0900H

after a loooong toxic night at work, after a stat case i scrubbed in (and yes, i’m back to the sterile area…this time, it’s really bigtime… in Asian Hospital & Medical Center),  when i was about to go home after receiving a phone call minding my business, an out patient accompanied by an admitting officer came to the holding area where i was the only one left as everybody was so busy with their own cases, knowing the fact that we’re understaffed, i can’t help but blame myself to have stayed in that place at that time… i met this great man, whom i never thought of as great as this…

Fil-Am retiree gives back to Cavite by sponsoring 23 college scholars

June 28, 2008 6:11 amLOS ANGELES — Many Filipinos leave the Philippines to pursue their dreams, and many of them find the success they so desired in their youth. But sadly, very few of these successful Filipinos look back to their roots and do something to improve the lives of those they left behind. Abelardo Estacion of Newport Beach is one of those few.

Estacion, now 74 and well into his third retirement, had worked hard all his life to attain the success and security that he now enjoys, and now he wants to help other people from his homeland, particularly in his home province Cavite, get the opportunity to attain their dreams, too. Estacion has put up a foundation from his personal money to sponsor scholars through their college education in the Philippines.

At present, the Estacion Foundation has 23 college scholars, most of them graduates of his alma mater, the Cavite National High School in Cavite City, where as a teenager, Estacion worked to help his poor parents raise a family of seven (5 sons and 2 daughters).
His father worked in the US Navy at the old Sangley Point Naval Base in Cavite City as a mechanic, while his mother kept busy as a housewife, housekeeper and mother. Estacion attended public schools in Cavite. Like most other families, there was no money for his college education and so he worked as a truck driver in Cavite, servicing Sangley Point.

When he was 20, Estacion joined the US Navy and spent two years as a kitchen steward, until he was honorably discharged. He made sure to send all of his monthly income to his mother, except for $5 for his personal needs.

Upon leaving the service, instead of going home to the Philippines, he took advantage of the GI Bill, which financed the college education of American servicemen, and went to Pepperdine University for four years and received a B.S. degree in Accounting in 1960.

In 1980, after working for 20 years as accountant and later plant controller at Rheem Manufacturing Company in Culver City, CA, Estacion opted for early retirement than relocate to New York, where the headquarters of the new owners of the company was located. He collected a total of $237,000 representing his share in the profit sharing plan and termination bonus for 20 years of service. He didn’t know what to do with the money. He talked to his cousin in the Philippines, Manolo Estacion, then a vice-president at Hongkong Shanghai Bank, about putting $200,000 in an investment. Manolo invested the money, and Estacion went on with his life.

In 1982, Abby went back to work as an in-house consultant for David A. Boyle Engineering. After 12 years, he retired again from Boyle Engineering, but on the same year, he joined another company, Pacific Lighting Sales, also as a consultant. In 2001, he finally decided to retire, this time for good.

He made plans to retire in Cavite, and went back home to explore his options in 2002, almost 22 years after putting his money in the investment managed by his cousin Manolo. Manolo told him that he had become a multi-millionnaire in Philippine standards, and that his investment had grown at a minimum of 10% a year and the cumulative result was enormous.

Estacion, again, didn’t know what to do with the money. He told Manolo he didn’t need that much money. He is receiving more than sufficient pension from his more than 40 years of working in the United States. He wanted to spend a big chunk of the money to give back to his country, particularly to his home province of Cavite.

Accompanied by Manolo, Estacion visited Cavite National High, and asked the school administrators what he could do to help, since some of the classrooms were inadequate and in state of disrepair. He was shown three rooms without windows or ventilation, and could, therefore, not be used. Estacion hired a contractor to install windows, fans, and combo desk-chairs so the classrooms could be used. The rooms are now being used as science rooms.

The principal also told him that several outstanding graduates could not go to college, for lack of money to pay tuition and other expenses. He immediately decided to set up the Estacion Foundation and asked the school counselor to send him information regarding those deserving students. He then established the first scholarships of P40,000 (about $1,000) per semester for two worthy, but needy students. In addition, he gave four more scholars partial scholarships to college (P10,000 each for two, and P7,500 each for the other two). Over the years, he has continued to send scholarship money and now has 23 scholars in college.

He sponsors at least six new scholars every year from Cavite (three males and three females), most of who are first-born children.
In addition to the scholarship money, Estacion gave incentives to the scholars to encourage them to study harder. He gave P1,000 for every a grade that they obtained. In time, Estacion was putting more and more money because most of the scholars got many A’s. When the price of rice soared, Estacion decided he would give a portion of the cash incentives in cavans of rice so that the family would also benefit from the high grades.

Most of Estacion’s scholars came from Cavite National High School except for a few who were also granted scholarships because they were deserving and were also in need, including one who is taking up nursing at the Orange Coast College in California. Another one is from Bicol, whose mother requested Estacion to help her bright daughter study in college.

Estacion recently returned from his 57th year high school reunion at Cavite National High where he was honored by the school’s staff, students, and all of the 23 scholars that he sponsors.

A 17-year member of the Santa Ana Elks Lodge, Estacion was also recently honored as “Elk of the Year” and presented with a plaque by outgoing Exalted Ruler, Cliff Thompson.

Estacion spends most of his time playing golf with friends from the Elks Club and taking care of his special friend of 19 years, Dortha Lamb, who is suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease. He occasionally visits his six grandchildren from his three equally successful children —  Mark Estacion, a PhD holder in biophysics, who is now conducting cancer research at Yale University in Connecticut; Richard Estacion, a chemist for National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in Maryland; and Scott Estacion, personnel manager of Home Depot and based in Vista, California. Mark has two children, Richard has three, and Scott has one.

“My children are all doing well, and they have given me their blessing to undertake my mission of helping underprivileged, but brilliant children back home,” Estacion proudly says. He said that his sons have promised to pursue his mission long after he is gone.
“I wish many more Filipinos who have found their dreams in America or any other place in the world would also look back to their homeland, and help our poor people make something of their lives in whatever way they can,” Estacion said. “We owe it to our country and to our kababayans.”

Reference: Ang Peryodiko http://angperyodiko.net/?p=223&preview=true

though at first i didn’t have any idea that this man is SOMEBODY, i tried to build rapport, first as it is a part of my work and to lessen up the burden of having the thought that both my night teammates had already gone home, and secondly to decrease my patient’s anxiety which is really typical for someone undergoing a surgical procedure. i was so lucky and blessed to have a personal encounter with such a great man. he even invited me to his party for his scholars, his so-called “children” in a mall soon. i didn’t know but i got a feeling thathe’s not just someone, but he is somebody! now that i had just gone home, i immediately browsed his name through the net…and i my hunches had never got me wrong!

this toxic night shift and overtime duty has really had me blessed. i paid off!

kudos, SIR ABBY! you’re such a role model! really inspiring!

“Ladies first.” No. That rule doesn’t apply to communication. Don’t wait for her call, text, IM, why don’t you try talking to her first for a change ? It’s thoughtful & sweet if a guy can actually do that.

Surprise her. You don’t have to drive an hour to her house at 3 a.m. to set off her name in fireworks in front of her window, but the little things are big things. A simple, good morning text, is more powerful than you think.

What insecurities ? For the love of God, all girls have insecurities. Please don’t point them out. For example, today I was looking at food & my boyfriend said “You eat a lot. You probably could beat me at a buffet.” WHAT. THAT’S NOT WHAT YOU SAY. Also, let her be herself. If she’s having a bad hair day, don’t make fun of her if it’s hurtful. Let her wear sweatpants & still feel pretty damn cute around you, even when she’s not looking her best.

Act the same around your friends. You’re not a real man if you completely blow off your girl in front of your homeboys. When you’re going to hang out with her & your friends you better not run off & leave her standing there to greet them like WUDDUPPP GUYSSS.. NO, you better at least walk with her & introduce her to them if you haven’t already. If you walk with her hand in hand, she’ll love it.

When she’s mad. Dude, you better try & get her back. Chase her, whatever it is, don’t let her walk away when she’s mad at you. It shows you don’t care enough to go after her. Don’t let her go.

One & Only. If your girl really doesn’t like one of your friends, trust, she has good reason to. Girls’ intuition -shrug- So don’t go hanging with your homegirl all the time if you know your girlfriend doesn’t like that bitch. She usually won’t hate for no reason. Respect her.

Trust. Honesty. If you lie to her, you’re going to have one hell of a time regaining that trust because she’ll start questioning everything you’ve said or done for her, no matter how small that lie was. Fess up or get lost.

Love her. That’s all

december 23, 2010

i was in the holding area while waiting for my next case as a scrub nurse, when a STAT case was suddenly endorsed to me by an ER nurse.

patient on a strecher and i, helping out the ER nurse and the clinical aide in pulling the stretcher in, stared at each other for few seconds…

*patient: kilala kita e…kilala kita!
*me: ms.D!
*patient: jocell!
*me: (tomooo!) haha..yes, cantos po!
*patient: oo nga..tama! sabi na kilala kita e!

glad she still recognized me even with my cap and mask on!

*ER nurse: magkakilala kayo ni mam?
*me: yea! adviser ko sya nung high school!
*ER nurse: ahh talaga? wow! ang saya naman! oo nga sabi nga ni mam principal sya!

oops! i didn’t know! i was surprised too!
wayback SY 1999-2000 teacher aida was our class adviser then… 1st year St. Vincent de Paul.
i just can’t imagine how fast time flies. i miss the surprise quizzes…
“maglabas ng 1/2 crosswise… itupi sa gitna, bilangan ng 1-10 sa unang hati, 10-20 sa kabila. sa likod ng papel muna tayo… gumuhit ng tatsulok at palibutan ng bilog, etc…”
i also miss the daily “sermons”… “Vincent… Vincent… Vincent!!!”

well, all these things paid off. DISCIPLINE..the thing she taught us that we’ll surely never unlearn. MARTIAL LAW, ika nga!haha!

2 of her vincentians are at AHMC actually. one is me at the OR, the other is karen at MS-ICU.

sayang she didn’t get to meet karen before the surgery,i just didn’t know if they met afterwards. pero ok na rin, thankful na rin at least di sya sa ICU naadmit! hahaha!

it was such a pleasure serving back a person whom i once considered as my second mom. get well soon, teacher aida (Ms. D)!

nagkamali yata ako ng off.haha! as a new staff nurse in a big institution, monday to friday pa dapat ang schedule ko. and yes, i just resigned again from my previous employer after a BIG tour. pero siguro hindi naman ako nagkamai kasi yung ever-all nurse manager naman namin ang nagsabi na off na ako that day kasi susundan ko daw dapat ang schedule ng preceptor ko. i was just questioned by someone the following day. anyway, i really had so much fun with that sudden rest day. buti na lang din sira ang reception ko ng Globe at empty batt ang isa kong celphone kaya walang makacontact sa akin. nagpatawag pala kasi ng meeting sa hospital at dapat lahat ay present.kung sakaling nareceive ko agad yung message, malamang ay hindi ako nakasama. lol

Thursday morning, galing pa akong duty na sobrang toxic! kahit pa sabihing may preceptor ako, di naman ako maturuan kasi bukod sa officer-in-charge sya for the shift, ang dami pang cases sa operating room! Thursday night, my mom, my bro & i visited my tita staying in a hotel just nearby, pambawi lang sa katoxican ko for the day. she just came from the Land Down Under with her 3-month-old baby. pagdating namin sa reception hall, nasalubong agad namin yung mga pinsan kong, as usual, nagbo-boyhunting naggagala, namely jerene and keena. umakyat muna kami sa unit ng hotel then maya-maya ng kaunti ay umalis na rin para magdinner at maggala within the area. after the dinner, humiwalay mnuna kami…siinundan ko lang ang mga pinan ko at nagulat ako upon witnessing this scenario…

after nun, dun na lang ako nagstay sa hotel since nandun na lang din mga pinsan ko na minsan ko na lang makasama at malamang may gala ulit kami the following day. balak din kasi bumisita sa Fantasy World sa Tagaytay for some business matters, pero nauwi sa foodtrip at Taal Boatride!

after that, diretso kami ng Sonya’s Garden. masyado na kasing late kaya nagtour na lang kami around the place.

ang saya ng adventure lalo kung katulad nitong mga sudden lakads!

thank you, tita avegail!

had an inspirational talk with two of the Cantos-Demafelix “BIGGIES”…
Tita Jocelyn & Tito Andoy!

Tita Jocelyn…
a CPA, MA in taxation, Nevada, Las Vegas
The Venetian… Las Vegas & Macau
Marina Bay Sands Hotel… Singapore

Tito Andoi
Nurse Practitioner
Good Samaritan Hospital (?), California, USA
I’m not that familiar about his achievements in concrete details… yet the best part of his job I really like is his free travels for conferences around the world!!! hahaha

…both have achieved a lot in their own professions, but despite their success, what really captured my heart to look up to them is their humility and compassionate hearts.

I would never regret having the two of you as my roommates during our Malaysian tour!!! I actually wished for it, thinking I could have missed half of my life without this experience…and it just happened! God’s will!

I really really had a great time with you both. It could have been more fun if we stayed a little longer together. However, we can never change the fact that we have greater responsibilities to partake and prioritize..and yes, that fact made me feel I’m one of the biggies too! hahahaha… Oh well, soon enough… ??

Hoping for another moment like this…super inspiring!

Sorry if I can’t help but feel bad about what you just did. Wag ka sanang magalit sa akin kung ganito man ako mag-isip… di mo rin ako masisisi. Napapansin kong defense mechanism mo na lamang ang maggalit-galitan magalit para hindi ko na ungkatin pa ang mga pangyayari. Hayaan mo, sinusubukan ko pa ring magpakatanga sa abot ng aking makakaya, in such a way na palilipasin ko na lamang ang mga pagkakataong ito ng ako pa ang hihingi ng paumanhin. Pakatandaan mo lamang na darating din ang panahon at maiintindihan mo rin kung anong nararamdaman ko… in one way or another…

Marami na rin akong natutunan at masasabi kong malaki ang inimprove ko simula ng ako’y mapasok dito. Ngunit dahil sa isang pangyayaring di inaasahan, na wala naman kaming kinalaman ngunit kami ngayon ang magdudusa pati na rin ang maiiwan naming co-staff nurses, ay kinakailangan na naming umalis sa aming posisyon para maka-cope up ang ospital sa mga financial problems nito kahit may isang bagong malaking building na pinapatayo at higit pa sa doble ng dating size ang OR na pinaplano at ayon nga sa isang core group na malapit sa akin ay may sumesweldong mga tauhan na ang 1 week na sweldo ay katumbas ng 1 month habang kami’y magdudusa na naman sa paghanap ng trabaho sa panahon na freeze hiring ang mga ospital.
Lubos akong natutuwa dahil napagtanto ko kung sino ang mga may pagpapahalaga at concern sa mga tulad kong probationary na mareregular na sana na biglang tatanggalin sa trabaho dahil sa mga pangyayari. Pinagsubmit na ang aming batch ng resignation letter effective May 10, 2009. Pag hindi pa raw kami makakapagsubmit within that week na tinext kami para gumawa ng letter ay termination na ang katumbas. Dahil sa takot ko na rin sa tindi ng pangangailangan ko sa working experience ay nagsubmit agad ako kinabukasan. Ngunit nung sumunod na araw ay ipinatawag ako ulit ng Nursing Office para baguhin ang nilagay kong reason sa aking pag-alis.

Ito ay parte ng original resignation letter ko:

…filing my resignation as a staff nurse in this hospital effective May 10, 2009 due to some hospital matters that were vividly discussed to our batch hired last November 2008…

At dahil sa damay ang ospital sa ginawa kong letter which is so true, pinarevise nila sa akin.  Sabi pa nga gumawa na lang ako ng sarili kong reason, wag na idamay ang ospital na syang ginawa na ng karamihan ng aking batchmates sa trabaho. Ang iba sa kanila ay nilagay na magmamasteral, magmemedicine, chuva ek-ek…na wala naman akong balak gawin dahil ni minsan ay di pa yun tumawid sa isip ko!

Wala akong magagawa kundi irevise na lang ng ganito:

…filing my resignation as a staff nurse in this hospital effective May 10, 2009 due to some inevitable circumstances that urged me to do so…

Dali-dali na rin ako umalis pagkapasa ko nyan, sabay papirma ng clearance sa chief nurse! haha! Ayaw ko na baguhin pa ito. Napaka-unfair kung hindi ni la tatanggapin ang totoong reason. Pinababaw ko na nga at ginawang malabo ang reason ko na yan. Isa pa, kailangan ko habulin ang iba ko pang papipirmahin sa clearance habang ako’y antok na antok dahil kagagaling ko lamang sa 6pm-6am shift noon at hinintay ko pa ang 9am para lamang maabutang bukas ang office, partida pa duty pa ako ulit 6p nung araw ding yon!

Isa pang dagdag sa pahirap sa amin ang pagpapapirma ng clearance kung saan lahat ng department heads ay hahagilapin namin para lamang magpapirma. Ang mahirap pa nito, iba-iba ang schedules nila. Di tuloy ako makapagsimulang mag-apply sa ibang hospitals dahil kailangan ko ang clearance, kahit hindi na muna ang certificate of employment. At hanggang ngayon hindi ko pa tapos ito…oh hindi!!!

Ngunit dahil sa clearance na ito, na malamang na ako ang nangungunang magpapirma, marami sa department heads ang nagtatanong kung bakit ako aalis, kung saang bansa ako tutungo….haay wish ko lang di ba! Sa dami nila e balak ko na sanang irecord na lang ang explanation ko sa tape at i-play na lamang ito bago ako magpapirma. Ngunit dahil routine na ang kanilang mga katanungan ay parang nababawasan na rin unti-unti ang dinadamdam kong sudden pag-alis. Nagugulat na lamang ako sa kanilang mga reaksyon sa tuwing nagpapaliwanag ako. Halos lahat sila ay nagbibigay ng payo sa akin at nagpapahiwatig ng kanilang concern sa tulad ko pati na rin ang poot sa mga nagdesisyon na kami’y paalisin. Nakakahipo (nakaka-tats!LOL) ang mga reaction nila kahit na nung huli ko silang nakita ay nung orientation pa lamang namin. Marami sa kanila ay naluluha imbes na ako ang maluha. Hanggang sa iiwan ko na lamang silang teary-eyed pag ako’y magpapaalam na dahil duty pa ako o pauwi na ako from night shift at isinisingit ko lamang ang aking pagpapapirma ng clearance sa schedule ko. Wala lang, nakakatuwang isipin na sila pa yung concern talaga kaysa sa mga taong nagdesisyon nito na mas madalas naming nakakasalamuha.

Ano pa nga bang magagawa ko? Malamang mag-aapply sa iba upang magsimulang muli. Pero dahil sa pangyayaring ito, may bigla akong naalala…

Nung magpapasa pa lamang ako ng resume at mga kung anu-ano pang requirements sa ospital na ito, sinabi ko sa sarili ko at kay Little Man  na hindi ako magtatagal dito kung ako ay maha-hire. Kukuha lamang ako ng experience, mga 3-6 months lamang at ako’y mag-aapply sa mas malalaking ospital dahil mas pinaprioritize nila ang may working experience na. Mas gusto ko kasing magtrabaho sa mga malalaking ospital dahil bukod sa makinang ang dating ng aking resume pag nag-appply sa ibang bansa ay challenging din ang duty dito at mas marami pa akong matutunan dahil sa mas makabagong facilities na ginagamit nila dito.

Bigla akong kinilabutan sa aking naalalang iyon matapos kaming kausapin ng aming mahal na bisor. Imbes na maging malungkot at damdamin ang mga pangyayari, humalo bigla ang galak at sabik para sa aking tinatahak na landas, na mistulang kinalabit ni Little Man at nagsasabing, “Joan, hindi ba’t ito ang iyong balak nung simula pa lamang?”

Naniniwala akong everything cetainly happens for a reason. Marahil ay hindi ko pa alam kung bakit ito nangyayari sa akin sa ngayon, basta’t ang alam ko lamang ay laging nasa tabi ko si Little Man na laging gumagabay sa akin at kumakalabit kapag naiiba ang aking landas sa aming plano.

hanapin nyo ako! hahaha!

The previous week had been such a horrible one for me…particularly last..errr can’t remember the exact date.Of course it’s another hit at work. T’was another toxic day sa area namin. Mid-afternoon, nasa DR ako to help, then sinabihan ako na maglunch na muna, so naglakad ako palabas & since may nadaanan ako na naanticipate kong kailangan ng help sa isang case, I offered a hand.

During lunch, tinanong kami ni sup kung sino assigned sa Recovery Room (RR). 3 of us were assigned & since toxic yung cases, wala sa amin ang nasa RR bukod sa Tagaytay trainees. Dumaan naman ako dun, mukhang ok naman kasi marami sila kaya pumunta muna ako sa OR suites to help out. Napagsabihan tuloy kaming 3 kasi wala man lang daw tao sa RR. Kinausap ako ng isa sa aming 3, tinanong ako kung bakit wala ako sa RR. Sabi ko tumutulong din ako sa ibang case & inexplain ko na may tao naman don nung dumaan ako. Nag-make face sya, dapat daw may isang staff namin ang nandon. So, ok noted…

After lunch, sa DR na ako tumulong since wala ng patients sa RR. Natapos yung isang case & since wala ng sunod pang case, or kung meron man ay may bakanteng suite pa rin, don sa isang suite na nag-RR. Tanaw na tanaw ko na marami ang labas-masok sauite na yun, so I assumed na binabantayan at minomonitor talaga ang patient.

May nagdoorbell sa DR, pagkabukas ko, isang doctor, tinatanong kung pwede na itransfer sa room ang patient. So tinanong ko yung isa sa mga malapit sa suite kung pwede na, sabi nya pwede na nga raw, nirelay ko sa kay doc na nagdoorbell then balik ako sa DR.

Parang ang tagal na, di pa rin nilalabas yung patient. Inulit ko sa kanya, niremind ko na ilalabas na sabi nya. Oo daw. ako na raw magtrans-out. Di na ako tumanggi. Naalala ko kasi isa akong junior at kailangan kong sumunod sa aking senior. Kahit wala akong idea kung anong nangyari sa patient sa RR e pumayag na rin ako na ako na lang magtrans-out, pero syempre nireview ko muna yung doctor’s orders.

Nung nasa bedside na ako sa room ng patient sa isang malayong station sa kabilang building, napansin ko na wala yung RR sheet kung saan nakasulat yung vital signs na basehan na pwede ng itrans-out ang patient. iniwan ko muna yung chart & nagpaalam sa staff sa ward, sabi ko may naiwan lang ako. Mabait naman sila sa akin, sabi ok lang daw, “take your time,” ika nga nila.

Bumalik ako para kunin ang inaakala kong naiwan kong mahalagang document. Hinanap ko sa mga tao na pabalik-balik sa OR suite kung saan nagstay ang patient. Nagulat ako at nag-init ang ulo nang malaman kong wala palang gumawa ng RR sheet at di namonitor ang vital signs ng isang pasyenteng katatapos lamang operahan. Ang sabi pa sa akin, common sense lang daw, gumawa na lang ako. Kumustahin naman natin ang pag-imbento ng vital signs ng isang pediatric patient sa critical na condition na hindi ko man lang nasulyapan bukod sa pagtrans-out ko sa kanya. Super saya!

Bumalik ako sa station sa ward para mag-endorse at sabi ko to follow na lang ang RR sheet. Nakakahiya dahil ang dating e hindi ko nagawa ng maayos ang trabaho ko. Though medyo may katotohanan dahil dapat sinigurago ko muna na kumpleto ang documents ko before magtrans-out, di ko pa rin matanggap na ako lang ang dapat sisihin.

Pagbalik ko sa area namin, kinausap ko ang isa sa mga nakita kong nagbantay…tinanong ko kung wala talagang gumawa ng RR sheet e mahigit 2 oras na ang pasyente na nagstay doon. Wala daw. Dapat pag daw nakita kong kulang ang documents ay ako na lamang ang magfill kung ano man ang kulang. Vital signs yun dude! Pedia pa na malalang case! Di lang pala nurse ang trabaho ko…inventor pa.

Biglang lumapit ang isa ko pang kasama na nakaassign sa RR, nakikibalita kung ano ang nangyari.

RRnurse2: “Anong nangyari? anong chismis dyan?”
Me: “Wala po, ok na.”
RRnurse2: “Sige lang, sabihin nyo na..”
Me: “Kasi po walang gumawa ng RR sheet…akala ko ginawa na nila. nagtrans-out na ako, kala ko nakalimutan ko lang. Pagbalik ko para kunin yun, wala naman palang gumawa, kaya tinatanong ko rin kung anong naobserve nilang vitaql signs.”
RRnurse2: “Kasi naman trabaho mo rin yan, nakaassign ka rin sa RR, dapat tumulong ka! Wag mong inaaway yang si *RRnurse1*…senior mo na yan, mas matagal sya dito kaysa sayo. Ganun lang talaga dahil ikaw e junior lang. Ang bait-bait ni *RRnurse1* e, aawayin mo! Di ka dapat nag-uutos sa kanya…ikaw ang dapat nyang utusan!”…sabay irap at talikod sa kin.

At dahil dyan, wala na akong magagawa kundi mag-imbento ng vitals ng isang critical patient…
Maya-maya pa, may lumapit na doctor sa station, mainit ang ulo…sa ibang case naman sya.

RRnurse2: “Doc, ok ka lang?…Mainit ang ulo ni doc e. Parang si *RRnurse1*, mainit din ang ulo dahil dyan..”..sabay turo sa akin ng harap-harapan.

Bukod sa RR, assigned din ako sa Fast-Moving drugs (FM) inventory. Si RRnurse1 naman ay assigned sa Narcotic drugs. Mainit pa rin ang ulo namin sa isa’t-isa noon, ramdam ko. Heto na ang mga 6P-6A na shift…

6Pnurse1: “Hi! Sabi ni *RRnurse2* patuloy daw ng charting nya sa DR. Pero sige gawin mo na muna yan, after na lang nyan.”
Me: “OK, thanks *6Pnurse1*!”

Kumustahin naman natin ulit si RRnurse2…nakikipagchikahan lang dun sa station sa labas at aghahanda ng pauwi samantalang kami ni RRnurse1 e may gagawin pa. Ang malala pa, inutos pa sa akin yung nasimulan nyang gawain na on a legal basis, illegal ang gagawin ko kung ganon dahil legal documentation ang inuutos nya sa akin. Kumbaga, nasimulan nya, dapat tapusin nya, hindi dapat ituloy ng kung sino. Sa pagkakataong ito, maaari akong tumanggi, ngunit di ko na lang ginawa dahil sya ay aking SENIOR at ako’y isang hamak na JUNIOR lamang nya kaya wala dapat akong palag…yan ang pinamukha nya sa akin moments ago then. Sinunod ko na lang din ang utos nya kaysa naman lalo pang uminit sa akin ang ulo nya. Ayaw ko rin ng masasabihan ng tamad…kasi mas bagay syang sabihan non kaysa sa akin..

Nang matapos ko na ang lahat ng aking mga gawain, Pumunta ako sa station sa labas para ibalik yung charges na ginamit ko para sa FM & para rin magprint ng OT form since nasa labas na station yung computer namin sa area. Nang biglang…
ORnurse2: “*RRnurse1*! *RRnurse1*! Tara na, uwi na tayo! Bilisan mo na dyan..”

Umalis sya at bumalik muli, tila nagpaparinig sa akin na tinatawag na naman si RRnurse1 at ako ay ni hindi nya niyayaya. Keber naman…sanay naman ako magstay pa at di muna agad umuwi. Isa pa, iba naman ang way nila sa way ko pauwi.

Dinagdagan pa nya ng…

RRnurse2: “*6Pnurse1*, patapos na lang ng charting ko sa DR ha!!!”
6Pnurse1: “Tinapos na po ni Joann!”

Wala syang reaction & dali-dali na lang umalis.

Nang paalis na si RRnurse1, hinabol ko sya to apologize.

Me: “*RRnurse1*, sorry po kanina ha… Nililinaw ko lang naman kung may RR sheet & tinatanong ko VS nung patient na naobserve nyo kasi di ko po talaga nahandle yung patient kaya ni hindi ko nasulyapan man lang kahit as basis man lang, pedia pa man din yun.”
RRnurse1: “Hindi, ok na yun, wala na, tapos na yun. pasensya na rin mainit lang ulo ko kanina. Hindi ko rin masyado nakita yung patient kasi si *RRnurse2* talaga ang ang may handle sa kanya.”

So lumabas din ang katotohanan…kaya pala nya pinagtatanggol si RRnurse1 ay dahil sya naman pala ang may kasalanan.

Kinabukasan, magkaduty ulit kami ni RRnurse1.

RRnurse1: “O, kumusta ka na?”
Me: “OK naman po. Pasensya na talaga kahapon ha?”
RRnurse1: “Wala na yun. Kalimutan na lang natin. Ganon lang talaga si *RRnurse2*, madami nga nagrereklamo sa kanya kasi madalas hindi nya tinatapos ang trabaho
Me: “Sa akin pa nga rin po nya pinatapos yung charting nya sa DR kahapon na nasimulan na nya e. Wala naman syang ginagawa sa station sa labas, nakikipagkwentuhan lang habang nag-iinventory tayo kagabi ng narcotics & FM. Nagreready na lang sya pauwi.”
RRnurse1: “Ganon?? Tsk! Kita mo na… Nasasanay sya ng ganon e. ‘Wag mo gagayahin yon ha. ipagpatuloy mo lang na tatapusin mo ang trabaho mo before ka umuwi. Kasi di ba, nakakainis naman kung kunwari ikaw ang kaendorse nya dapat tapos hindi naman tapos yung trabaho nya?”
Me: “Oo nga po e. Never din naman ako nagmadaling umuwi. OK lang sa akin magstay lalo na pag di pa tapos ang trabaho ko.”

Nang araw ding yon, 6P na ang shift nya. 6A pa rin ako so sya ang kaendorse ko. Buti na lang at may midwife doon at sya na ang nag-endorse sa kanya. Nandon din ako habang ineendorse ngunit ako’y busy-busyhan sa aking charting aside from the fact na ayaw ko sya talaga kausapin, ni ayaw ko nga syang lingunin, dahil masama pa ang loob ko sa kanya. Hindi pa ulit kami nagkakaduty for several days now. Tomorrow & on the following day, kaduty ko sya…so goodluck na lang sa amin.

I know for a fact na ang trabaho ay trabaho lamang. Ang mga di magandang pangyayari during work ay hindi dapat manatili para sa teamwork especially sa area namin wherein teamwork is really necessary. However, sa mga naganap nung araw na yon at mga sumunod pang mga araw, hindi na trabaho lamang ang issue na ito. Naging one-sided sya nung pinakinggan ang kwento namin ni RRnurse1, bukod pa rito ay pinersonal nya ang issue. Wala na sa amin ni RRnurse1 ang issue, ngunit buhay pa rin para sa kanya, at pinalaki pa dahil malamang ay kinwento na nya sa iba.

Salamat na lamang sa mga kasamahan din naming marunong makinig na nafeel ko ng todo ang concern. Siguro kung ngayon ay two months from now na, most probably aalis na din ako sa area namin, particularly sa hospital where I’m currently employed in, mamimiss ko sila for sure… department heads, co-staff nurses, midwives, most esp. sa orderlies namin, except sa ‘yo RRnurse2!

Since ang two months ay medyo may katagalan pa rin, marami pang possibleng mangyari. Magkaayos pa kaya tayo? Possible!..Kung possible ding mababago ang approach mo sa  isang tulad kong hamak na JUNIOR lamang…why not?!

Sample pic ba?

staff nurses with the creepy RRnurse2

It had been eons since we’ve been together
Yet you still recognize us; even our fullnames you get to remember;
Aside from your good eyesight, you’re such a graceful dancer;
These things made me proud as your great granddaughter.

Even if some of the stories between us remain untold,
I know you’re the root of everything that had me mold.
Whatever reason God brought us in this world,
This instance made me realize that time is really gold.

Very ironic it is that only time can tell;
Peerless moments with you are jewels we could never sell.
Even now as we all bid you our last farewell,
Forever in our hearts you’ll dwell.

Farewell our dear GREAT GRANDMOTHER, Cristina "LOLANG BATANGAS" Cantos-Clarete. Delight yourself with the presence of the Lord. We'll miss you.