Have Mercy!
Just so you know, I am back in the hospital as a volunteer nurse. I am currently volunteering in a public hospital somewhere in Metro Manila. This is my first time to work in a public hospital as a registered nurse. And whoa, I witnessed happenings that made me feel bad, disappointed, sad, and insertmorenegativefeelingshere.
Rant #1
As a volunteer nurse, we are not allowed to handle patients. I know. That super sucks! I mean, for a person like me who has previous hospital trainings I have to adjust to the new set-up. In the second hospital where I was trained, I do all the work just like what the employed nurses do. Hands-on, in other words. In this hospital where I expected that I’ll gain more experience because it is a public hospital and it has more cases than private hospitals, we are only allowed to OBSERVE or to assist. All the volunteer nurses were so disappointed upon hearing the policies. Some of my co-volunteers thought that they would be able to practice what they’ve learned in school because most of them are first timers in volunteering or in a hospital training. I understand their disappointment because they thought that finally, they would be able to work not as a student nurse but like a real staff nurse. But sad to say, we are worse than the student nurses. At least, the student nurses can administer medications with the supervision of their clinical instructors unlike us wherein even with the supervision of the staff nurses is not allowed. Anyways, that’s their policy. We have to accept and follow it.
Rant #2
There was a time that we were asked to assist the staff nurses to bring the babies from the nursery room to their mothers in the OB ward. It’s called rooming-in. Because I was excited to carry a baby, I, together with my co-volunteers, went to the nursery room with the staff nurses. And guess what we saw? Four babies in a crib!! I was so shocked! They looked like newborn animals! And what’s worse? There’s this staff nurse who placed the logbook1 on top of the babies’ heads! I was so furious! Hello?! If I put a logbook on top of your baby’s head, what would you feel, missy? I wanted to tell that to her but, of course, I had to keep it all to myself because I am just a mere volunteer. :(
There are other things that I saw in that public hospital such as: two patients sharing in one bed, a patient who had to transfer herself from her own bed to a stretcher2, shouting at the patients, etc.
It really disappoints me because what I witnessed was a total contradiction of their vision mission statement: to render proper nursing care to the patients regardless of their age, race, sex, religion and social and economic status. Yes, I unconsciously memorized their vision mission statement which was discussed during our orientation. There are times that I wish I never saw those things. But what can I do? I am just a mere volunteer nurse.
People say that it would be better if you get a nursing experience in a public hospital because that’s where all the cases are. Just like what some junior interns do, they apply for internship in public hospitals so that they can practice and apply the lessons. But I guess, the latter doesn’t really happen. They may be applying what is/was taught in school but not everything is done right.
If you want to be an effective nurse or doctor, you have to do what is right. No matter how busy you are or no matter how many patients you handle, always think that your patients are still humans like you. Remember when we were taught how to be empathic? Remember when we were taugh to put the patients as our number one priority?
I guess, some nurses and doctors forgot about it upon receiving their paychecks.
Now, I know what really happens in a public hospital.
Please, God. Have mercy on us! God save these people, please!
My name is Xyla, a 24-year-old Filipina unemployed registered nurse. I am a freelance writer for a nursing magazine of a review center. I aim to be a nurse leader in the future. With only 12 units left in my Master's Degree (Major in Medical-Surgical Nursing), I am ready to teach nursing students. During my past time, I kill Zombies, plant Cherry Bombs, Marigold and Melon Pult and make cheesy stuff for my boyfriend. I firmly justify that I am not too old for Glee-addiction. I hate prepositions. They make my life complicated.
Logbook sa ulo ng baby?… As in sa ibabaw?… Grabe naman yon…
[Reply]
Yep. Sa ibabaw talaga. :angry:
[Reply]
kinalibutan ako dun. Once lang akong naadmit sa public hospital pero na palabas din ako after few hours. Di na maganda makita ko dun pero I didn’t expect na may lalala pa. :( Hay. Sana naman ayusin nila yung service kahit na mas maliit ang sweldo nila (compare sa private hospitals or nurses abroad)or kulang ang budget sa hospital. Parang di mga tao. :(
[Reply]
aww… siguro they do not care that much sa mga patients kasi public hospital nga… pero wrong pa rin yun… wala sila rights maging nurse or doctors if they’ll treat their patients that way… nakakaawa naman yung mga kailangan magtiis dun… :( I hope not all public hospitals are like that… :(
when pala darating yung time na you can handle patients?
[Reply]
Bat naman ganun? Alam naman nun nurse na hindi tama na ilagay yun logbook sa ulo ng bata, dun pa pinatong! Parang di nag.iisip. X( I rarely visit hospitals so I don’t know what’s inside every ward or room there. Nakakadisappoint na public hospitals pa yun may hindi maayos na pamamalakad, na kung tutuusin ay dapat dahil sila ang inaasahan ng mga mahihirap. Hay. Nakakainis.
If they really trust their staff nurse there, bakit nila pinapayagang may gumagalang careless dyan? Sana kayong mga volunteers na lang! Waa. Kakainis talaga.
Teena’s last blog post..What You Ought to Know ‘Bout Me [reposted]
[Reply]
whaaat?! Wala man lang pakelam sa mga bata! Haaay.. Binabaliwala nalang ang trabho kaya walang nangyayaring maganda.. Wala man lang sumisita sakanila, kaya ganun nalang.. :(
[Reply]
I guess, kulang na talaga sila sa budget to the point na gnun na tlga.. kawawa naman :( pero it sucks dba. lalo na ur licensed naman :(
Ms.Candyblush’s last blog post..Candy Blush Online Shop
[Reply]
grabe nman un..ganyan talaga cguro kpag public hospi.. bara bara! tsk3!
dapat last yr mag vo2lunteer nurse din ako sa east ave..kaso same lang sa minention mu kanina ang ga2win..as in walang kwenta.. kya d ko nlang pinursue..
hirap humanap ng job! awts!!! :bummed: =( :angry: :cry:
[Reply]
oh my.. that is the worst thing I ever heard.. :(
You are better than the nurses there ate..
you have a heart that really cares for the sick.
liza’s last blog post..Valentines Date with Friends
[Reply]
Reality bites. I know this scenarios being a nurse as well. *sigh*
I least that we can do is to give utmost care top our patients
[Reply]
Grabe naman. Hay. Siguro that happens when people are already preoccupied with their own lives. =(
[Reply]
Grabe naman. I hope they’d really have genuine compassion for the people they’re administering “help” to.
[Reply]
Thanks everyone for the comments. Hay, let’s pray for a miracle, a change and a realization from these people.
[Reply]
Thanks for the compliment Liza.
[Reply]
Sobrang hirap talaga humanap pero kaya natin ito.
[Reply]
It’s getting worse talaga dito sa mga hospitals ng Pinas.. plan ko din sana mag volunteer pero i decided mag basic skills training muna ako sa nkti para ma-experience ko talaga mag-hands on. akala ko din dati kapag volunteer, mas madaming magagawa but i guess hindi pala. =( thanks for sharing your experience as a nurse. it’s very helpful xyla :)
[Reply]
San ka pala volunteer? :)
[Reply]
knock! knock! volunteer nurse be sure if you want to practice your profession to the
govenment hospital ask the basic rules and requirements ask the job descriptions where you are schedule, be sure you are comfortable doing your job, and dont afraid to report the wrong doing of co nurse youre a health care personnel do what is best for the patient.
[Reply]
Hi! i was saddened after hearing ur story.. well, reality really hurts sometimes.. some people just care about the certificate of employment… they love only their profession as a nurse, but not their work itself. I think those peole should think twice or more if they really are nurses!
[Reply]
grabe naman talga sa public hospitals. mam, promote nio din po ung kinakampanya ng PNA para sa party list sa koongreso baka may magawa sila para mapalitan ang bulok na sistema at pagtrato sa ating mga REGISTERED NURSES! =) thanks po
[Reply]