Archive for the ‘Filipino Nurses' Stories’ Category

Diary Entry #5

I went to ground zero today. My very first itinerary of the day. My aunt is kind enough to take a day off today and show me around this new city. Then we went up to the Empire State Building. New York is just so… concrete. Hehe… But there’s a big patch of green called Central Park. I plan to go there when I’m brave enough to venture on my own. And auntie mommy said we will go to the Statue of Liberty one of these weeekends. As I’ve mentioned before, my family is throwing a welcome barbecue party for me down at Jersey this Saturday. I have an uncle who lives there with his family. They have a pool and the warm August weather is perfect for such occasion. After my sight seeing up on the Empire State Building, my aunt brought me to Chinatown for some Asian food. I think she knows I’m starting to miss home and some soulfood might be good for me. She doesn’t cook much at home. She lives on either take out food or tossed salads. She said it’s too lonely to cook for herself. My cousin works up in D.C and they only see each other every now and then. I’m staying in my cousin’s room for now. I think my aunt is happy that I am here to accompany her. When I had my fill of noodles and siomai, my aunt was most eager to take me shopping. She said I need New Yorker clothes. Haha. I think what she meant was I look to shabby in my shirt, jeans and sneakers. She went out her way to revamp my wardrobe. Not that I have an actual wardrobe. Hehe… My flight only allowed 30kg free luggage. So what I packed with me are the most essentials only and lots of pasalubong for my family here. So tonight, I’m hanging up in the closet all my new nice clothes with matching bags and shoes. Ahm, my aunt is some sort of a fashion statement. So here I am, the lucky recipient of all these beautiful stuff! Can’t wait to wear them tomorrow. Haha… And oh, I almost forgot, I have a full set of Clinique beauty products. Jeez, what a luxury!

Diary Entry #4

This sucks. I don’t want to be weepy but I can’t stop crying. I just got off skype. And I miss home so much. I saw my parents on the screen and my sister. My brother is at work. I never expected to be missing them this much. How I wish I can bring them here. And we can live in the same house just as we’ve always had.

Diary Entry #3B

What a big hospital. It has its own shopping center! And you should see the facility. I’ve never seen like it. It’s like a hospital/ retirement home/ hotel, all rolled into one … I’m going to start working there in 7 days. I will first have day shifts with one patient under my care. It will be a month (or depending on my evaluation) before I’ll be allowed to go into night shifts. So for the next days, I have time for sight seeing and meet my other relatives here. Auntie mommy said we will be going to Jersey this Saturday for a barbecue party… I have to pause for now. I got to call my folks back at home

Diary Entry #3A

I hugged my aunt a real tight hug this morning. Finally, I’m now wide awake and full of energy. Jet lag over. My aunt has been a nurse here for 30 years. I guess she will be retiring soon. Today, she will show me around her hospital. The same hospital that I’m going to be work in for a looong time. Hopefully. From what I’ve seen on the pictures, it’s a beautiful hospital on Roosevelt Island down at Hudson River. It has cherry blossoms all over the grounds! I’ve never seen real cherry blossoms before! Haha…

Diary Entry #2

What time is it? Ahm, what day exactly? I think I slept for a long time. Waking up on short intervals to pee and then go back to sleep… This is what they call “jet lag”. I think. Haha… I never had one before you know. My flight to New York is my first international flight and my longest one. I thoroughly enjoy my plane rides from Bohol to Manila . An hour up in the air is really fun as long as the weather is not turbulent. But 18 hours? Oh please. It made me cranky. back to sleep…

Diary Entry #1

It’s two in the morning and I’m having my first glimpse of the city that’s going to be the venue for most of my life’s stories from now on. My 18- hour flight is almost over. I can’t exactly define if I’m excited or scared. All I know is that my legs are stiff from sitting all these hours. And my body longs for a real bed…
“… We will be landing in John F. Kennedy International Airport in 10 minutes. Please remain seated with your seat belts fastened…”
New York City, here I come!!!

It was the summer of 2005, everyone is busy; busy planning how to spend this time of year. And me, I’m busy packing my things. I don’t know if I should be happy that I’m leaving or should I be sad because of the life that I would be leaving behind; the ambivalence is, by far, the most excruciating thing that I felt.

I was 23 years old when I first set foot in the most coveted country for most Filipino nurses: the USA; young and determined but utterly vulnerable in so many ways. I have spent a fair amount of sniffling during my early days of the country and persistently wiping the tears off my eyes that’s been relentlessly flooding it. I was depressed. I missed my family, my home and everything I left behind.

Most of the Filipino nurses who survived the strain of unhappiness and depression in the US said that to lessen my periods of sadness, I should drown myself with work and before I’ll know it, I’d be comfortable to such scenario. True enough, it did helped me and I adjusted fairly well. Exactly 9 months passed and I realized I’m already living the so called “American dream”. All the episodes of depression as well as hard work have paid off. Seeing my family living a happy and satisfied life back there in the Philippines is more than enough to turn all those stress into a wonderful melody.

It is indeed fulfilling to know that I am helping my family a lot there in my home country. Now I don’t mind the distance and the longing that I often feel during my quiet times; as long as my family is happy. It’s been 5 years since I left. I came home twice. I have a beautiful apartment. I’m driving my own BMW. I have travelled to a lot of places. I never had the chance to taste all these luxuries in my homeland. 5 years of working as a nurse in the US; well, I guess it’s safe for me to say that I am a successful nurse now.

To all the Filipino nurses who’re struggling to work here in the US, don’t loose hope. I know the way to realizing your dreams has been clogged up by the existing recession. But this should not be a reason for you to stop believing. The recession has been attacking us for quite sometime now. There should be a time that it will be exhausted and would pass away. Just keep the faith.

I’ve been practicing my nursing profession for the past two years already. Everytime I go to work, I perform all my duties and responsibilities as a nurse with care and passion. I see to it that my patient’s rights are protected. I am a type of nurse who has a sensitive feeling towards the patient’s emotions.

One time, we had a patient who was an ex-convict and who lives in a squatter’s area. Being assigned to take care of that patient, I felt pity about his condition. For me, he was a good person. He shared his tragic life story to me. When the doctor ordered “may go home”, he felt happy and at the same time he burst into tears upon knowing his hospital bills. He told me that his family abandoned him already and there’s no one else who could help him pay his bills. Then, he asked for my help. He wanted to be discharged as soon as possible because he wanted to see his family before they will finally go somewhere else and leave him. Because of the emotional attachment I had with the patient, I agreed to release him even though he has not been cleared from the hospital. I decided to take the responsibilities in paying his bills through salary deduction. When the doctor knew about this incident, he called my attention right away. I was being reprimanded with my action which was, to him, inappropriate. I explained to him about my intention which was just to help him save his family. I don’t see anything wrong with that; anyway, I’m going to pay his bills.

All of us have principles in life. And that’s what I believe and I stand for what is right. I don’t even care if I’ve got fired from the hospital for as long as I was able to help other people. And that’s all that matters to me. =)

I am a registered nurse for almost five years already. I am currently working as a staff nurse in a tertiary hospital here in our city. I could say that I am unfortunate in terms of applying abroad. I am still passed up here in our country. Who doesn’t want to be a USRN or to have a stable Nursing job overseas where more opportunities await us? Actually, I have been a victim for how many times already. I admit, the problem is also with me. I have to blame myself also for being too innocent about scams. I easily trust without any doubt about fake agencies believing on their false reassurance and humongous offers abroad. And at the end, I was ditched alone with nothing with an empty pocket and teary eyed. Lesson learned? Never trust strangers easily. Don’t ever risk yourself in paying those high processing fees without consulting the POEA (Philippine Overseas Employment Agency) and significant others who will help you in your decision making.

We have to be extra careful especially when money is involved. Because of poverty, many people engage to different crimes such as scam. Bottom line? Be aware!!!

I was studying my notes of medical-surgical nursing in preparation for an exam. I was at the student’s area of the delivery room together with my classmates; they were also studying while waiting for a distressing woman to trudge that part of the hospital. Quite a lazy day and all of us were yearning for some action.

Hours after, our clinical instructor asked us to proceed to the OB-ER to attend to a pregnant woman who came in. She said she is 8 months pregnant and is worried because she no longer felt her baby move for almost two weeks already. After changing her clothes we led her to the examination bed and called the doctor. Her face spelled apprehension. When the doctor came she was very hesitant to spread her legs for vaginal examination. When she finally did, all of us were taken aback. Her genital area was swamped with genital warts. Even her groins and inner thighs were not spared. She said she attempted to self-medicate and applied silver nitrate to the warts. The charred appearance of the warts made it look seemingly more alarming.

Such a rare encounter; talk about us hankering for some action; we were given something unforgettable.