Saturday, December 24, 2005
CPM-Bed 27
My first day in the ward was a blast! Because of excitement, I actually woke up at 3:30 am to prepare for the 5:30 am hospital call time. I prepared all my things and fixed myself up for the experience, praying too that the day won't turn out disastrous. Though groggy, mom brought me to school as part of our contract: no condo, no dorm... they're gonna bring me and fetch me by car.
I reached the school early, marveling at the morning rush in front of the registrar's office: the third and fourth years were pinning their caps and rushing to the CR to apply make-up as it was a protocol (since Mrs. Longanilla said that nurses must be always pretty amidst stress since we're the first people to entertain the patients). It was 6:00 when my Clinical Instructor came to fetch us and brought us to MMC's ward at the 2nd floor.
The ward experience was thrilling. I was able to see how feeding via the nasogastric tube was done as the patient was incapable of oral intake, I was able to see how a person fought for his life as the respirator beeped each time air obstruction occurred, I was able to perform capillary blood glucose testing by pricking the patients' fingers using the pricking instrument being used by medtechs to get blood, I was able to perform the bed bath, I was able to chart my findings, I was able to interact with different patients having different cases and I was able to weigh a wet adult diaper for output charting. Whew.
But what really struck me that day was the 90 year old patient I handled who had a poorly monitored Diabetes Mellitus and an Alzheimer's-Dementia for consideration. Lola S actually tested my patience and my therapeutic skills. During the first hour of our meeting, she called me a "masamang bata na papatayin siya" because I nebulized her and she thought that I was making an "orasyon" like what "albularyos" do in the provinces. She even cried to my horror and was yelling at me using her native language. It was a good thing mom was "Bisaya"; her bisaya at home helped me to understand and converse with her. I left Lola after an hour as directed by my CI, hoping she'll forget what I did since she refused to cooperate when I was offering to do the hourly vital signs. After an hour I returned to see her smiling at me, receptive to all the procedures I did that day.
My groupmates were also endeared by Lola. We made her laugh and dance during our duty hours. I even discovered that by making her talk and laugh, she was able to spit out her phlegm easily. The laughter continued the next day and she became more talkative, telling stories about Iloilo and inviting us to come with her. She had a very nice smile and her laughter nearly brought tears to my eyes. This was the beauty of my course, being able to make others smile inspite of maladies.
When I bade farewell to Lola, she simply gave me a huge smile and held my hand as probably a signal of thanks. I smiled in return, knowing that when I get back by January next year, she might not be there in bed 27. Lola may not know how grateful I am since she became God's instrument for me to understand my importance as a nurse and my vow to serve others. As I stepped out of the ward and left her chart in the file row, I felt absolutely good about myself. This is my world now and this is who I like to be.
7:57 PM
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I don't care what the world
throws at me now.
It's gonna be alright.
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