On the second day of my duty, I was reassigned at another ward. A private one. Most of the patients are VIPs.
For two consecutive days, my preceptor was a male nurse who I have noticed has a tendency to be lax. He always came in late for the endorsement and after the endorsement; he took five for his breakfast.
The nurses there are commenting that I am being abused by my preceptor. Honestly, I do not mind it at all. It is nothing compared to the abuse all the trainees have experienced at the Lung Center of the Philippines.
While it is true that we are not allowed to chart and to give medication to the patient at PHC, I think being asked to do so by the bedside nurse would not cost me an arm. Besides, I really feel futile by just sitting there, taking vitals and wheeling patients to and from the lab. Whether his reason by delegating to me his tasks was for me to learn or for him to get rid of them, I am up for it. I want excitement.
I do not have ill feelings about the staff nurses at my current ward assignment, but I think I need to do and learn more. Most of the patients in this ward are just there for executive or routine check ups. No special conditions. I want to handle level 2 and up patients as this is where my critical thinking will be tested.

It was the moment of truth. Last week’s exam had no bearing because it was a mere pre-test. But this one is different. We had to put our best foot forward as this would determine our future in the Philippine Heart Center (PHC).
While it was pretty hard for me to memorize all the formulas for the drug computation, I think I slipped it through, otherwise, I would have to retake the exam with the pharmacology department and it would be harder.
God help me.

Part of the requirement for the apprenticeship program at the Philippines Heart Center is the chest x-ray to ensure that none of us has a communicable disease. Although I have gotten mine about 2 months ago, I decided to have the test to ensure that I have not contracted any lung disorder when I was at the Lung Center of the Philippines.
After three days, gotten the result of my x-ray and I am pleasantly surprised to see that I have normal findings. After being exposed to pathogens while on immunosuppresant, I only have God to thank for keeping me safe.

It was our first day of apprenticeship and we were asked to be at the Philippine Heart Center (PHC) before 8:00 am.
I was anxious to see who will be with me in this batch. We were sent to the lobby for the raising of the Philippine flag. I completely forgot. PHC is a government institution and flag ceremony is a mandatory thing among goverment agencies.
My last time of attendance to a flag ceremony was in college and I used to elude it because I have 8:00 am class.
Anyway, during the orientation, there were about 12 apprentices who were summoned to undergo the probationary stage and they have just started their apprenticeship three weeks ago.
It’s a good thing! This means that here would be a chance for us to take a step higher anytime within the program.
It was a long day and yet I still had the energy to meet up with former groupmates at the LCP.
I am looking forward to the next training day.

Remember the rants I have written about “someone” who has kept me in the dark for almost two years?
It was metaphorically written, I must confess. You see I do not want to preempt things and whether it is true or not, I believe that talking about major things in your life will turn it into a jinx.
That “someone” I refer to is the HR Department of the Philippine Heart Center.
I took my qualifying exam in October 2007 and after constant follow on call and visits, our batch was scheduled for series of interviews. HR panel interview was in July 2007. After that, we were informed that we will then be called for the panel interview by the Nursing Service Department. After a month or so, I got a notice that I was up for an interview in August. I breezed through the panel, so I thought and in the last week of August, I was scheduled for the final interview with the head of Nursing Service Dept.
The result was out in the early week of September and I was really thankful to the Lord that He let me in!
The instruction that I have got is do not resign yet from work as there are still no vacancies. So I did until this morning. I got a text from the Nursing Office and I am being asked to resign effective immediately as I am invited to join the 6-month nurse apprenticeship program that will start on October 12th. I am not yet hired but I was told that while awaiting an available slot in the hospital, I can join the apprenticeship program. I can decline and a slot for a nurse position is still reserved for me even so but