Blood Transfusion

11:28 PM 2 Comments

1 April 2010
It's my 2nd month here at UK. As I've been telling my friends, nursing is universal. However, the culture is very different from where I worked before. Here is one example:
Blood transfusion here is consumed only for 2 hours, regardless of the patient's age, unless specified by the doctor to give it longer. Blood is given without isotonic fluid, meaning it is directly given thru the intravenous port.
In the Philippines, blood is given with NSS for a period of 4-6 hours. Disclaimer: I'm not saying one is better or safer than the other. I'm sure there is a scientific reason behind this. Afterall, UK is known for patronizing updated research-based methods.
And this means I have to find out why.

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OFW na!

9:34 PM 1 Comments

I arrived here at UK a week ago and I must say it really is freezing here. Aside from the fact that UK is a cold continent, I am also residing up north. A week has passed, I am still trying my best to adapt.

My arrival here also marks the start of me being an Overseas Filipino Worker or OFW. “Bagong Bayani ng Bayan” as tagged by our government. I don’t know how I should take it.

It is difficult to start from scratch. The house where they placed me is naked, aside from dining table, sofa, and bed. I am sharing this humble abode with a Pinoy colleague. We were given allowance to start-up with. But with all the expenses in completing the needs of a shelter, the money given seemed very minimal and definitely not enough. This is UK, their currency is the highest in the world.

We are conserving everything: money, electricity, water, heater, food. We can’t even open the window because it would get really cold and we can’t afford any increase in heating demand.

***

Now, I am a UK nurse. Transcurtural nursing plays a major role in my profession. Language, albeit English being the only language, remains a barrier. Accent is very different from American English. Sometimes I find it funny how they speak.

I’ve learned that here in UK, farting is more acceptable than burping. Ha! They should be ready for the Philippine Gut Release!

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May-day May-day

5:05 PM 0 Comments

Aug. 20, 2009
This morning was my first “code” as charge-nurse and boy-oh-boy, it was toxicity at its meanest. Well, thank God the patient was revived.

The charge-nurse has a different role during “code” situations. Primarily, he acts as the captain when the doctors have not yet arrived. As soon as the code team is complete, the charge-nurse assumes the position of a recorder – the one who keeps track of all the events happening including medications given to the patient, rhythm checks, vital signs, etc. vis-à-vis time. He could also help prepare the emergency medicines needed as deemed necessary by the team captain.

I must admit that I missed the hustle-tussle action of the circulating nurse. There’s a greater torrent of pressure in my veins whenever I get first-hand contact with life-saving measures.

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The Nurse a Student Once More

10:50 AM 1 Comments

29 June 2009

In pursuit of greater career stability, the steddy nurse enrolled again.



Duh. ;-p

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The Not-So-Summer Getaway

5:25 AM 0 Comments

6 May 2009
The Unit 14A Staff of TMC would be going on a trip to Puerto Galera from May 7 – 8, rain or shine. We pray for Helios to grace the occasion.

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First I and D link

9:52 AM 0 Comments

29 March 2009

I realized that I’ve been blogging about my I and D but haven’t posted the first blog yet.

So here it is: the story of my first I and D.

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2nd I and D in 1 Month

8:49 PM 3 Comments

28 March 2009

Yesterday afternoon I went to see my Infectious Disease Doctor. She asked how I’ve been and I said with all honesty that my arm felt better. “The swelling lessened, the pain lessened, and the pus is coming out now”, I explained with all honesty. Then she said, “Let me check it.” She donned a pair of clean gloves and removed the dressing which I patiently and artistically place everyday.

“Is this improvement for you?” It was her point-blank remark upon examining the surrounding area. “I don’t know how you see it as an improvement, but I’m not satisfied with the results. You’ve been on antibiotics for 48 hours and the change has been very minimal. I’ll refer you to a surgeon for possible I and D.” The last remark was the icing on the rotten cakes she threw at me. My mind began saying, “Doc the pus is naturally oozing out. Who are we to disrupt nature and play God?”


But she has no mental telepathy to know what I was thinking. She did not get the nonverbal gestures of refusal either. So there, I again went under the knife, this time with a different surgeon. I was satisfied with the way he did the procedure. My first surgeon might be suffering from bouts of amnesia, albeit too early for his age, for he forgot to inject local anesthesia. Either that or he hated me. Well, I don’t really care now. I am with a new and younger surgeon; I could say he is good.

What did this doctor do? He really cleaned the inside of my wound and he did it painlessly. The only pain I felt was when he injected lidocaine around the affected area. He even placed a hydrogen-peroxide-based pack inside the wound. “Ewan ko lang ‘pre kung mabuhay pa ‘yang mga nasa loob niyan”, he jokingly said.


Though my mood became gloomy after learning I needed to be referred to another doctor for minor surgery, in some ways I was also pleased. For one, the procedure was in general, comfortable. Second, I know that this procedure would hasten the healing process. Lastly, my sick-leave has been extended until Monday.

I need to buy more dvds.

***
Thanks to Dr. Maffie Tayzon (Infectious Disease) and Dr. Edwin Bernardo (General Surgery). The other surgeon would not be named out of respect for him and the institution in which we both belong.



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