The constantly changing shift in the hospital has created a disturbance on my sleep pattern. It is hard for me to get in bed before 12 midnight and as a result it is hard for me to get up so early in the morning. Counting sheeps never worked for me. I am thinking of popping some sleep pill to tuck me to bed before the crack of dawn.

I did not attend the ward’s party for three reasons: first, I had to come home early in preparation for the church’s thanksgiving worship service the following morning. Second, we do not celebrate Christmas so there is no reason for me to be in the Christmas party. Lastly, I do not feel like sharing the moment with my headnurse. I really hate her for officially ruining my plans for the new year.
The ward staff was grouped into senior, junior and orientee which I did not get. Why do we always have to observe seniority in the ward? We are supposed to be treated equally because our job descriptions are the same. Last year, I did not get the chance to be included among the blesses ones to get five days off and to make the matter worse, I was put on AM sift on the December 31st then on the PM shift the next day. It was really traumatic for me to get home there because our place home to people who have great affection for firecrackers.
My point being? We do not celebrate Christmas and New Year is the only holiday that we celebrate. Being on the bottom of the junior list, I was the last to pick the schedule and for crying out loud, what was left was the reliever’s sked. It means that I will be reporting for work both on Christmas and New Year. As I have mentioned being on duty on Christmas is not a big deal for me. I am after the New Year off.
Being the pessimist me, my thinking was right. My sked sucks big time. I appealed to my headnurse via SMS stating my litany over the freaking holiday sked. She caved in just to make it worse. I was given the PM sked on the 30th then AM shift on January 1st. Okay so I will be coming home safe early on the 31st then head directly to bed and sleep then get up and then sleep again because I need to be up early on the 1st. So basically, I will not be celebrating New Year with the family.
What a heartless and inconsiderate person!

Although my name was not on the top ten list in the critical care course, I still feel elated to learn that I got a high score on my journal review. I have got the topic in my mind for a few weeks already I only had one night to search about it and basically compose my thoughts. I was not expecting for a high grade due to time constraints but I was really surprised to see that my grade was a whopping 97% and the coordinator made a comment: You a have a gift of writing. Good job!
The journal was worth treasuring.

I am really excited! I was able to book flights to Hong Kong! Cebu Pacific has this Halloween offer that cuts down its airfare for domestic and international flights. The promo is until tomorrow only and the flights offered are from January 1 to March 31, 2011. I have been dreaming of getting my nieces to the happiest place on earth. As a child I have been wanting to go to Disneyland that is why I did not let this opportunity to pass. I will just be checking on other travel deals so I could get better accommodations.
This is going to be the first time that I will be celebrating my birthday outside the country.

My headnurse and I sat down for the discussion of my 6th month exam. She voiced out how disappointed she were about the turnout of the said exam. I felt like I was a butter melting under the sun as she tackled each of the item in my revalida. Honestly, I was and still am ashamed that I have not grasped the concept of cardiac medicines and the procedure and diagnostics related to cardiac diseases.
I know that I still have so much to learn and I am willing to engage in a serious one-on-one lecture in order for me to learn more. I am serious about my profession and I shall do anything to keep me knowledgeable anything that has to do about the human heart.
I owe to myself and to the institution.

Last night was fun. It actually lasted until 3:00 am this morning.
The cool gang from my previous work, actually none of us still works for that company, got together at a music joint called Music Bank on Morato Street for some videoke trip.
Alongside the belting is some belching due to unending flow of heart-friendly treats. We feasted on cholesterol-induced dishes that I started to feel paranoid about clogging my arteries. During the last hour of our vocal power exhaustion session, the receptionist came in with a platter of fruits. According to her it is a complimentary treat from them. A good way to have a colon cleanse.
Right now, I am trying to detoxify with a cup of brewed coffee. I hope it does the trick.

After my long three days off, I am back on track.
I was pleasantly surprised that the young Micronesian girl has been brought back to a regular room. The girls was the one who undergone MVR, AVR left thromboeectomy and IOTEE.
She is no longer on mechanical ventilator. She is now on oxygen per nasal cannula and she has a nasogastric tube for feeding. Her Glascow coma scale (GCS) is 10. She opens her eyes spontaneously, no verbal response and only withdraws to pain.
Since she cannot move on her own, frequent turning is required. Also she needs frequent suctioning of oral and nasal secretions.
Her mom, in broken English continuously expresses her gratitude to the ward nurses as she feels our care for her daughter.
The bedside rehabilitation is ongoing and at the moment, her legs seem to be powerless.
As I browsed through her chart, I saw that she has had subdural hematoma and they also performed emergency by pass on her.
According to Medline Plus Subdural hematomas are usually the result of a serious head injury. When one occurs in this way, it is called an “acute” subdural hematoma. Acute subdural hematomas are among the deadliest of all head injuries. The bleeding fills the brain area very rapidly, compressing brain tissue. This often results in brain injury.
I remembered the neurosurgeon telling the mother before that the fluid accumulated in the brain was negligible and does not require surgery.
What puzzles me is that the girl was ambulatory before the operation and now, her GCS is only 10. I also wanted to know why there was a need for emergency by pass.
Nancy Drew investigates

I was preparing to watch Avatar on DVD on my laptop in the dorm when my co-staff nurse texted me to rush to the 8th floor for the free facial, foot and hand spa. I went immediately and to find out that I have to wait for at least thirty minutes for my turn since all the staff who will do the services are all attending to other guests.
I learned that it was a promotional service of a company making beauty products.
When I had my turn, I knew that the service will not be a pleasant one as I see the frustration on the girl’s face learning that she still have me to do service to.
When she doing my facial, she asked me if I had oily face as said I do not then she asked again why do I have I have pimples. I just smiled instead of slapping her face.
I lack sleep that is why I am having breakouts and as far as I can remember I only had only huge pimple then. I have my usually share of breakouts but it cannot be considered as adult acne.

Exactly a week ago when the medication error occurred.
I was on 7 to 3 p.m. schedule then and since I feel indifferent about the outgoing bedside nurse who will endorse the patients that I will be handling, I just did not pay attention to what he was saying.
I made my rounds and gave medications to my patients without any problems.
The nurse who will receive my endorsement was late so I decided not to read the latest orders to her.
The following day, it was night actually, the ever insistent relative of a patient of have undergone heary by pass, was questioning why we are still giving Plavix to the patient when the doctor has told that them that it will be stopped already. We just told her that if the doctor did not write any order about it, we shall still stick to the status quo.
The relative did not stop there so we brushed through the chart and BAM!
The doctor has ordered to hold giving of Plavix on June 19th and the said antiplatelet medicine with generic name of Clopidogrel Bisulfate helps prevent clot formation which is indicated to prevent heart attack or stroke.
It was already June 21st meaning the two doses of Plavix have been given to him. The doctor called in and spoke to the outgoing bedside nurse. He was mad and so frustrated about the incident. Although there was nothing serious happened to the patient, mistakes that could jeopardize the patient’s health.
The following morning, the doctor checked in. He was already calm and just asked if giving of Plavix has been stopped. No further issues to him but our headnurse did not let slide of this medication error that she demanded for an incident report.
I personally learned my lesson here and promised to be extra vigilant in carrying on my duties and responsibilities.

My co-staff nurse was beaming every so often and we are just puzzled by her consistent glowing aura.
She was extra cheerful and helpful that day and wondering continued until the end of our shift. As we were on our way to punch out, she whispered to me that her boyfriend has finally proposed. I looked at her finger and saw this sparkling huge rock on it. I am no gemmologist but I think that one that her boyfirned has gotten her is one of the certified diamonds. Isn’t sweet and fabulous?