Ana Qwayyis

One of my patients, whom we know very well because she is frequently admitted due to sickle cell anemia in painful crisis, asks for Morphine injection because she is complaining of severe body pain. After following the narcotic drug protocol, I am ready to give the injection and went to her room.

"Here is your Morphine injection. Where do you want me to inject it?" I asked in Arabic.
"You? Why you?" She asks me, why I will be the one to inject her.
"Because I am your nurse", I said.
"No, I don't want you."
"Can you tell me why?"
"Because you are new."
"No, I am one year here already. I'm not new anymore."
"I want the old nurses. New nurses are not good."
"Ana qwayyis" (I am good), I said with a laugh.

She laughed with me while offering her right deltoid muscle for subcutaneous injection of the drug. While I am injecting, she says while laughing, "Why are you saying you are good? You must wait for me or the other nurses to tell you that you are good."

I laughed with her question while finishing my injection and asked her, "I am good, right? See, you didn't even flinched when I gave you the injection." Then she went on with her usual lines of jokes with all the nurses. She asked me, "What's your name again?", and when I repeated her my name, she answered she will not call me that, instead, she will call me ANA QWAYYIS.

From then on, during the entire shift, whenever she wants something and whenever I visit her in her room, she would call me ana qwayyis. Apart from that, she gave us something for snack.

This only shows that patience with your patients, accompanied by therapeutic communication technique is a great tool to earn the trust of your patients. Previously, during the first few hours of the shift, she seem to averse the idea that I will be her nurse because she wants "old nurses" but as the hours pass, I got to please her.

I had a fulfilled feeling, again.

In-Tensed

Today I was floated to Intensive Care Unit, a place where every patient looks like a Christmas tree. Tubings were hanging, cardiac monitors and ventilators were beeping non-stop. Everything was alien. And the patients? Well, anyone who weren't used to ICU and who doesn't have any medical background will never imagine their condition and how they look like.

It was the first time I was floated there, no, just a help actually because I never had any ICU background even on my college years, and the moment I stepped inside the unit, I asked myself, what will happen next? What awaits my entire 12-hour shift here? And really, I was puzzled on what's happening with the regular staff buzzing around, very busy with one is to one nurse to patient ratio.

Photo credit to Wikipedia

Aside from the monitors at the patients' bedsides, there is also a central monitoring screen at the Nurse's station showing each patient's ECG tracing and vital signs. They are also doing total parenteral nutrition, which I haven't had the chance to experience before.

What I did? I became an instant file porter and errand girl, going to the pharmacy, to the laboratory, to the blood bank, and to the ICU extension, aside from helping them turning the patients to sides. I wanted to ask questions and learn, but I wasn't given the chance. Imagine them very busy and me disturbing them asking questions.

Now that we are allowed to help at ICU, I am looking forward to more days working with the ICU staff. And I am hoping that in the next days to come, I will be able to learn their way.

Crossed fingers.

Major Major

This is not a Venus Raj ditto nor the Indie rock band from Liverpool. This is just a summary of the "major major" things that have happened in my life for the past fifty two weeks.

Year of the Dragon has been good to me. No, good is an understatement. Very good I think is a good term. It's not that the previous years has not but I really felt that 2012 is my year, considering the fact that I was also born on the year of the Dragon.

Like any other years, I had my ups and downs. I started the year with sorrow. Three days before the shifting of the year, my grandfather who has been good to us left us at the age of a hundred. He was so kind that anything you ask him, he would definitely give it to you as long as he can. I was devastated when I learned the sad news that I have never had the time to rejoice after hearing the news that I had been hired in the institution where I am working now. The news that my great grandfather died and the news that I was hired here came on the same day and at the same hour of the day. Great, isn't it?  The sadness was overwhelming that I forgot if I ever had said thank you to the agent who had broke me the good news and asked me to sign the offer letter.

I signed the offer letter, had my medical examination, had the result that I am fit to work, had my visa and without much waiting, I already had the day of my flight. I attended for the first time the mandatory PDOS (Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar), bought myself lots of sweatshirts because I will be arriving at the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during winter season, and went home to say my goodbyes prepare things for my upcoming departure.

And oh, before I forgot, I went to the Department of Labor and made a scene there, crying in front of two lawyers! I went there because I was threatened that I will be blocklisted because I didn't followed the 30-day resignation policy. I don't know whether in their hospital or from other hospitals. I asked them if it is possible that I will be blocked, and they made a very good advice to me. *Wink*

Saying goodbye is difficult especially if it is your first time to travel abroad. No, I didn't shed a tear. I told myself not to do that. I've shed tears almost the whole four years of my college life and I promised myself that I will cry not because of petty matters.

When I came back to Manila, I've packed my things, held a simple dispedida party with my colleagues at the hospital, and met my college friends, some of them I haven't met again since graduation.

And the most important thing that happened to me? I just had a boyfriend two or three hours before boarding our plane! Nice timing, huh?

For the first time I was able to ride the plane and stepped out of the country, and started living independently. Not that I was not independent before. I have learned living away from my parents not a long time ago, but of course, this is different.

I started my new job, had the so-called culture shock, met new friends, had my very first birthday here in the Kingdom, passed my probationary period and started working as regular staff. I also passed the Saudi Council and had my license here.

After my 6th month, I started to start as charge nurse, which means greater responsibility-- handling my own patients while handling all the patients in the ward, going with the doctor's rounds, and handling the keys of the narcotics and controlled drugs, which are equivalent to millions in the Philippines, and if anything was lost or given to the patient by mistake, it means going back to the Philippines immediately.

I had my minor accident with matching syncope while having our motorbike adventure at Azizia, got a small scratch, and was reprimanded by my boyfriend, my bestfriend, and my bestfriend's mom. Yes, you read it right. I haven't told my own mom about it but my "other" mom knows.

And because I the one earning, I was able to send my siblings to school. My sister, who was born next to me is now a graduating college student, and I am very proud that I am the one who sends her to school. Apart from that, I am also sending my brother to college. He had stopped for two years due to financial constraints.

There were times when homesickness attack me. And during those times, I always remind myself that this is not just for me and my future, but for my family as well. Sometimes, those thoughts would help me get to my senses.

I had my fair share of ups and downs, but being life as like a roller coaster, we just have to enjoy the ride.