places where you least expected… Looks like a pimple at first that’s why you ignore it but after days… It becomes bigger and painful, with redness and pus inside… You don’t know what to do with it and you’re too shy to tell anyone because of that “invasive” spot. Little did you know that it spreads in some other places that is very uncomfortable… you can’t walk, you can’t talk about it and just bear the pain inside…

Here comes Online Doktora…

Online Doktora is a Filipino podcast that discusses and explains topics concerning overall health and wellness. Your ONLINE DOKTORA, Anna Katharina Garcia-Peña, RN, MD, MPH, will always be ready to answer your questions about health and wellness. All podcast episode is in Filipino (Tagalog) format that made it unique and listener friendly made for Filipinos here and abroad. You can also e-mail her for your questions and get the chance to be aired in her next episode…

Going back to the issue above… listen and be aware… (Click the link below)

http://www.bncast.com/onlinedoktora/paulit-ulit-na-pigsa/

Just a brief background of the host…
Anna Katharina Garcia-Peña is a registered nurse and a licensed physician in the Philippines. She also holds a Master of Public Health degree and an undergraduate degree in Psychology. She is currently a university professor teaching nursing courses.

And Yes, She’s my mom!

Catch her at www.annakatharinamd.com and www.onlinedoktora.bncast.com

All the things inside me and the things I’ll tell and type about will be used against me, if not for now… maybe there will come a time… (I hate being careful and contained)

Anyway, my mum just offered to increase my weekly allowance because she saw the bitterness consuming my well-being… Who would decline with that right? But I did. My weekly allowance is enough for my daily expenses and other expenses besides that (you know what I mean…)

I will be 22 years old this July and still I can see no fulfilment in what I am doing… My mum said “Ano bang pinapagkaabalahan mo?…. Pagboboypren?” (Perhaps my mum will have read this post eventually…) I think besides “whatever-you-call-what-I-am-doing” yes, I am majoring in my “love” life. LOL!

And then after all this “thing” that consummate me… then I turned back to Facebook and Twitter… I saw this

Do I really just have to wait and see? Or am I being trying hard to appease people who doesn’t even notice?

I have read the sentiments of others who feel the same… I think all it takes to end this is guts to really tell how you feel…

Today… I am updating my resume… but who cares?

Click here to begin praying “Ang Bagong Daan ng Krus”…

Click here to begin praying “The New Way of the Cross”…

You might also want to listen to Tagalog podcast of Word of God (Ang Salita ng Diyos) according to the liturgical calendar of the Roman Catholic Church. You can click here.

God Bless Us All.

In UPOU-Master of Arts in Nursing major in adult health nursing, we are required in our major subject (N260- Adult Health Nursing) to attend a 3-day clinical practicum at Philippine General Hospital by the end of the semester.

Since February, I was getting bored with what I do at work in our institution… It was like “the-same-old-cases”… Same environment… In simple terms, everything was a ROUTINE— boring routine. Then came March that gave all the DIFFERENCE. My first ever clinical practicum at Philippine General Hospital saved the month. I was very excited because “being a nurse” in PGH is a one-of-a-kind experience, plus the fact that I was assigned to the BURN UNIT. It was s actually one of my motivations in continuing my studies at UPOU.

I don’t know what to expect but to just seize the moment to finally meet my classmates, professor and apply what we basically have studied for the semester.

We were tasked to accomplish a comprehensive nursing history and physical assessment (without looking at the chart) for the first day, make a nursing care plan and do implementation the second day and to do evaluation and follow-up on the third day.

My 3-day clinical practicum was not easy for I have been assigned to a patient who had 45% total body surface area burn. He was intubated, considering his other contraptions, bedridden and restless. It was a challenge for me but I think I was able to get through.

I experienced to do wound dressing to a burn patient, which is new for me. The staff of PGH was very hospitable and kind to share with us their experiences and teach us especially in dealing with these kinds of patients.

My clinical practicum at PGH is like a fuel that made my system/engine start and keep on going. It was indeed a “Something new” experience. It was what I needed after all. Thank you to Prof. Rita Ramos, PGH staff and most especially, my “virtual-classmates-came-to-life” LOL.

The highlight of the season!

P.S After the wonderful experience, the dreaded clinical portfolio is next. I was in my highest toxicity level in making a cqse study for my patient. Fortunately, I was able to submit and so finally I can say…

HELLO SUMMER!

Number 1- I am a SHE.
Number2- I have a VAGINA.
Number3- I just am A GIRL.

It’s true. Being a girl sucks and I think being in OB Ward is a redundancy in life already.
I am a novice nurse and I SOOOO want to learn something different other than the female reproductive system.

NO. This blogpost is not against anyone or anything. I actually have learned a lot with the 8 months that I have been assigned there. I have nothing against the people or the institution etc…

At this time, I just want to explore my options and hope that OPPORTUNITIES will be opened for a volunteer like me. Uhmm… perhaps a rotation or an employment opportunity? YES! :]

So here I am blogging about it just about now.

There were a total of 29,711 (35.25%) passers out of 84,287 who took the Nurse Licensure Examination last December 2010 given by the Board of Nursing according to Professional Regulation Commission.

Here’s the list of the successful examinees

NLE RESULTS DECEMBER 2010 –

Congratulations to the New Registered Nurses!

Enjoy and savour the feeling. As the real challenge of being a professional nurse and staying as a “NURSE” will commence.

You might also want to read about this.

The oathtaking ceremony of the successful examinees in the said examination in Manila will be held before the Board on Monday and Tuesday, March 14 and 15, 2011, with morning (8:00 A.M.) and afternoon (1:00 P.M.) sessions at the SMX Convention Center, SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City.

Oathtaking tickets for the National Capital Region (NCR) and nearby regions will be available at the Philippine Nurses Association (PNA) from February 28, 2011. (Click here on how to go to PNA)

Online Priority number is required to avail of tickets. (This is new. LOL) Please logon to http://www.nurseoathtaking.net.

Please go to BON website: www.bonphilippines.org for the regional schedules of oath taking ceremony.

God Bless!

Check if they are nurses… if they are. This post might give answer to your query.

The “BLACK-OUT” is in support for AYNLA’s (Alliance of Young Nurse Leaders & Advocates International Inc.), a national registered organization of nurse leaders & advocates in the Philippines—- Nurses Black-out campaign 2011.

This is for every nurses’ endeavour, cause or advocacy…

They came up with the advocacy particularly to utilize social media as a tool for nurses’ rights awareness building, initiate social & mass mobilizations in relation to the protection of nurses’ rights and to garner support from individuals, organizations and communities to end all forms of discrimination and abuse to nurses in the workplaces and communities.

Increasing number of nurses has always been a problem (or shall I say, is becoming a crisis) but why just now? According to PRC (Professional Regulation Commission) our country already produced 200,000 unemployed and underemployed RN’s in the year 2010.

It is ironic that the Philippines is one of the top exporter of their own skilled, professional nurses but the country, itself is lacking of many nurses to take care of the communities and the society.

Hospitals and healthcare facilities acknowledge their shortage of nurses but fails to hire more because of proclaimed budget constraints. This leaves dozens of nurses flooding in workplaces other than in the field of nursing like call centers.

Many new nurses, wanting to gain hospital/clinical experience as a presumed key to international employment, offer their professional nursing services to the hospitals without getting paid. [Please insert my name here...] —Yes, we are called “Volunteer Nurses” “OJT Nurses” “Nurse Trainees”… And yes to the fact that we pay for a “3-month” or “6-month” hospital experience.

This campaign period is from January 01 – 11, 2011. I know it’s a bit hard to change your profile picture to BLACK but it is for a good cause so why not join the cause?

VOLUNTEER NURSE AKO KAYA BLACK ANG PROFILE PICTURE KO… XD

I started collecting Starbucks Planner just a year before the “CRAZE” started— that was year 2007. My first Starbucks planner was indeed the best planner I had (too bad I can’t find the photo).

2008 checked (but not used)…
2009 checked (and used)…
2010 checked (also used)…

However… Yogurt came (Frutti Froyo to be particular) which made me turn my back to my annual ritual at Starbucks.

I just got 6 stickers before its deadline and I still need 9… Yes 9 because Venus, my friend donated her card to me

Anyway, I don’t need to finish collecting those 9 stickers because I got a planner that is waaaaaay better and it came from my LOVE so there…

My first ever Belle de Jour Planner… Yes, It is so girly (I think its not for me) compared to Starbuck Planner but WTH… Thank you mahaaaal! :]] I super looooove it. I am excited to use it.

Hello 2011! :]