A Heart-Touching Letter of a Patient's Daughter to the Nurse

Not in a day Nurses were usually appreciated. But a simple thank you will bring comfort to our exhausted hearts during toxic days. I would like to share a heartfelt letter written by a patient's daughter who loves his father so much towards my colleague.

It was written on a piece of paper and it says,

Good evening, Dear nurse. I am sorry I don't know your name, it is not like me to not know. I am not myself recently as my father is my life, and light and strength.

He is a very kind and funny man, if he was awake you would become friends. 

He would ask about your family, your life and wellbeing every day. 

Thank you for taking care of him. I will not forget every effort you made

the precious nurse with the glassess too. I trust you very much and I am grateful that you two are so kind and gentle with my father. 

When he wakes up, I will have you two meet him and laugh with him. 

Thank you for taking care of my soul. He is everything.

Love, Leena. 

Thank you also for appreciating the Nurses' efforts.

An inspiring story for Nurses. Share the love.

Credits to the two nurses, Leonil and Arlene.:)

Not The First Time but My First Reality in ICU

As a nurse, we have different fields to choose from and we have an option which department we're comfortable to work with. You can choose Emergency Department, Intensive Care Unit, Ward, Operating Room, these were only the most common areas I will mention but too many to mention.

Sometimes we choose an area that we like but regret it afterward. In each area, the struggle is real but backing out is not an option. It is always difficult at first but in the end, if you were shaped and mold with so many experiences, hard work will be worth it.

For new nurses, it is an exciting phase of our lives where we can choose or either we will be assigned to a special area. We felt very ecstatic on how it feels being there. Others may feel that it is not their chosen area, but all I can say is, we all experienced that. Just think of how you will be taught where you were assigned now. All knowledge and skills will not be acquired only in one area. It is still a ladder in becoming a competent one. Ups and downs are our partners.

Even if we have a long time experience, we will always meet something new. As a Nurse that specializes in Critical Care, I think it is one of the most challenging areas one could be assigned. It is the end stage of patient care if I may call it. Hundreds to thousands of things you need to consider when handling critically ill patients. This is the point where I can say that nursing is really a "calling".

Knowledge, skills, and attitude are your topmost armor. Everything is critical, you need to think fast and your best judgment is important especially in the matters affecting your patient. 

At first, everything is new. It seems like your mind is floating everywhere how to handle such equipment.

Code blue will be your best friend. :D when we are new in this field, it feels like we're the one needed a shock at 200joules. :)) kidding aside, reviving a patient is very satisfying when you see him coming back. Having your friends in the unit during a code blue, even if everything in your room was a mess, it is totally okay. 

Unlimited patient's bowel motion, every positioning comes with great responsibility. We are a self-proclaimed superhero. :))

Morning care, afternoon care or any care you may call it, "call a friend" is our favorite tag line. ICU life is difficult if you will work all by yourself. It is always a team. 

For others, first thing in the morning, checking an allocation is not about the patient's acuity, it is about who will be your team in your station. :))

Always ask if you don't know something, it is always the life of our patient.

For nurses who will about to embark on their chosen area, don't be afraid. There is always a time to learn everything. Start your journey, it might be a bumpy one, but still you will be proud of yourself after all.  You may cry and about to give up, just stay strong, it is part of learning process and you are not alone. "Been there, done that".  

So this is my chosen journey. 

Thanks for reading.:D

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When the Nurse became the patient

Being a nurse has complexities to consider. Lots of challenges to encounter, be it mentally or physically. It is not just about taking care of our patients but also taking care of ourselves. 

From the toxicities of our patients to not being able to notice that you did not eaten your meal or haven't gone to comfort room just to pee.

A nurse has a lot in his/her mind going on, since time is very essential. We have goals to meet at the end of the shift. 

When i had my dose as a patient, realizations sink in. Hard work is vital but your vital signs were also important. :D

To my colleagues to the other side of the world, don't forget to place your health at the top of your priority.

Proper meals, vitamins and adequate sleep should be our goal. For 12 hours shift, at least a target of 7 hours sleep is already nutritious for our soul to get us going.

Healthy diet leads to healthy body. At least no instant meals. Most of the nurses has no time for cooking, but at least plan ahead what to cook even an easy meal.

Lots of sleep on your rest day is the best.

Increase fluid intake, advisable not just for your patients.

Take time to value exercise. 

Just a friendly reminder from a nurse on the other side of the world. :D

What is fasciotomy?

Working in a Critical Care setting, I had the privilege to handle a patient with a case of lower leg swelling. The patient had a crushing injury to his left lower leg.

Fasciotomy is a limb-saving procedure to be done for compartment syndrome. Compartment syndrome usually develops when one of the veins or muscle has an insufficient blood supply. This condition usually associated with numbness and swelling of the affected site since circulation was impeded. Other indications of this procedure are for those who were obese and with severe burns.

The next picture is a case of a severe burn. In severe burn injury, there is an increase in vascular permeability, increased interstitial osmotic pressure and cellular edema. Due to fluid shifting, there are translocations in the distribution of water and solute. In order to prevent compartment syndrome, fasciotomy is the best procedure to be done.

I had the chance to assist with the procedure at bedside since it was an emergency procedure. This procedure is usually done by a Vascular Surgeons. I was astonished as of how the procedure was done.

If not done as soon as possible, impede blood circulation, will cause amputation of the affected leg. This is done to relieve pressure to the patient's leg with severe swelling. More often than not, a patient with compartment syndrome, the affected site has greater than 2 seconds capillary refill and nail-beds appears dusky or cyanotic.

As a Nurse, we have duties and responsibilities for cases like this.

Monitor vital signs to include Blood pressure, respiration, pulse rate and oxygen saturation.

Sterility is our utmost priority when assisting the procedure and dressing.Monitoring of patient's coagulation profile.
Monitor signs of bleeding to the operative site.

Measurement of the post fasciotomy site should be done daily, once swelling improved, sutures will be tightened little by little.

Hope I have given you some input.  Feel free to comment below for additional ideas.

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OFW Feels

It's been a long time since i post on my blog site, my heart and mind kept looking for it. Been busy focusing on my work since i went abroad 3years ago.  :) 

I would like to share how it is being an OFW. 

 

As a Nurse you will face lots of challenges, mentally, physically and most of all emotionally. At first, you will thought going out there is fun and enjoyable thing especially if you will earn money bigger than what you've earned in your country. Its true, yeah it is! ;)

 

But wait a minute, prepare yourself for life a changing experience. From different environment to language barrier to different culture. These applies to any other countries you are planning to work or migrate with.

 

I learned that it is difficult to argue when you've brought up to a different cultures, so better not. ;D

 

You will learn that you are extraordinary when faced with difficult situations thinking you are on your own.

 

You will appreciate what we have back in the Philippines especially "sardinas and tuyo", you will miss the simple foods cooked by your mother. :) 

 

You will appreciate the saying 'an egg a day, keeps the Doctor away'.  i know its an apple :)) Kidding aside, but if you're on your own, an egg a day keeps you alive everyday. Pritong itlog  keeps you from being late :) And of course, you will perfect how to boil.

You'll cry in the middle of the night knowing you missed them, your family and friends. Seeing them happy on facebook makes you feel real sad, why? because you're not there. You will miss every fun, outing, birthdays and events. 

 

You leave your country with a nephew you took care of for months, when you get back home, he cannot even identify you. Masaklap!:D  I am so proud of those OFW who were brave enough to leave their children at a young age just to provide a comfortable life for them. 

 

You will realize you are taking care of other people that you cannot even took care of your own mother and father.

 

You will realize that going back home during vacation is a sad thing knowing it's only a short one. You will get excited yet sad 'cause in reality you are already thinking about the moment when you get back for work and leave them again.

 

Christmas will be different. All you have will be memories how you have spent it with your family. But still you can celebrate it with friends and most of all video call is there so don't be too upset. :)

 

You will truly appreciate the "hilot" of your mom when you felt exhausted and tired from work and will missed how it was being cooked with breakfast by your mom. 

 

You will learn how to manage your time on your day off from cooking, laundry and of course, facebook and leisure! :D

 

You will appreciate the microwave oven, with all your meals cooked good for 3days, reheat, reheat and again reheat. Funny isn't it? :)) 

 

You will realized that it's too cold to take a shower and too hot not to. I experienced that during winter and summer. :)) But still we are Filipinos, even weather temperature at 0 degree we really have to take a shower before going for work.  

 

You will be amazed how other cultures lived, how they eat, what they eat and how they communicate with gestures.

 

You will learn to say 'I Love You' to your family over the phone and appreciate it so much when you heard it from them.

 

Balat-sibuyas no more if you were on your own, you will become stronger and learn to cope to your environment. You will become a better person with better understanding to every situation, you will know how to rationalize things in a rational way.  

 

You will be a good baker on your own. You became a chef that you didn't expect you to be. 

 

It is not easy, yes, but in the end, you will realized it is really fun and enjoyable thing when you saw the happiness lit in the faces of your family. It is not just about the struggle, it is about how you will make your family happy by providing them enough comfort.  

 

It is still rewarding, i tell you. God is there, Don't be scared, get out from your comfort zone and grow up. :)

 

                when it's already night time down there, yet you can see the sunset up here.

#leavingphilippines