Job Hunting

To start off, I just want to share what my friends experienced in PGH application. I advised them to come before daybreak to make it to the quota of available slots. OA daw ako, etc. True enough, they weren't able to pass the requirements in PGH. Pano ba naman, 1 day before pa lang ng schedule madami na daw pumila. Strange but true. Kung sa U.S., OA ang pila sa Harry Potter books and ipods, dito, nursing jobs ang blockbuster. Pero naman kase, PGH yon. Just like in issuance of working visa in the US, once every 2 years lang ata sila mag-open, manpower pooling pa. Meron din sila volunteer program, need mo magpa-Hepa B titer or vaccine for that.

Anyway, may good news pa din naman. I was able to pass my application in VRPMC along EDSA near Boni Ave. They require a rating of 80% and above, pero madaming nakalista sa log sheet na below 80%. Tama yun, try lang ng try. Go ng go, at least nagpasa ka. The usual requirements for nurses are needed. PAg kulang daw, pwede naman to follow on the day of examination pag tinawagan ka.

Sa Cardinal Santos naman (Wilson St., Greenhills), they gave us their email address (csmcareers@gmail.com), just email your resume and put in the subject heading position you're applying for (ex. Applicant for Staff Nurse position). I just emailed mine a while ago. Your resume must contain all seminars and trainings you've attended, etc. etc. that would convince them that you're the best nurse in the land.

Frustrated kami ni Leah sa San Juan Medical Center and UERMMMC (tama ba 3 m's?) kase sa SJMC, gov't. hospital, closed daw. Pero they accept volunteers (wala na ko plan bumalik dun kung volunteer din lang kase syempre kelangan ng backer--paging ERAP Estrada! hehe!). Sa UERMMMC, hindi sila open for outsiders for staff nurse position (bwiset!). Ang lapit lang sana sa place ko.

I'll hit the road next week pag may pera ako and energy. Hangga't hindi ako pumipirma ng job contract sa Delos Santos eh I would consider other options pa din. Opportunities don't knock on your door, you should look for it.

OR assignment

Among the 20+ volunteers in MCGH, there are only 3 of us assigned at the operating room. Siguro kase hindi kami mukhang maingay at behaved kaming tatlo. I want the OR slot kase malinis at kakaiba ang mga makikita mong mga bagay at eksena sa loob ng OR. We three were lucky to get the OR slot because this is a special area and MCGH (Mary Chiles General Hospital) is offering low training fees compared to other training hospitals. MCGH advocates harmony among their employees and health care professionals. What they're looking for in a potential applicant is a good attitude and good performance. They are not so much impressed with bookish or smart-alecking trainees. Almost all the staff in the OR emphasized to us that "don't assume; always ask first before trying to do anything, or else you're screwed; magpaka-bibo ka lang maaabsorb ka dito." So nice to hear those tips and advices. The chief nurse said that they will extend your stay into 4 months if they like your performance, otherwise, you're only given 2 months of training and then they will let you go. Hindi sila nagpapaasa or namemera lang.

Day 2 at the OR

My legs are sore. Standing for almost 8 hours at the OR is like a "Survivor" challenge. The only time I was able to sit comfortably was during lunch break. It was a heavenly lunch. Aside from abling my legs to rest, the tinolang manok at the hospital canteen was so good (medyo nabitin ako sa serving).

First case was CS (cesarean section). My colleagues, Ruby and Rainier, were standing at the unsterile periphery of the OR observing like grade schoolers at the CS procedure. From time to time, we were asked to hand out sponges and water to the scrub nurse. The next case was cauterization. Don't ask which part of the body will be cauterized. The next case was TURP (transurethral resection of the prostate).

As what I've expected, the nurses and doctors are all nice and accommodating. Kahit na volunteers lng kami, we were given nice treatment and warm welcome from them. There's harmony among them, even among the surgeons. I think tatagal ako sa institution na ito. Aside from masarap ang tinola at mga food sa canteen, okay makisama ang mga tao dahil tao ang trato nila sa mga tao.

Exam in Marikina Valley Medical Center

I had an exam at Marikina Valley on Wednesday January 6. My mind went haywire over the last part of the exam--pharmacology questions. Aside from problem-solving (concentration and flow rate computation sans calculator), it was fill in the blanks, like, identifying the generic name and mode of action of the given brand name of those effing 15 drugs. I did try my best to write something on my answer sheet. I almost cringed at what I've written there. Almost everything is just a wild guess. Pathetic. I know all the 15 drugs. Daily, I've given them to my patients in nursing home (Villa Cristo Rey). I didn't know what went wrong with my memory. I just couldn't recall any generic names. Ironic that I got a high grade in Pharma in college and I worked hard for that grade (boosting my self-esteem here). Maybe I should take Vit. B complex from now on.

Until now, there are no calls from the HR. I guess i failed again. I said "again" because I took the very same exam last year. That's why I was so disappointed of myself. I blew my chance. But I'm not losing hope. There are other opportunities waiting for me. I just have to go out and find them with a little help from Bro. and prayers from my loved ones.

I'm now looking forward to my volunteer work at MCGH. I was lucky to get a slot in the operating room. I like OR because this is a special area. I can be an OR nurse, be a member of the ORNAP, dream dream dream! I keep on dreaming!

Bagong taon, bagong career

Happy talaga ang New Year ko dahil sa marami akong nakain nung bisperas ng bagong taon. Nakikain lang ako sa bahay ng aking minamahal na Ron-ron at one-to-sawa na internet sa kanilang bahay. Any new year's resolution for me? Eto na lang, I must avoid procrastinating plans and to-do's para umandar na ang aking napiling bagong career--nursing. Dahil dyan, nag-resign ako sa aking trabaho at sa darating na lunes ay orientation ko na sa MCGH (google nyo na lang ano 'to at san 'to). Ang choice ko na area ay ang OR (operating room). Bakit OR, kase sa OR laging malinis at usually the patient is under the magic spell of anesthesia. Pabor na pabor sa akin dahil maiiwasan kong mahawa sa mga contagious diseases. Ang tanging puproblemahin ko na lang ay ang mga tyrant na scrub nurses at demanding na mga surgeons (na minsan daw ay nambabato ng mga instrumento--wag naman po!). Kailangan ko na ulit buklatin ang inaagiw at maalikabok na mga nursing books para hindi ako mapahiya sa loob ng hospital. Anyway, I should be confident now because I have the licenses (PRC and IVT) and training certificates to empower me in facing nursing responsibilities.