Pensive Mode: Level 3 Lookback

Foreword:

"The statements below, made by the Author, was purposely stated not to offend or discourage, or kiss-ass people, but only to describe facts, that ALONE. Also, statistics that were included in this write-up were from reliable sources (such as AUP AOLIS)."

=====STARTS at 11:30 PM========

*tic toc, tic toc, tic toc*

the silence in my room was deafening..

i could even here my small wrist watch crack its hands out...

"Haay.." i lazily uttered as i scrolled by internet browser up and down.

Then i thought of re-browsing my hard drive.. to put some new pics on it; All of a sudden, I came across several pictures during our Level 3 Activities.

"Haha! Fundamentals of Nursing 2009.. such a memorable one!," i said to myself, producing a small twitch on my cheeks producing a small weary smile. Back then all things were NEW. i mean LITERALLY. Like who didn't have difficulty on making the effin DAR right? Like i literally failed the exam on it. And who wouldv'e thought that the dreaded Medicine Checklist was that EASY to learn on our clinical duties, than having Ma'am Tantia talk us to sleep? Right. And, *drum roll* the most sought after FUNDAMENTALS OF NURSING FILM FEST what''up!? Some DID NOT enjoy making it, but most DID. It was when we discovered "several" talents within the batch. Cause you know what they say, "Nursing is an ART - and i mean SHOWBIZ" haha!

*click click click*, i arrived at some of the Capping, Pinning and Candle-lighting Ceremony frames. Maybe most of our batchmates doesn't even get the essence of the ceremony; all they know is just to stand at PIC for 2 hours or so, and get that ceremony over with. But for us, its more than that: sleepless nights, constant meetings, hunger-strikes, oh life blows during those times. But one things for sure, "It trained me not only as a person, but also as a radical character." It was also during that time when our ability to stand on our own was tested.. H1N1 incident remember? it was Sir Vargas block that was quarantined for like 4 days or so..which includes the team leader, Lexan. We felt so helpless, as the days before the ceremony was nearing. But boy i was wrong, i only thought of a human leader, forgeting about our all time Leader, Christ. Thanks to His goodness, the ceremony pulled through with minimal problems.

As the doors of PIC closed, marks the start of REAL Clinical duty. i was SOO ANXIOUS that time. I barely can even sleep thinking of what will happen in the floor; will i kill a patient? Hope not.

We were SO MUCH BULLIED back then, cause we had MCN blocking before MSN; them MS pipz (yeah, OUTSPOKEN am i) confidently lurks around the halls of CON, full of tense, thrust, and knowledge of the real Medical Surgical Stuff, while us, feeling left out, and, yeah, "Bobo", stuck our dirty noses under Community Blockings, and the never ending Vaginal Lessons.

My first blocking was a 1-week length of Pedia duty with Ma'am Zis Zuniga. Boy, i looked so much stupid, interviewing the patient with GORDON'S ASSESSMENT on hand (aka, sophomore style), and panickly taking 3 patients vital signs, and yeah, they were BABIES so i was having a hard time getting the RR. i HATED the hospital back then. AM Care? shessh! i barely can even remember how to bath a baby! "I NEED my Video of Ma'am Cabana's babies bath lecture!" i frantically grabbed my phone, later on learning that my Memory card was formatted. and the rest was history. Good thing i didn't kill the baby by drowning or cooking him on boiling water or something. I really look up to Ma'am Zis since then, she's very very supportive. I remember saying the phrase "This is really what's up.." during one of our lunch breaks at GEAMH.

then came lecture week with Ma'am "Sleep-Inducing" Tantia. Oh GOD, how i wish i knew what she was talking about back then, CORION? HCG? Like WTH was that. For the whole 2 week period, i went and finished classes without anything on stock. It was a REAL MIRACLE that i passed through that concept.

It was now Ma'am Estapon's turn on lecture. Actually I was excited, cause i really find her teaching FUN and challenging, though most of the time, like 30% of the lecture goes to her funny stories, which is a good thing, considering that, students tend to DIE to SLEEP after 2-3 hours of continuos lecture pep talk. It was during her Lecture when i FULLY, (with fervent expression verbalized) the whole NURSING CARE PLAN thing. and it was really quite cool! I remember most of her quizzes would be:

"Number 1, write a nursing diagnosis of a problem of the inlet, then in Number 2 and 3, write your interventions with rationale." I LOVED those quizzes, cause it internalizes everything, and tests on how you understood the concept and stuff. I remember her words, which really turned into an internal concept later on, "You can make your own nursing diagnosis, even though its not in the NANDA book. All you have to know is the ongoing pathophysiology and the main nursing problem."and to that, I salute Ma'am Naty for an efficient mentor during our MCN days; the old connotation of FEAR when you meet Mrs. Estapon - now LONG GONE.

"We need an activity," Team Leader verbalized during one of the teams meeting. We have had lots of warnings from several CIs that, basing on the batch's performance; some of our batchmates wouldn't make it to second semester. We were soo much ALARMED then. I even remember Mrs. Orbe's words "You should bond the batch as early as possible, cause not all will see each other when second semester comes." Thus we were challenged to MOVE, putting up the separate sabbath, under the theme "iCONNect", directed on strengthening the feeble CONnection we had back then.

"Why do we have to GO to that event! Its like on a weekend, and why should it be REQUIRED?" one of the most hardest question a batchmate or two would throw to us while we were collection the Sabbath Lunch Fee. It was always like a slap on the face, having to be questioned like that, after all these activities were done for each batchmates benefit and upliftment.. we went on collecting money, though the shame due to anger by some batchmates. "It will always be like that, you just have to sensitize yourselves." and adviser wisely told us during our down moments.

The event struck excitement to the batch; the activities were captivating enough, and ma'am Jorbe's teaser phrase "You'll have more during the retreat" had the people wanting for more. Thus first semester ended.

From a pinned and capped number of 238 nursing students, we were left down to 212. ouch. It was hurtful to see batchmates go, some had their own reasons: financial, social, mental, spiritual, and only few of which were due to grades.

The Buzz echoed, leading us to second semester. MSN time! Time for those MC pipz to experience what it really feels like to be PEED at. (by a baby of course, haha!) Wait.. i heard doc dee LEAVING. *thinks of it a little longer*, WHAT!? DR. DEE = LEAVING? The thought left me sleepless for a night (yeah seriously).

*Speeding the days up*

"FLASHNEWS: Doctor Dee staying; says Dean"

WHAT A RELIEF!

*warping up*

MS Lecture - GI

Clinical Duty - POC

MS Lecture - Respi

Clinical Duty - Surgical

MS Lecture - Endo

Clinical Duty - OR

MS Lecture - Cardio

Clinical Duty - Medical

MS Lecture - Fluids, Electrolytes and Acid Base Balance/Renal System

*cool*. Things speed up during those times.

Retreat Came:

- Frantic Preparations

- Bussiness Tactics Left and Right

> Had to have humility (applies to me i think) by Literally SELLING stuff during classes.

The three day event came. one word. = GRAND MILESTONE.

Final Exams Came.

ICONS was CUT again (why do we always have to be CUT. damn!)

From a bleeding number of 212, pinned down to 203 (WTF?!)

n303 Duty Came.

Mary Med Station 1 Duty = BUMMER No.1

GEAMH-DR Duty = EPIC no. 1

MAMC-MSU Duty = Perfected Bed Making

MCMC-PEDIA = BUMMER No. 2

Mary Med ICU Duty = SHOWBIZ

OSMUN-ER Duty = EPIC no. 2

CURRENT NUMBER = 203

LEVEL 4 1st Semester Number = (YET TO BE DETERMINED)

To Be Continued...

=======ENDS at 2:30 AM=========