Lesson of the Day:

"In this life, people usually see more of the mistakes and less of the accomplishments. Deal with that."

Four days more and I'll end my OR specialization. I am a newbie considering that my only experience was that when I was a student nurse for OR scores. Of course, I couldn't avoid staff nurses reminding us a lot of things, raising their voices when we're near getting something unsterile, telling us to move faster, count faster, pack faster. I couldn't avoid doctors annoyingly says "Snap, snap, snap!" or throwing instruments on your table when you gave the wrong one, predicting that you were in love because you're staring in space when in fact you're counting your OSs in your head. In one month of scrubbing in on operations, I had made a lot of mistakes. A lot. But then I think I made little accomplishments too, like knowing the sutures to use from the first layer of the uterus up to the skin for CS, like being fast when I had a try being a circulating nurse (of course with the staff's aid), like having a suture prepared before the surgeon asks for it, or giving the correct instrument when the surgeon just held his hand open... They never notice those little stuffs but a single mistake can be like a detonated bomb. Commit a mistake and all throughout the operation, the surgeon will think you're a slow/dumb/lowly, etc scrubber. My fellow trainees also made their own mistakes and we've been talking about that and it's amazing how we can just laugh at it. Which brings me to another lesson:

Remember when they use to say it's okay to commit mistakes because at least you can learn from them? It has reached to an extent if you come to think of it the other way around. You will never learn if you don't commit the mistake.

I have a few examples:

*On my first baby care when I had to "catch the baby," I didn't pay attention to the correct way of doing that. But on one occasion, the surgeon moved me aside annoyingly and put the baby on the table herself. After that incident, I've asked one of the staff and a pediatrician on what's the correct way of catching a baby. If that didn't happen, I wouldn't have known the correct way.

*It was a Caesarean and they were almost closing the skin when the surgeon asked me if we already had the sponge count. And of course she got kind of angry that we haven't. It's just that I'm used to the surgeon requesting for the sponge count or the circulating nurse instructing me to go with sponge counting. But by making that mistake, I now make it my responsibility to know and remind my circulator to count the sponges.

But then one of the staff told us that it's either that (learn by committing a certain mistake) or be perfect. Like when the strict surgeon we've been told about scrubbed in on an operation I'm scrubbing in, I doubled my alertness because I can't afford to commit a mistake.

Well, we can't afford to be perfect in all the many things that we're doing everyday, right? I used to blame myself for being stupid and dumb or being a loser when I make mistakes before. The saying is cliche, learn from your mistakes, so the next time you make one, don't just focus on that thing being a cliche. Focus on the mistake that you have made and think about what better skill you can gain from it or how can you be a better person by not making that mistake again. It's just a matter of perspective.

Labels: life, mistake, nursing, operating room, OR

Lesson of the Day:

Labels: family, life, money, nursing

If I have one thing that I can be very patriotic about, something originally Pinoy that I can be proud of, it would be our folk dances.

I love folk dance.

I’m not a fan of katutubong songs or classical songs but I have passion for folk dance.
Maybe partly because I love dancing and this is one genre that not a lot of people are into.

I first danced when I was in elementary.
Then in high school again.
Back then it wasn't the coolest dance. They tease us as "pok pok dancers."
Then in college.
And by this time, kina-career na talaga!
Because of folk dance during my college years, I had been into a scandal, a financial conflict, and more!

But I loved it.

Especially with what they say about Region VI.
Na sa Region VI, kina-career ang folk dance.
And I guess it was true.
Here, it is not only a competition.
It is a battle of the dancers.
Battle of the trainers.
Battle of the schools.
Battle of mga mananahi of the costumes!

Today, I skipped work because I really have to watch the folk dance competition of the Nursing Fun Days.
Early in the morning, I was reminiscing of what-might-have-been if we were still joining the competition.

By 6am, we will be at the Jaro Cathedral to hear the mass. It has always been our group's tradition to start the day with the Lord and asking for His blessing.
Before lunch time, we should have eaten our lunch so that we can begin with hair and make up.

And then goes our to-do list before the contest:

1) Energy drink before the dance. Preferably, Lipovitan.
2) The best glue for eyelashes is the extract from a starapple tree branch.
2) Music playing while waiting for our turn so that we will be familiarized.
3) No picture taking! It is believed that it will cause us mental block, funny but we do panic if someone will unknowingly take our picture before the dance.
4) Do not watch the opponents' dance. Concentrate only on our dance.
5) We pray in a circle, crossing arms, holding hands, our props inside our circle, as each of us say our prayers.
6) After the dance, we don't immediately change our clothes. We believe that we should get our award in it and that we should be complete. Picture taking after because we deprive ourselves of that before the competition.

And many more...

And today, I was with my two other folk dancers.

We all missed folk dance.

The sway balances, the shouting of "Isda, lab-as, isda!," the clicking of the castanets, the kuradangs, the kumintangs, the waltzes, the jumping, etc.

I'm proudly Pinoy!

Our moments of glory:

Labels: dance, fun, life, nursing, school activity

A BLS Certificate!
Yey!

Tomorrow...
ECG thing.

La lang.

Labels: nursing

This pm, I was on FB.
The BSN page (our batch page) is open.
Then a classmate posts a link.
Results daw.
Then I opened it on another tab.
Loading...
Notification.

"100% ta guys!"

I know what it means.
But it's still different to see your name on the list.
Check the page again.
Still loading...

More posts.

"Congratulations RNs!"

"Batch Johnson 100%"

"In your face!"

Loading.
Argh.
Find more links.
Then found a link.

There's my name.


THERE IS MY NAME!!!

*The story about searching my name:
I had went through the PENA but I can't find my name.
Then the PEREZs (a loooooot of them)...
Whaah!
Maybe they forgot I was from West and I was not counted in the 100%
Scroll. Scroll. Scroll.
Okay. It was there. With all the other enyes.
Whew.

I'm so proud of by batch.
See? Top 1 again!
100%


We know many expected from our batch.
We were the batch wherein entrance to WVSU-CON was really a tight competition.
And a lot from our batch are achievers.
And because since 2005 (or something), West remains top 1 but with 99% passing.
I think our clinical instrcutors are proud of us.
Because again, we are 100%
And we have four topnotchers.

To God be the Glory!
God made this possible.

Sa ganung ka-intense na devotional ba naman, hindi pa kami maghuhundred percent?

Pero, really.
I thank God.
Because now, I can cross out one box on my GOAL BOARD.
I'm one step closer to my dream.
=)

Labels: friends, life, nle 2011, nursing, religion

Sometimes, I feel like sinking into the wold of what I transcribe.

Labels: crazy, fun, life, nursing

Lesson of these* Days:

*Tambay days while we wait for the NLE results

"Never worry about the delay of your success compared to others. Construction of a palace takes more timing than an ordinary building."

Job-finding fad.
Tambays feel degraded.
I had work as medical transcriptionist.
Considered high-paying jobs.
E.g. CALL CENTER.
Current income x2.
Don't want.
Want to consider my lakwatsa life.

Ten2: That's the advantage of being a tambay, if there's a lakwatsa invitation, go go go lang!

I want to post my adventures ever since my last post.
Wala lang, gusto ko lang ya bi i-post.
So to make it short. I'll tell something about it in one word or phrases.

Adventure 1: In-house

9 days in Puntavilla.
Wake up. Devotional. Eat. Study. Eat. Study. Eat. Devotional. Study more. Sleep.
Wake up. Devotional. Eat. Study. Eat. Study. Eat. Devotional. Study more. Sleep.
Wake up. Devotional. Eat. Study. Eat. Study. Eat. Devotional. Study more. Sleep.
Wake up. Devotional. Eat. Study. Eat. Study. Eat. Devotional. Study more. Sleep.
Wake up. Devotional. Eat. Study. Eat. Study. Eat. Devotional. Study more. Sleep.
Wake up. Devotional. Eat. Study. Eat. Study. Eat. Devotional. Study more. Sleep.
Wake up. Devotional. Eat. No More Study. Eat. No More Study. Eat. Devotional. No More Study. Sleep.
Wake up. Devotional. Eat. NLE Test I. Snacks. Test II. Lunch. Test III. Puntavilla. Eat. Sleep.
Wake up. Devotional. Eat. Test IV. Lunch. Test V. Snacks. Puntavilla. Buffet dinner. Pool Party. Fun! Fun! Fun!
Wake up. Devotional. Eat. Goodbyes and Cries. Home.
Sort of party-party at Smallville Annex.






Adventure 2: Manila
Lei mentions David Archuleta Live in Manila. Lei sunod ko! Permission from parents. No. Drama. Drama. Drama.
Parents say yes with warning. Okay.
First plane ride after 20 years. Alone.
Welcome to Manila! Welcome to MOA!
Bus to Megamall. Slept at Mandaluyong. Near the mental hospital. Met Bornox (dog).
Megamall for DA's Fan's Day. Did a favor for a Benildean. Asked about ABMMA. I want.
Watched my friend Lei go crazy for David Archuleta.
Took MRT to Quezon City at 9pm. Had my first ever Starbucks frap (free). Til they close.
Back to MOA for Harry Potter 7.2 IMAX. WHAH! Baconator Challenge.
Back to Quezon City. Put Krispy Kreme in ref.
Found Ivan (some fantasy boy) at MRT Kamuning Station. Araneta Coliseum. First concert.
Home.
That was the adventure of a lifetime! A lot of firsts!








Adventure 3: High School barkada trip
Yves' bday. Motorcycle ride.
Jerry Mr. Engineering Search. Hahaha!
Dumangas road trip. From Pototan to Dumangas. Seafoods at Siete Picados. Off to Nothing But Desserts at Smallvile, Iloilo City (just out of the blue). Back again to Pototan. Tambay at Jesus' house.
Home.




Adventure 4: Tumblr
I got Tumblr!
But it's not personal like by Blogger account.
Just check it out: Every Day is About You

Adventure 5: Haha!
Meet my new "VERY SHORT" haircut
People's comments:
Nanay: Senior citizen.
Tatay: Michelle Yu (Huh?)
Stephanie S: Flinstones + Rugrats
HS friends: Nora Aunor (Don't like)
College friends: Yeng Constantino

Labels: adventures, friends, high school, life, nursing

Labels: nursing, reality, religion

This was my motivation-to-review-for-the-Nursing-Licensure-Examination cover art...

Sana nga lang ma-motivate talaga ako...

Labels: life, nursing

After the research and graduation...
Here comes the scrubs fever...

Scrubs--> a record of our delivery and operating room scores.

Pardon to those who doesn't know what scrubs are. That's why I put the meaning there. I used to text my sister to look for my "scrubs" at my room and bring it to me in the city. She replied, "Ano nga scrubs man?"

At first it was the middle initials fever...
Then the pre-sign fever...
Now, the signing of teachers and other little things.

So this is how hard accomplishing the scrubs...
We printed again and again because of little things.

Look at this:


I have to print three copies again...
Not because my data is wrong.
But because my "enye" has a smaller font...

I really do hope this will be over soon.
It's testing my patience.

Ahummm.....

Labels: nursing, school activity

Lesson from College:

"The world has everything: from poor to rich, ugly to beautiful, dumb to genius, right and wrong, good and evil."

Maybe, as a province girl, my world was limited to a very few things. I thought it was already THE world.

But then college taught me that indeed, what they portray in movies are real. There are the extremes. There are inconsistencies. There are in justices. There are awesome -and awful- love stories. There are sudden fame. There is hardwork. There is service. There is kindness. There's a heart that cares unconditionally.

Sa wakas... I've marched na.
My anxiety was gone. I made it!
That's the most important thing.
















I welcome myself to the world of unemployment!
Tok! Tok! Huwag naman sana.
Hehe.

Labels: dream, life, nursing, school activity

Pinning and Recognition Day...
This happened last Wednesday.
It had not been a very overwhelming experience because 1) I still have a thesis problem and we have a "No hardbound, no graduation" policy... Tomorrow, March 26 is our grad day, and 2) I have emotional issues... @_@

The only things that I'm happy about are:

1) My new pet! It's a rabbit given by my cousin as a grad gift. I call her Rabbit-y. My classmate said, "Baw unique ba, daw mga Doggie man or Kitty..."



2) Lost but nevertheless, la ko ya labot... Hehe




3) Friends... like me. They gave my Nursing life hope... Kung wala sila, super lost pagid ko...



After the ceremony and program, we still worked on our thesis.

Today, we submitted our hardbound thesis.
Then Espe was asking me why don't I feel great.
Paranoid angud ko. She asked me, "La ka sarig sa thesis ta?" (Don't you trust our thesis?)
"Waay." (No.)
"Ako ya may ara, sa ______ ko ya wala sarig." (I do, it's the ______ I don't trust.)
The blank? Just some cirsumstances and people who really tested our patience, self-esteem, and almost everything that was left of us.

I told her, I just can't calm down now.
I was still praying everything is already ok.
Maybe when I receive my diploma tomorrow...
When it does happen, I'll party party to the max.

Here's our thesis, in your face!

Note: My pinning moment pic to be uploaded later...
Mwah!

Labels: life, nursing

Among one of the many college lessons:

“Getting good grades is a combination of studying hard, having good luck, being visible, and playing the game well.”

First thing: Study hard.

It’s simple. You have to read. You have to listen. You have to memorize. You have to learn how to analyze. But if you’re thinking this is already an effort, it’s just one fourth of what you have to do.

Second thing: Luck

You’re lucky if you had a professor who “can” give high grades compared to those who set ceiling grades. You’re lucky if you have studious friends who will move you to study and not being friends with those who’ll say “it’s just situational, use your stocked knowledge” or “it’s just multiple choice.” You’re lucky if your rotation or completion duties would not coincide with exams. You’re lucky if your schedule is flexible, thus you have time to study despite the projects, requirements, and others. You’re lucky if the professor feels light with you because sometimes, there are just persons that they can’t just like at first impression.

Third thing: Visibility

Step One: Make sure your professor knows you, most especially not mistake you for somebody else or mistake somebody else as you, or else your efforts of visibility won’t have any effect (and might even pull you down).

Step Two: Make sure your professor sees you doing the work. Make sure your professor will feel like you had been doing all the work. Make sure you’re one of the persons who are always reporting updates or asked to relay responsibilities.

Step Three: Make sure you’re always present in meetings, in post-conferences, in every activity… and that he/she sees you in all of those.

Stupid equation I made: Visibility=Familiarity=Good grades

But as I said, it’s just one fourth of all the effort you have to put into it.

Fourth Thing: Play it well

Don’t disappoint your professor when he gives you responsibilities.

Know your professor’s style: Does he particularly give situational exams? Or by the book items? Is she lax and loves talking out to students? Is he particular with your performance in the area?

Know yourself. Can you motivate yourself to study? If not, then go with those who can help you. Don’t go with lax people like you.

Honestly, I have lower grades compared with my other classmates. Theirs are Cum Laude levels or if not, enough for recognition this graduation day.

They were busy calculating their grades so they can apply for Parangal and Cum Laude. I was just looking at them. I admit I was kind of bitter. I know I could have done better if I put my heart on studying. But then I remembered why I stopped trying to get good grades: It’s exhausting.

I used to judge people just by seeing their grades. Siya ni, alam, siya ya, mango. But then I proved myself wrong. Grades doesn’t reflect who you truly are, your capabilities, and your weakness. Behind every grade is a story to tell.

Situation 1: We had an assignment to be passed through email. Some of my classmates’ grades were 3.0 simply because their assignment had not been found even though they claimed they submitted. The spam was missed perhaps. Or maybe because my classmate who doesn’t have an email and used my other classmate’s email, the teacher just thought it was double-sent.

Situation 2: Mr. A was a student leader who was busy with his leader stuffs, but despite that working hard even though he is usually late or absent, he had a low grade. Mr. B even, who seemed to be more of the leader of the group than the real leader appointed, received a notch higher grade than Mr. A but still low. Ms. C was waiting for this one grade so she can apply for the recognition thing as a gift for her parents. She worked hard than others but she had a grade that held her gift for her parents. She’s depressed. Ms. D had worked hard on their activities as if she had put all her lack of efforts before into this activity. She even bought materials for their projects out of her own pocket. She had a grade same with Mr.B. Ms. E and F were usually just sitting pretty compared to all these other and yet they received a grade two notches higher than others.

Situation 3: Mr. X’s grades are higher than Mr. Y’s when the fact is he just copied his answers and Mr. Y did Mr. X’s project.

I have talked this with friends. Here’s our conclusion:

Grades don’t reflect your true capabilities. We’ll see in the real world, when it would be hands on… But then, you have to make it good simply because it’s your starting point for your first job where all the rest will follow.

Good luck to me! Hahaha!

Labels: life, nursing

I guess I'll just bombard this post with photos.
I don't have too much to say about this prom except that I love the vintage theme and di naman halata na kinareer ko ang theme...
Hahaha!







This was the after party... videoke @ MO2 Annex... We were jammin' with the song Lakas Tama

Labels: fashion, fun, nursing, school activity

One of the most coveted word of nursing students:

"COMPLETE"

OR scrubs: Complete!
DR scrubs: Complete!

The only thing now that hinders me from graduating:

"RESEARCH"

Labels: nursing, school activity

Finally back!
Just torn between being busy and being lazy...

Ok, I'll start with whatever I'll be ranting...

One of the many things I've learned in CONTESTS:

"VICTORY is not always in being the champion but in knowing that you gave your best."

Just a week ago was our U-Week and I was one of the folk dancers representing my batch. We have been through a lot since our Nursing Fun Days, including controversies and a few letters of appeal or something to claim what we know we deserve. We were hailed as the winner and thus represented our college. For the U-Week, there's another issue, and big obstacles came our way. One of which was the depression of our trainer (the choreographer of Tribu Paghidaet during the Iloilo Dinagyang). Dinagyang had just concluded and we assumed he was depressed because they won 1st place behind Tribu Pan-ay, knowing that they were the defending champion. In short, we had no super practice.

Our dance was sort of suicide, I don't know with you but within us, there's tension and all those stage dramas that come with competitions. Someday I'll talk to you about my 'folk dance career' especially for those who can't seem to connect with me with the depth of this folk dance thing.

To cut the long story short, we didn't win but my fellow folk dancers were so happy, especially when we got into the backstage shortly after the exit of our dance. For them, it was the best dance of their life. They didn't care if we win or lose, what's important is that they feel happy dancing in the stage.

Then I reflected with my feelings. I know I should have rejoiced like them too. But I was really disappointed, maybe with our trainer, maybe with the circumstances, maybe with the lack of support from our college... What I'm disappointed at the most is myself because I know it wasn't the best dance of my life, not that I didn't enjoy dancing with them but knowing that I should have been better.

I didn't give my best.
I could have been one with them rejoicing, win or lose.
I could have felt victory.
I could also have felt dancing the best dance of my life.

One of the many things I've learned from my MOTHER:

“You can’t hurry people.”

This stemmed from those days when I was entering my mother's room early in the morning, all dressed up for school while she was curling asleep in bed. I would wake her up and holding a paper on one hand and a pen in the other, asking for his signature in the waiver. I would be counting the seconds because I will already be late. She would move slowly and scold me not to hurry her. That I should have let her sign it the night before. That it was not her fault that I just let her sign that moment, not her fault if I will be late.

So there...
You should not hurry Manong Driver when he stops over to pick passengers just because you will be late for school.
You should not hurry the cashier/teller for slowly processing your stuff.
You should not hurry the jurors to validate your questionnaire because the deadline for submission of the research final draft is nearing and you still have to conduct.
You should not hurry love because you might make mistakes.
You should not hurry time because you might miss on small but important events.

One of the many things I've learned in COLLEGE:

“It’s not always your fault.”

This is one IMPORTANT lesson I have learned.
I was once the person who, even when I'm not the one reprimanded, feels guilty for it.
It seems like I always feel I also contribute to the misdeed.
But now I've learned that it's not always you who made the mistake... even if YOU are the one scolded.

It could be that your teacher was just moody or power tripping...
It could be that the member of the panel was holding a grudge against your research adviser who criticized her own supervisory group...
It could be that you were just a trash bin of his insecurities and disappointments in life...
It could be that they are just finding someone to blame...

If he/she sees you, then you can't do anything...

...except let the reprimand pass into your one ear then past another, then into thin air.

Simple!

One of the many things I've learned about INSECURITIES:

“You should not want to be like others.”

I have once wished I would be like Miss A, she was so pretty and many admire her.
I have once wished I would be like Miss B, she's such a perfect friend who was always there.
I have once wished I would be like Miss C, so sophisticated, so smart.
I have once wished I would be like Mr. A, talented, popular, role-model.

Now?
I don't want to be Miss A, she now wears very thick make up.
I don't want to be Miss B, close minded and speaks without reason.
I don't want to be like Miss C, spoiled-brat and alone.
I don't want to be like Mr. A, he had some "nakatagong baho" that I recently knew of.

In short, be proud about yourself, for being YOU.
You just don't know, secretly, there are some people who also wants to be like you.

One of the many things I've learned about IDENTITIES:

“You can’t know someone through their Facebook.”

Whenever you update your Facebook, she is present in your wall.
Either she had uploaded somethings, had a new status, or had made a fun comment on someone else's whatsoever.
You will think she's this wacky person, fun, witty.

The truth is, I know her for real, and she was different when in person.

Just saying...

I admit I also have an online identity.
I think most of us has, not that I'm against it or something.
My point is, there are people who goes gaga about this person because of what they had 'stalked' in this person's FB.
FYI, that's just a part of her/him.
You don't know him/her totally.

Blah.

Labels: blogging, experience, friends, life, mother, nursing, self-discovery

Word for this Christmas:

BUGASAUR...

...coined from the verb bugas-bugas or rice-rice which means taking advantage of something especially if it's free
...a bugasaur is a person who takes advantage of food on fiesta, celebrations, etc or free accommodation in someone else's house, or the like...

Here are the faces of exemplary Bugasaurs:






December 16, 2010

I have no pics because it's c/o Lei.

Every year, the IWAG Festival of Lights opens at December 16.
There's a sort of ceremony of switching on of the lights which is followed by fireworks display.

We had duty that day and seminar on the next day but nevertheless I went home... with friends.
This year, I guess there are more people, compared to last year maybe because it rained.
Super traffic sa highway so Mommy Wence and I walked from Sterling subdivision into the house. We were saying, that with the cars, traffic, and people walking against the vehicles and crowd, it was almost like Dinagyang.

My evaluation:

This year, I think there are less lights but still ok.
But the fireworks... I think it's the best fireworks in years.
Pwede na pangcompete sa pyro contests, hehe...

December 17, 2010

Another batch of Bugasaurs came to town...





















...from supper to breakfast to lunch to packed dinner




...then we had a game of Jackass
...well, no one got really drunk



They were supposed to take off the next day @ 10am but then I don't know how the time passed until 5pm... so we went for the octopus ride which we didn't have the night before. And since it's not yet 6pm, we were the very first passengers for that day.




December 19, 2010

Fiesta in Guimaras, we ate at Zoilo's aunt's place...
...then movie watching at Zoilo's place






Pahabol...
Watched lights at Angelicum and CPU that night after a little rest...











It's fun being a Bugasaur!
Go Bugasaurs! Til next bugas-bugas opportunities!

Labels: experience, food, friends, fun, memories, nursing