I took up nursing not because it is what I want to be in the first place. I took it up because of the promise of a greener pasture in the near future. But, alas! I have suddenly loved the profession even after just a few days of exposure to patients during our first year's second semester.
And so, I made up my mind that I will be a good nurse, that maybe, this is really my calling. I did and I'm still doing my best to be the so-called angel of the sickroom, as what nurses are oftenly referred to. I graduated not with flying colors but with the hope of being able to touch lives. I took up the Philippine Nurses' Licensure Exam and while waiting for the results, I worked as a private nurse in preparation for the workload ahead if ever I passed. Less than two months later, I was one of the lucky few who have successfully passed the board exam.
My first job as a private nurse is worth the experience. I have learned a lot. And when I say a lot, it means a lot (haha!). I worked 12 hours a day, sometimes becoming 15 hours because I still have to help the incoming duties with transferring our patient from bed to wheelchair and forth. And sometimes, staying 3 straight days without going home and having only few hours of interrupted sleep. I was actually adamant on doing that job because I know what private nurses do--giving patients' bath, removing feces from the patient's body, changing diapers, and all that. But I don't have a choice. I don't want to stay at home without doing anything, and I cannot apply to hospitals either (the results of the NLE was not yet released yet during my first few days as private duty nurse).
Going back to my "learnings", I have learned the art of having a good relationship with my patient's old maid daughter. Maybe you have an idea what attitude a typical old maid have. And yes, she is like that. Whenever she reprimands all of the nurses around, even those who aren't there, just smile. Let her words come to your one ear and out to the other. I mastered the art of cooking there. Yes, you read it right. I cook! I didn't signed a contract and I was also not oriented to my job description so whatever they tell me to do, I will do it. I cooked, washed the dishes, sweep the floor, do the bedmaking, do the make-up of our patient (there's not a day when our patient doesn't wear any make-up even she's just at home), prepare and mash by hands our patient's foods, select her clothes according to the weather and time of the day, and the list goes on. These happened for three months, that I asked myself, is this the job I want? Although I started to feel the connection between me and my patient and my co-nurses, I still feel there's something better for me than this.
Good thing that my application as staff nurse in a 14-bed local hospital was accepted after my three months of being a nurse con alalay. I actually submitted my credentials to the different hospitals within our locality but it's either they don't have any vacancy or that they still have other applicants on the line just waiting for their call. At last, I can really practice my profession. I have dealt with different emergencies, including stabbed wounds, vehicular accident, convulsions, name it. But a small hospital that it is, I still searched for a more rewarding experience.
After eight months of being employed at that hospital, I gave my resignation letter, asked for an employment certificate and tried my luck at the busy streets of Manila, hoping to be employed in one of its big hospitals. I almost lost that hope when after few days of going from one hospital to another, I received the same answers--either they don't have any opening, they are not accepting applicants as of the moment, or they are needing volunteers, not staff nurses. Then one day, my aunt whom I stayed with at Malabon told one of their neighbours that I am applying for a job as staff nurse. That neighbour told me to go to one of the nearest hospital in our place because somebody is going to leave. That hospital is where her daughter, now in Saudi, worked before. She gave me the address and on the next day, I gave my application letter and credentials at the said hospital. After more than two weeks, I already started my duty as a nurse-trainee, and afterwards, after one month-and-a-half, I was already one of their staff. I can say that my experience at that 28-bedded hospital is a rewarding one. I have been assigned as ward nurse, ER nurse, OR on-call nurse, nurse-midwife, and sometimes, a nurse attendant! Everyday is a learning process.
I have loved more my profession. There's nothing as rewarding as seeing your patients going home, bade their goodbyes and saying thank you to you. But life is really hard, we have to admit it. When the demand is greater than the supply, we have to look for another source of supply. That is why I have applied to different agencies, hoping to land a better job abroad. I have been hired by some of the agencies I have applied with, so I was able to select which hospital have the highest salary offer. And I landed at my present job today. My first day at the ward gave me the shock of my life when one of my mentors showed, rather taught me how to change the diapers of our bedridden patients. "What? I am going to do that???" I asked myself silently. Never in my wildest dream that I will be doing the changing of diapers and cleaning the feces of my patients here in this country. I have applied as a ward nurse, not as a caregiver or private duty nurse. Good thing I have my previous experience in changing diapers and removing stool. The succeeding days gave me the impression that nurses here are considered maids by most of the patients. "Sister, make me some tea." "Sister, turn off the television." "Sister, heat my food." "Sister, I need to talk to the doctor." "Sister, blah,blah,blah." Things that they can do theirselves but still needs to ask for the nurse to do it.
One of my colleagues even said, "If in the Philippines, people regard nurses with high respect, you cannot expect it from here." I am really not complaining with doing that kind of job, but the they must also consider that they are not the only patients we are handling.
I think I must just be thankful that they are like that, because if not, no nurses will be needed here anymore, and no jobs for nurses will be opened here. What would happen to the Filipino nurses then?
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