Top 5 Reasons Why You Should Love Your Nursing Job

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I have heard many times already that overworked but unpaid/underpaid Filipino nurses are becoming the rule, rather than the exception nowadays. Well, I’m not planning to sugarcoat anything here so don’t fret. Reality bites and the more we try to deny it, the more bitter we become. And though a Nursing crisis is apparently discouraging every Filipino nurse to follow their “calling”, there is no doubt that at the end of the day, Nursing is still one of the most inspiring and fulfilling jobs ever created. You can mention thousands of reasons why you should loathe Nursing but for the benefit of those who are really “called” for the profession, here are the top 5 reasons why you should cherish your R.N. license even more:

1. Nursing is a challenging job…but fulfilling as well

When I say “challenge”, it doesn’t just pertain to the struggles of working without pay. Nursing is an obstacle course; from the time you enter nursing school up to the time you start building your nursing career, the road will never be the smooth path everyone is dying trudge on. I’m telling you now that this job is backbreaking, stressful, and emotionally-draining but nothing can beat the amount of fulfillment a nurse can get after a day of touching people’s lives.

2. Your family has their own reliable source of health information and tender loving care

You can never put your Nursing degree into waste if your own family can be the main beneficiaries of your hard-earned education. Aside from being able to answer their day-to-day inquiries regarding this medication and that disease, you also have the qualification  to take care of them once they get hospitalized, provide them effective health tips if needed, and even save their lives during emergency cases.

3. Unlimited Avenues for Growth

Years of competitive experience will not just provide professional growth for you because with daily struggles and challenges in your nursing area, you can grow emotionally and spiritually as well. You get the chance to witness first hand the real state of healthcare delivery system in the Philippines and open your eyes to several heart-wrenching realities you will never witness if you’re just working inside an air-conditioned office in te middle of Makati. You will be able to realize how precious one life is and how unpredictable death can become. For this reason, you will have a lot of things to be thankful for and develop the real heart of compassion every nurse should have.

4. You’d get a lot of “Thank You” from Unknown People

You will never mind the free nursing service and all the hardships that comes before it once your ill-tempered patient says the two magic words “Thank You”. Nurses all want a secured and paid nursing position but money will amount to nothing if all your patients are not satisfied with your work. You became a nurse not just to change your patient’s state of health but also to touch his aching heart. Remember, nurses care for people holistically and through this task that they gain an unparalleled amount of inner fulfillment no amount of money can buy.

5. Nurses save HUMAN LIVES

Not all professionals in the world get the chance to touch and even save people’s lives but nurses, believe it or not, are actually being paid to do it. Though it can be stressful most of the time, bearing in your mind that the lives of your patients lies in  your hands will turn your nursing job from a monotonous responsibility to a fulfilling “calling” that is even way beyond simple acts of heroism. Being a nurse is carrying a God-given gift that saves people’s lives, much like how real angels save people from all types of harm. Nurses are not just simple health providers, they are angels who have lost their wings when they came down all the way from heaven.

NLE Board Rating: Does It Really Matter?

I just don’t get it: Nursing graduates have always been advised to study hard and aim to be a board topnotcher by their schools and review centers only to found out afterwards that securing a nursing position is a pain in the ass even for the cream of the crop. I guess, unemployment is now the great equalizer amongst Filipino nurses.

Now the question is this: Does NLE Board Rating still matter nowadays? Is it fair to say that NLE will measure your potential and capabilities as a nurse here in the Philippines?

I won’t deny the fact that I once aimed to be a nursing board topnotcher. I even started pouring my time and effort in reading nursing books one year before the actual exam. I thought it would be a great way to give myself justice for not being hailed as our batch cum laude. It was painstakingly time-consuming but eventually, I was able to top various exams both in our school and in the review center where I signed up after graduation. I thought I was on my way to the top but after the results were released last August 2011, all I’ve got was a mere 81.20%, a board rating not even close to the top 20 slot. But I have moved on and realized in the long run that it’s not the true measure of one’s worth as a nurse and as a human being. I even know of someone who got an impressive rating although she always slept in class so what’s the point? Is it all a matter of luck? I don’t give a damn. And just so you know, I’m an underemployed nurse now, just like the other board passers and board topnotchers who took the same exam. I guess, I had a misconception because grades really won’t matter at all.

So what is my point here?

That most Filipinos have been trapped to the false idea that being on the top of the class will give someone a sure spot for employment and an easy ticket to success. We always love to rank people to know who is the best and who is the worst. We love to give recognitions and awards for the intellectually gifted and think that “studying hard” is the best cure for poverty. Well I’m telling you, we’ve been stuck to this deep-rooted culture long enough and its about time for us to meet reality face to face;we have to accept the fact that in Nursing, its quite easier to pass the NLE than to secure a decent job.It hurts but just like what they always say, REALITY BITES.

During these hard times, personality weighs more than the board rating. For instance, I had a clinical instructor before who got a 75% flat board rating but was able to secure a fulfilling job in Canada. Not only that, most of the nurses I know who work in the hospital have ratings that ranges from 75% to 80% and they were not even one of the top performers during their school days. Zig Ziglar once underscored that “It’s not the aptitude, but the attitude, that determines one’s altitude”.The point here is the success of a nurse doesn’t rely on his/her board rating but more on how he/she persevere despite adversities in nursing employment, negative attitudes of her co-workers, and almost unbearable responsibilities expected of a nurse. Board ratings are just written numbers and it only measure one’s entry-level competencies.

Nursing is not a battle of the brains, rather, it’s all about resiliency, flexibility, and positive outlook in life. If you got a low board rating, who cares? Grades won’t make you less or more of a person.

Only here in the Philippines that we rank board ratings and put so much importance to those who top the board exam. I mean, in NCLEX, you will be labelled only as either “pass” or “fail” without any rankings or whatsoever. I’m not bitter or sourgraping here so don’t get me wrong. I just want every Filipino nurses today to realize that employment will still remain as the most important goal for everybody at the end of the day. I’m not even encouraging nursing students to stop browsing their books and just sleep all day because I know that knowledge is still one of the three pillars of good nurse training. All I want to emphasize is this: your career as a nurse (if you really want to be a nurse) won’t stop if you fail the NLE or got a rating lower than you expected. There are a lot of challenging and fulfilling things that await you in the future only if you will learn to embrace your “calling”. And though I’m not an active nurse now, I will never forget the two things (far more important than grades and intelligence) that Nursing has taught me: LOVE AND CARING.

Ang Alamat ni Nurse Sungit

Bakit ba ang daming nurse na akala mo’y wala ng bukas kung magsungit?

Ewan ko ba. Nursing graduate ako pero hindi practicing nurse dahil mas ginusto kong ipagpatuloy ang matinding hilig ko sa pagsusulat. Kaya hindi ako ang ekspertong sasagot sa tanong sa itaas. Kasi nga, hindi ako staff nurse. Pero sabi nila, nasa kultura na daw ng mga nars sa Pilipinas na mag-iba ng ugali sa sandaling pumasok na sa masalimuot na mundo ng pagiging staff nurse. ‘Yun tipong mala-anghel ka pagkagraduate mo sa Nursing tapos mageevolve ka sa isang ubod ng sungit na nars pagtagal ng panahon. Parang pokemon lang ‘di ba? Ganun ba talaga yun? Parang hindi naman kapani-paniwala. Kaya ka nga naging nars dahil gusto mong mag-alaga ng may sakit at maglingkod sa mga mahihirap na nangangailangan ng kalinga ‘di ba? Tapos magtataray ka lang sa kanila? Ano connect?

Sa aking pagsasaliksik, napadpad ako sa isang online forum na may pinag-uusapang akmang-akma sa hinahanap ko:

Bakit Mga Suplada Na Ang Mga Nurses Ngayon????

Binasa ko ang iba’t-ibang kuro-kuro ng mga tao doon na nagbabatuhan ng kani-kanilang mga opinyon tungkol sa topic. Aaaminin kong natawa, nabwisit, at napukaw ang damdamin ko dahil sa ilang pahayag na nabasa ko. Ngunit nalaman ko na ngayon kung bakit may mga nars na ubod ng sungit……ang alamat ni Nurse Sungit. Ito ang mga sinasabing dahilan ng pagevole ng isang nars:

1. Ang mga nars ay Overworked, Underpaid at madalas (katulad sa panahon ngayon), Overworked, UNPAID!!!! – Kahit naman inis na inis ako sa mga nars na nagmamaldita sa mga pasyente (lalo na sa mga government hospitals), hindi ko rin naman sila masisisi kung magsungit sila ng todong todo. Bakit naman hindi? Bugbog na nga katawan mo sa trabaho, pinagagalitan ka na ng doktor, tapos meron pang mga pasyenteng pala-utos at feeling mayaman na akala mo kasama sa binabayaran nila ang service mo. Para malaman po ng lahat, KAWANG-GAWA lang po ang ginagawa ng mga nurse lalo na ‘yung mga volunteers, mga nars na nagbayad pa ng training fees imbis na sila ang bayaran, at mga contractual nurse (kagaya ng sa RNHEALS) na akala mo may trabaho na pero kulang pa rin ang sweldo tapos lagi pang delayed. Hindi po utusang-de-pindot ang mga nars. Subukan mo kayang magtrabaho ng walang bayad tapos 12-hours pa ang shift mo sa isang ospital na may 1:50 nurse-patient ratio? Kung unang sabak mo pa lang, malamang  may empathy ka pa sa pasyente, pero ‘pag ilang taon ka ng burn-out, ibang usapan na ‘yun kapatid! Kahit naman siguro sino magsusungit ‘di ba? TAO lang po kaming mga nurse at may mga sariling pangangailangan din. E kung 200,000 a month lang naman ang ibabayad sa akin, kahit 50 pwet pa ang linisin ko wala akong care..ngingitian ko pa kayo.

2. Mga doktorang nagmamaldita/ doktor na sobrang demanding/ doktor na nananantsing/pilosopong doktor - ‘Langya, dito lang sa ‘Pinas mo makikita kung gaano kalayo ang agwat ng nars sa doktor. Sa Amerika, parang doktor na rin ang turing nila sa mga nars. Hindi tulad dito na nakagapos pa din ang ilang doktor sa maling stereotype na “katulong LANG ng mga doktor” ang mga nars. Bakit? Nag-aral din naman tayo ng 4 year-bachelor’s degree ha? At saka, lahat ba ng mga doktor magaling? Katulad sa Nursing, marami din dyan ang tatanga-tanga. Isa pa, isang beses lang nilang nakikita ‘yung mga pasyente nila sa isang araw ‘pag nagrarounds sila, e tayo? BUONG stay nila sa ospital, mukha natin nakikita nila at tayo halos gumagawa. Kaya sa mga nars dyan, ipaglaban nyo ang propesyon natin. Hindi sa lahat ng panahon TAMA si Dok.

3. Mga pasyenteng feeling ANAK NG DIYOS – Sana lang malaman ng mga pasyente na TAO rin po ang mga nars at hindi ROBOT. Sabi nga nila, ang makina nga nagloloko kapag sobrang gamit eh, tao pa kaya? Tayo pa kaya? Sa dami ba naman ng pasyente, hindi sa lahat ng oras ay masusunod ng nars ang mga hiling ng pasyente. Maalala sana nila ang kahulugan ng salitang PRIORITY para maintindihan nilang kailangang unahin ng nars ang pasyenteng naghihinalo bago palitan ng diaper ang kamag-anak nilang natae. And besides, hindi ba nila kayang palitan ng diaper ang kamag-anak nila. Kaya nga sila nandoon ‘di ba? Hindi naman tayo nagsunog ng kilay para maging alila at maging “taga-linis ng pwet” gaya ng akala nila. Ang Nursing po ay isang special field at hindi synonymous sa “taga-linis ng pwet”. Kung gusto nilang ituon ang lahat ng atensyon sa pasyente nila, alamin nila ang pagkakaiba ng salitang staff nurse sa PRIVATE NURSE. Respeto lang po at konting pag-unawa ang hinihiling namin.

Alam kong may mga nars talaga na masungit at bastos makipag-usap sa pasyente. Karamihan makikita mo sila sa mga pampublikong ospital kung saan mismo ang doktor ay parang hindi na “tao” ang turing sa mga pasyente. Kung sigawan at sungitan sila parang ganun na lang. Kahit naman ako, maiinis sa mga nars na walang modo at respeto sa mga pasyente. Lalo na ‘yung mga akala mo kung sinong maganda. Ewan ko ba kung bakit kung sino pa yung mga mukhang pwet ng manok ay sila pa ang may ganang magtaray. Mapapaaway talaga ako ‘pag ganun.

Sa kabilang banda, hindi naman po lahat ng nars ay masungit. Meron pa rin namang mga mababait at may respeto sa pasyente. ‘Yun nga lang, sana maintindihan nila na TAO lang ang mga nars na may mga sariling pinagdadaanan sa buhay. Hindi porket nagsungit sya ng isang beses ay masama na sya. Respeto lang at pag-unawa sa isa’t-isa ang kailangan natin para umayos ang buhay.

Marahil nakasalamuha mo na si Nurse Sungit. Ito ang kanyang alamat. Sana naiintindihan mo na sya.

I Love Nursing But Nursing Doesn’t Love Me….

Don’t be alarmed. I’m not just “another” nurse-writer trying to post all my grievances to wash away every bit of optimism left in your system. Given the status quo, it’s very easy to spot a nursing article complaining about the dismal conditions of the nursing profession here, there, and blah..blah..blah. I find articles like these less and less appetizing and discouraging, let alone the debilitating effects it could bring to a lot of budding nurses seeking for an inspiration and drive to go on despite all the struggles in a nurse’s life. I want this article to be a breath of fresh air so I want to start with an enthusiastic remark: I LOVE NURSING.

The problem, however, is the fact that it’s just a one-sided love affair.

When I took up Nursing almost five years ago, my career path was undeniably clear: finish the course and decide afterwards whether I would pursue Medicine or look for a fruitful opportunity overseas. Looking back, I realized that I made that decision for myself without any forceful coercion from any of my loved ones. I really wanted to be a nurse and felt like the blueprint of my life dictated me to embrace Nursing with open arms. They always say that plans should be done using a pencil because plans do change and nothing is sure in this world. I almost did it using an indelible pen; that’s how sure I was for the path I’m going to take in life. I had struggled a lot during my nursing studies. However, the passion inside me continued to burn that even the death of my father months before my graduation didn’t stop me from getting my nursing degree and my hard-earned license. I took all necessary trainings and tried my luck to all hospitals I know exist. It didn’t work out. It’s not a walk in the park, you know, but I tried, tried, and tried. Now, years after I decided to be a nurse, an epiphany suddenly brought me back to reality: I LOVE NURSING but Nursing doesn’t love me.

The problem, now, are the questions that keep on bugging me.

Did I take up Nursing for the right reasons? Am I trying to force myself to love Nursing just because I want to work abroad? Do I really love Nursing? Do I feel this because I’m frustrated with Nursing and I’m an unemployed jerk?

These questions kept me awake at night these past few days and I couldn’t help but to look back on how it all began. I took up Nursing because it was in demand back then. The idea of helping people and reviving lives sounded exciting and fulfilling for me that I immediately grabbed the opportunity to pursue it. I wanted to be a hero and make my life useful. This search for purpose and meaning brought me to Nursing but it is during my college years that I felt otherwise; the emptiness and longing that I felt during my clinical rotations were signs that I was still in doubts if I really belong in this industry. I studied hard because I wanted to pass and kept on believing that I really had what it takes to be a nurse. I tried my best to shrug off all the questions I had in mind back then and envied my class mates who were good at what they do because they genuinely love their career choice and not just because they had NO choice. Last week, I was about to start my hospital training but after realizing that I’m half-hearted to pursue it, I quit at the last minute. I have forced myself to love Nursing but it’s about time to let go. I don’t  want to live the rest of my life doing something out of convenience and then make regrets when I’m old and graying. Now is the best time to heed my calling and continue to chase what I really wanted in life: TO BECOME A WRITER. I’ve been wanting to earn a Journalism degree but I’m always taken a back because I keep on listening to people who believe that nursing is a far more lucrative career than Journalism. That’s true. But life is all about choices and I think it’s about time for me to stand up for what I really want. I only have one life to live and I better do what my heart longs for regardless of what people might say.

Now, after spending years of bacbreaking studies and realizing in the end that my passion belongs to something else, do I REGRET TAKING UP NURSING?

DEFINITELY NOT!

I believe God has a marvelous plan for each one of us and I didn’t end up to be a nurse for no reason. I’ve learned a lot about life, death, people, and priorities during those times I’ve spent in my nursing school. I’m more versatile now and more open on dealing with different people with different kind of personalities, backgrounds, and beliefs. In addition to that, nothing can compare with the security that you feel for your family and loved ones now that you know what to do during emergencies, you have the knowledge that you can share about life and health, and you have the caring attitude that will see them through sickness and in health.

Being a nurse is not all about wearing white uniforms and the essence of ‘care’ will not just end inside the four corners of the hospital. I know a lot of stories similar to mine because not all registered nurses have the true guts, the drive, and the makings of a real NURSE. We can be a nurse and still pursue other careers that our hearts really belong to and still can make a difference. Nursing is not all about the title and financial rewards; it’s even deeper than just caring for patients and performing doctor’s orders. I still envy those nurses who are doing great despite all the struggles they face. I salute all nurses because nothing can compare with the dedication and bravery that they all show for the sick and dying patients.

I’m still thankful that God allowed me to take up Nursing. Without it, I will never realize that my heart belongs to something else. And wiothout it, I will never learn that life, per se, is a miracle.

I LOVE NURSING but Nursing doesn’t love me. But who cares? I know it’s about time to let go and try my luck somewhere else. I’m currently working as an editor and writer of a famous Filipino blog and also planning to work as a copyeditor and get my Journalism degree in the near future. There is no question that my heart really belongs here but still, NURSING IS ONE OF THE BEST THINGS I HAVE EXPERIENCED IN MY WHOLE LIFE.

Sayonara, Nursing! Until we meet again….