I was so inspired today that I could not wait for our Adobe PS to be installed any longer . Our PC went totally insane and it’s not working properly that’s why my brother reformats it weekly. Haha! Because I missed digiscrapping, I just went to scrapblog to do my thing. Hehe!

TJ and I will be celebrating our *insert number here* monthsary on the 21st. For the past few days, we’ve been through a lot but I can say that those things happened made our relationship even stronger. You see, I thought I won’t find my prince. I thought that I’ll just daydream for the rest of my life. But I’m glad he came into my life…

Our relationship is actually my dream relationship. Both our parents know about us. It’s like a perfect relationship. No one, I think, is against us. Everybody seems to be happy for both of us. A big WOW. I am really thankful for having him in my life. I know right. This post is so cheesy. I used to blog in my love blog about him and everything that happens between us but I decided to blog about him now in my main blog to officially introduce him to my loyal readers, if I have any. Haha!

I met him online and I found out that he has a crush on me. And we were like texting each other but I never thought that I would like him because I used to HATE him. I hated him that I wanted to tear him into pieces! Haha! Then one day, he confessed his love for me. At first I did not believe him because I know that anyone can lie thru text or online. Right? But when we finally met each other in person, that’s the time that I realized and felt that he’s really sincere.

I fell in love with him when he actually faced my parents last December 17. It was brave of him to do that because I know that most of our parents do not like us to deal with people whom we met online. I was surprised that my parents accepted him wholeheartedly. They actually like him for me. =)

I have so much to tell about him but I know that the space is not enough. There you go. Meet TJ. Hehe! I know he will be surprised about this entry. Haha! Let’s wait for his reaction. =D

You know, there is one thing that TJ taught me within those months that we have been together. And that is: Love comes in your life unexpectedly and when you have finally found that person for you, do not let him/her go.

I think I am hired. Haha! What a stupid statement.

A few hours ago, I went to Caritas for my final interview. I waited for an hour and as usual, I just spent my time talking to a fellow applicant who’s also a registered nurse like me who can not find a job in our desired place - the hospital.

When the interviewer came, he asked me about my location, my health and etc. He told me that their medical division is subdivided into three offices: claims department, call center and clinics. Since the clinics have no vacancies yet, I have to choose between the two: claims department and call center. I told him that I prefer working in the claims department because I don’t like working in a call center as I have told in my previous entry. He advised me a lot of things like adapting to the working environment, being courteous and adjusting with my fellow future office mates. Their company doesn’t like prima donna people. I told him that I am very flexible and versatile and regarding the attitude, they won’t encounter any attitude related problem with me because I, myself, know that I am a responsible and hard working person. I seldom complain about my job. I only complain if I know that there are unjustifiable things going around.

My interviewer asked me to go back tomorrow and wait for their call for my seminar and physical exam. Actually, what scares me the most is the physical exam. Haha! Because I am a sickly person and I worry about the results of my labs. I hope I’ll pass it tomorrow because I was told that if I am clear, I can start working by Monday. =)

My shift would be from 8 in the morning till 5 in the afternoon but since I am a newbie I should expect that I’ll be asked for a 2 hour overtime and I told him that I am willing to take it. That’s only 2 hours, at least I get paid. Hehe!

So much for my job hunt update. Before I leave, I just wanna say two things which is related to my course. First of all to all nurse bloggers, please stop posting pics from the OR, DR or any wards you’ve taken while you are on duty especially if your patients are in those pictures. I’ve heard and seen about this news on radio and TV when DOH found a multiply account that is full of hospital duty pics. You know that it is against the rights of the patients - right for privacy and confidentiality. It’s okay to blog about your experiences in the hospitals but do not forget about ethics part in our profession. Your patients did not give you the authority to post pics so please respect them. If you have noticed, my blog contains only a few of my pics in the hospital because our clinical instructors did not allow us to take pictures while on duty. Now you know the rationale behind.

Second, if you are a nursing student or a graduating nursing student, you have to open your eyes and mind in the reality that it is HARD to look for a job here in our country. I am not trying to say that we should all go leave our country. It’s not that. What I am trying to point out is that you should not take everything for granted. Work and strive hard for your future. Do your best in your academics especially in the board exam. When I was in college, I thought my grades would matter in the hospitals. It’s just so disappointing that their requirement is the board rating. I do understand that part but what about my grades I have worked hard for? I wish the government, Board of Nursing and Philippine Nurse’s Association would do something about this. My friends and I were talking about the system in the board exams and in the hiring process of the hospitals. We think that it would be much better if the grading system in the board exam is like in the NCLEX. No numbers or figures; only PASSED, NEARLY PASSED or FAILED. At least, there would be no discrimination in hiring nurses. What they should also consider in hiring is the grade or general weighted average of the student/applicant in his or her college years. If these hospitals only focus on the result of our two-day exam, all our sacrifices and hardships in those four years of studying nursing is useless. Admit it, all nursing students think that they should study hard in order for them to be accepted in the hospitals. I am not saying that they should not strive for the board exam. I am not saying that they should not do or try their best to top the board exam. Give chances to those nurses who did their best and made their mommas proud for the past four years. Assess him/her through his or her performance. Their are hundreds of nurses who can’t find a job in the hospital. There are a lot of registered nurses who are working in a field that is out of his or her line of profession. I hope someday, these people sitting on their soft office chairs in the senate or congress would do something about it.

I voiced this out because every time I apply or go out and meet unemployed registered nurses, these are the things that I usually hear. I wish and I pray that a there will be a solution for this huge problem. Don’t blame us for taking up this course. Some of us took it because we think that this will help us succeed, while some of us think it is our calling to help and inspire people. As for me, I first took it because of monetary reason but as time went by, I realized that this is my calling and that this is my opportunity to help and to inspire.

Please support Xyla De Vera by clicking on the image and look for the word NURSECISSISM. Thank you!

And oh, please support my favorites too!
The princess in jeans by Catherine for Best Written Blog
Liza’s Online Journal by Liza for Best Written Blog
Stereo-love.co.cc by Gyk for Best Blog Design
xsabrina.chic productions by Sabrina for Best Blog Design
Juicelog by Darwin for Best Boy’s Blog

Haha. My title is so random-ish. Anyways, let’s go to the updates.

About my brother
He’s graduating tomorrow! Yipee! As his “ate”, I am really proud of him because he made it this far. What makes me more proud of him is that he was able to find a job easily. He’s actually hired already. Shame on me, he got hired first than me. LOL. He also grabbed the 2nd place, together with his classmate, in the web designing competition in Makati. I envy him because his school made a banner for him and his classmate about their achievement. Wow. I never experienced seeing my name in a big tarpaulin!

Congratulations to my brother for finishing his studies. You don’t know how much joy you have given to our parents and also to your ate. I am really proud of you, Nat! =)

About mama
Tomorrow is Mother’s day. =) So Happy Mother’s Day to my one and only mama. She has gone through a lot of trials and I admire her for being tough and faithful. She’s the one who taught me that every time I encounter problems, I just have to hold on to God because He is the only one who can help us in times of trouble. Mama has been there for me every time I am down. She understands what I am going through especially when I got really depressed about my career, and health. I have mentioned in my entry before that she cried when I was about to go to the O.R. for my operation. I was really touched when I heard her crying. I know that she really loves me and my other siblings. She sacrificed her work just to take care of me (I was her only child then) because she doesn’t want her kids to grow up with a nanny. She wants to do the hands-on work of a mother.

I know that I have done a lot of mistakes, mama, but I really want to know that I love you so much. And I wish and hope that when I become a mom, I will be like you and I will be able to raise up my own kids just the way you raised us up. I am so thankful for having a loving, caring and supportive mama. Happy mother’s day!

About my soon-to-be work
First of all, I want to thank those people who made comments about my previous blog. So here is my update: I am not pursuing my health care associate career. Haha! I learned that the job description I was told in another company was totally different in HTMT. I am still considered a customer service representative. It’s just that I am under the health care account. When I was called for the call simulation, I really didn’t know what to do. What do you expect? I have no call center experience and I was asked to do this call simulation thing. Of course, I flunked in my call simulation. Hahaha! I was surprised when the HR lady told me that I was about to proceed to my final interview but she can not endorse me because of my call simulation. I still have to retake it. Why am I always asked to retake an exam?! LOL. So AJ, the sort-of-cute HR guy, gave me the schedule of my retake which I really do not plan to take it anymore because I was so disappointed about my job there. I don’t like it. So yeah, I backed out.

Then last Thursday, I was about to leave for my hospital hopping when the HR lady in Caritas Health Shield, Inc. texted me for an interview. Yey! Another interview! I went there and I successfully passed my initial interview. The doctor who interviewed me told me that I will be accepted in their company. It’s just that I won’t be able to use what I have learned in school for the mean time because there are no vacancies for nurses as of the moment. They will put me in the business accounting department and all I have to do is to encode stuffs. I accepted the offer since the contract is only for five months. So while waiting for the openings in the hospital or in their clinic, I can work and earn, right? At least, I won’t be called a professional bum anymore. Hehe.

My final interview would be on Monday. It would probably about the orientation and endorsement thing so hopefully, I will get hired on Monday. =) Wish me luck!

About my neglected blog
I am so happy that I was included in the semifinalists for the 2008 Candy Teen Blog Awards. Although I got sad a bit that I didn’t get in under the Best Over All Blog. But that’s okay. I can save up for that laptop. Haha!

Anyways, I am asking for your support. If you think I deserve to win the People’s Choice Award, please vote for me here. Look for NURSECISSISM. Choose and vote. If you want to vote for me every thirty minutes and every time you are online, that would really be great! You can also vote through texting. Just text CANDY BLOG AWARDS NURSECISSISM then send it to 2948.

I hope you can also plug my blog in your blogs by putting this code in your sidebars:
<center><a href="http://candymag.com/blogawards/vote" target="_blank"><img src="http://img392.imageshack.us/img392/3748/support01kw1.png" border="0"></a><br /><strong>Please support <a href="http://nursecissism.com">Xyla De Vera</a> by clicking on the image and look for the word NURSECISSISM. Thank you!</strong></center>

It will look like this:

Please support Xyla De Vera by clicking on the image and look for the word NURSECISSISM. Thank you!

Thank you in advance. I really hope that I would win this time. If not, at least I got in. =)

Last Thursday, I received a text message from Jobstreet that I have an interview today at a call center that I have applied in. An hour before I received the message, I was scheduled by a recruitment company for an interview on the same day of my appointment in the other call center. I thought that maybe I could attend both because the first one is scheduled at 9 am while the other one is at 1 pm.

What I didn’t know is that I would be spending my whole day in Hinduja TMT for the interview, skills exam and other tests. Actually, I just got home from my interview. It was really tiring. I passed my initial interview. My interviewer asked me about my leisure time and I told her that I web design. Guess what, she was so amazed! Haha! She told me to take my lunch first because I will proceed to the second interview.

There were a lot of applicants today. Most of them are newly registered nurses who can not find their desired jobs since there are no vacancies in most of the hospitals here in Metro Manila. I met new friends. But I failed to get their numbers because we were all so busy (and anxious) with the exams. Some of them didn’t make it, while the others moved to the next “round” like me. =)

I thought I would be interviewed for the second time. I was surprised that the HR lady guided me to the computer room. I took a lot of tests in that room: speaking and listening tests, IQ tests, and grammar test. I saw my other co-applicants being tested with their typing skills. When I prepared for it after my listening test, the sort-of-cute HR guy (Haha!) called and told me that I have to come back tomorrow for my phone simulation. It’s like a phone interview thing but it’s done within the company’s premises.

You see, I really do not like to apply in a call center but I applied for the Health Care Associate position. It’s like you are a caregiver online, a customer service representative who gives medical advices of some sort. I applied for that position because I think this would help me improve my interacting skills like what I told the first interviewer. Another thing, I can not stand being a bum anymore. It’s so hard to apply in the hospitals right now. There are times that I regret taking the NCLEX and declining the positions offered in the hospital last year. But I know it is too late to regret. Everything happens for a reason that is why no matter how many failures I encounter, I still stand up and move on.

I feel that my parents do not like the position I have applied for but behind their frustrations, I know that they understand my situation. I want to be more productive rather than just staying at home. In time, I’ll be able to get the position that my heart desires. I just need to be patient.

For the mean time, in case I’ll get hired, I’ll just be contented with this job, appreciate it and prolly love it.

So if you are working and planning to resign for a very shallow reason, think again. There are thousands of people who are unemployed and who are willing to die just to get hired. Value it and thank the Lord for giving you a work.

Haha! Thanks to GMA7 for my entry title.

I think everyone’s summer vacation would not be complete without going on a road trip, spend a day in a very cool and awesome place and just unwind and have some fun under the heat of the sun. And I thank my parents for treating us in Water Camp Resort last Saturday.

Actually, we have been planning this since my dad’s birthday but we always ended up postponing it. I was surprised last Friday when my mom told me that we were going. My brother asked if we can invite our friends. My mom agreed but she told us to invite one friend only. Of course, I invited my boyfriend, TJ. <3

Since TJ lives an hour away from us, my parents told me that he could sleep here because we planned to leave the house at 5:30 in the morning. My brother and sister, on the other hand, would just pick their girlfriend and best friend, respectively, at 5:00 am since they just live near our house. So TJ went here the night before and slept in my room. Haha! I know what you are thinking. I actually do not sleep in my own room anymore because it has turned into a guest’s room. Greg, the 12 year old assistant of my mom, sleeps there. I sleep now together with my siblings in my old parents’ room because it is air-conditioned. Haha!

I set my cellphone to alarm at 4:00 but I did not wake up at the said time. I woke up thirty minutes after. Was I that tired? (I was busy the whole day preparing our foods for our escapade, that’s why.) Know what time we left the house? It was 6 am. I knew it! I knew it!

Fastforward to Water Camp. The resort ran out of huts so we availed two tables instead. After we have put our things and foods, we started to prepare and grilled the foods before swimming. We grilled hotdogs with pineapple chunks, kebab, marinated porkchop, and burger that looked like meatballs when cooked (Haha!). We also had adobo and fried chicken and other junk foods. The foods were all delicious. I ate a lot of green bell peppers! Haha! I put a lot of green bell pepper in kebab but they did not eat it and just gave it to me. LOL. I did not complain because I love green bell pepper. Weird, huh?

I do not know how to swim so I was clinging to TJ all the time when we were in the 5-feet-pool. Haha! It was really refreshing. I missed “swimming”. I really had a lot of fun even though the place was crowded which I expected.

Here are some of the pics we took:

Looks fun, right? I can’t wait for our next swimming getaway. It’s not about the swimming and seeing beautiful spots, actually. I enjoy it because of the togetherness of our family (with our friends and special someone). It really doesn’t matter if the place is expensive or not. The joy and pleasure of the whole family is what matters here.

I am leaving you another work of mine because I was so inspired yesterday. Hehe! <3 Hope it loads fast! Till my next entry!

P.S.
Thanks to TJ for the other pics. =D