Memory Boosting

You’ll be amazed at how ordinary their secrets really are:

* Sufficient sleep and rest (day time naps included) - the great stress reliever; good sleep synchronizes the body systems and relaxes the mind, thus improving our declarative memory.

* Brain boosting food and drinks - Fish like tuna, trout, mackerel, salmon and herring gives essential fat for our brains; olive oil for cooking is great for the memory, too.

- cheese, milk, eggs, and meat aids in the production of neurotransmitters; fruits like avocado and blueberries, vegetables like broccoli and grains like whole grain and oatmeal provide energy (carbohydrates)

- Simple coffee (in moderation, of course) has anti-oxidants which helps reduce the risk of dementia, Alzheimer’s and other possible mental disoders.

- mixed nuts like almond, peanuts and walnuts promote mental lucidity and sharper memory

- chocolates like dark and milk chocolate are antioxidant-rich sweets which augment concentration as well as focus; and improves memory and reaction skills

* Chewing Gum – increases heart rate which makes blood flow towards the brain. Studies showed that hardened arteries reduces blood flow to the brain; likewise, the supply of oxygen, which in turn affects the memory.

* Exercise - conditions the mind and not just the body. Inhaling more oxygen into the body system likewise benefits the brain.

* Use it or Lose it Brain Theory – studies has shown that mental exercise truly gives real and positive effects, such that if you don’t exercise your brain it can shrink because certain brain cells malfunction when it is not used regularly. Brain exercise may include mind-boggling games, repetition exercises, puzzles, and even simple reading which is like memory jogging.

* Happy Disposition – people who laugh and lead stimulating lives have more efficient brain functioning than those who prefer to lead passive lives.

Browsing will reveal certain medications that are said to help improve memory; but usually, there are side effects which we may not be able to handle. If we have natural resources available to us, it would be better to stick to them. Memory loss linked with aging should not be a dreaded condition; but more over, it should be a reminder that we can enjoy every birth celebration and still find ourselves looking forward to a sharper mind in the coming years … IF we will heed the memory enhancer tips!

HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS








Ethical and Legal Issues in the Delivery of Nursing Care and Mental Health
Jeffrey B. Viernes
NURS 220: Health and Illness 1- Spring 2012
March 27, 2012
Sally Tazelaar, MSN, RN







Ethical and Legal Issues in the Delivery of Nursing Care and Mental Health
​Today’s health care system is surrounded with a multitude of ethical issues and dilemmas that health care professionals face on a daily basis. Medical professionals encounter various ethical issues in clinical settings that frequently lead to moral distress. Nurses in particular face day-to-day ethical challenges when delivering quality-nursing care. From a medical viewpoint, ethical and legal issues include significant standards that must be followed by health care professionals during the care of the clients. Through research, Ulrich et al. (2010) claimed that the most frequently occurring ethical issues affecting the delivery of nursing care are protecting patient’s rights, patient’s confidentiality or right to privacy, end of life decision-making, and autonomy and informed consent to treatment. In most cases, ethical dilemmas frequently arise in the psychiatric setting. Patients suffering from mental disorders are particularly involved in various ethical issues because most of them lack the ability to reason and decide for themselves. Nurses who work in the psychiatric setting are responsible for practicing ethically unbiased nursing actions to provide the highest quality level of care.
​Along with the advancement of medical science and technology, one of the biggest issues in the health care field is patient’s privacy. Even though computerization of patient’s medical records improves the accessibility of data, there is a greater possibility of threat to patient’s privacy and confidentiality. According to the article written by Love (2011), “As our society becomes more technical, the issues arises as to who may have the right to access the patient’s information, and what information, if any a physician can disclose.” Nurses play a very important role in protecting the privacy rights of patients by controlling the dissemination of their personal information to authorized personnel only. Violating the patient’s right to privacy disrupts the nurse-client relationship and trust.
​Another issue affecting the delivery of care is informed consent to treatment. According to a study included in The American Journal of Surgery (2009), in order for “patients to efficiently exercise their right to voluntarism, provision of adequate information is an important prerequisite in the process of informed consent”. Paul Clark (2007) also stated that patients must be “given a clear explanation of the patient’s condition and any proposed treatments as well as any potential benefits and risk in order to achieve informed, autonomous treatment decision”. In order for a competent individual to sign the informed consent without coercion, it is the physician’s duty to provide appropriate information regarding the medical procedure to be performed.
​Another health care ethical issue that poses challenges to health care professionals is the end of life decision-making. The population of patients suffering from chronic illnesses continues to incline dramatically. However, with the advantages of advance technology, life can be supported and prolonged. Critically ill patients are commonly unable to think and participate in decisions, as they may be sedated, intubated, or ventilated with life sustaining devices. Life sustaining devices, in some instances, provide beneficial therapy for the patient. In contrast, many patients deteriorate and fail to survive even with the presence of this equipment. As health care providers, we still need to ensure the continuity on the delivery of care for people who are terminally ill to maintain client’s dignity.
​Mentally incompetent patients are subjected to various ethical dilemmas that continuously pose challenges to the health care providers. Among these ethical dilemmas are discrimination, protection of patient’s rights, autonomy, and confidentiality. Patients with Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and other mental disorders affecting the human population are examples of people that may be subjected to such ethical and legal issues.
​Friendship House is a voluntary clubhouse-modeled program for adults with serious mental and behavioral illnesses. The main purpose of this psychiatric rehabilitation program is to integrate the members back into the community, allowing them to become self sufficient and productive members of our society. One ethical issue that caught my attention was the possibility of violating member’s rights to privacy and confidentiality. Patients’ medical records and information are virtually compiled on their computers at their office. However, each member can access these computers and can have the possibility to open confidential documents and information. The Friendship House staff needs to balance their own ethical beliefs while establishing a safe place for all members. They must be able to acknowledge patient’s rights to confidentiality and informed consent to maintain the nurse-client relationship. The sky rocketing cost of care to patients with cognitive disabilities also poses ethical dilemmas. According to David Jordan, a vocational coordinator of the Friendship House, although they want to become a member, they cannot join if they are not registered with Kauai Community Mental Health Center and referred by someone by the center, or if they do not have medical coverage.
​Legal and ethical issues play an important role in the health care system. These issues that currently exist in the health care system include the protection of patient’s rights, promotion of autonomy, and the consent to treatment. Health care providers are continuously being challenged with what is ethically right and wrong to do in these dilemmas surrounding the health care system. The primary role of nurses in such challenging situations is often to be the patient’s advocate in a nonpaternalistic manner. Health care providers are responsible for ensuring that each client, mentally competent or not, should have equal access to healthcare services to meet their needs, as well as maintaining the stability of their own ethical belief system.
References
Clark, P. A. (2007). Intensive care patients’ evaluations of the informed consent
process. Dimensions of Critical Nursing, Volume 26(5), 207-209. Retrieved from http://www.stritch.luc.edu/depts/bioethics/Files/pdf/Informed Consent - Clark.pdf
Falagas, M., Korbilla, I., Giannopoulou, K., Kondilis, B., & Peppas, G. (2009).
Informed consent: how much and what do patients understand?. The American Journal of Surgery, Volume 198(3), 420-435. Retrieved from http://www.cinj.org/documents/InformedConsentahowmuchandwhatdopatientsunderstand.pdf
Love, J. (1996). Who should have access to your medical record? Privacy protection or
​​legalized prowling?. Business And Health, 14(2), 59-60.

Ulrich, C. M., Taylor, C., Soeken, K., O’Donnell, P., Farrar, A., Danis, M., & Grady, C. (2010). Everyday ethics: ethical issues and stress in nursing practice. Journal Of Advanced Nursing, 66(11), 2510-2519. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2648.2010.05425.x

Letters to Self: Journey to being a Good Nurse

Fr: On Second thought…
To: Myself actually. (But can also be for those who can relate to this.)

Dear ________,
You’ve got to start reading. Not later. Not tomorrow. Not next week. Sure, studying can be put off for later, you can finish your college life by just merely meeting the standards of mediocrity. You can graduate with just an “ok” grade. But would you not regret things that could have been if you’ve tried a little harder? If you put on an extra effort, you know that you can do better.
You can’t say that you’ll help in changing the world if you don’t even make an effort to change yourself, right?

You promised you’ve been planning to review your subjects but when really was the last time that you’ve actually read and re-read your notes? Last week? Last month?
Don’t blame any external factors if weren’t able to answer your professor or your graded recitation; or if you weren’t able to pass your term paper on time. You say it’s because there’s little time for you to review or because of the fast and boring lecturer last week, or because you can’t keep yourself from logging on to your favorite social site (Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, MySpace or whatever site that keeps you from doing that homework) or because of your favorite drama that kept you from doing what you ought to do.

You have the tendency to blame others but can you just stop for a little while and think again?
Haven’t you got any part and fault in that also?
You are the one responsible for your actions but why do you point out on others?

If only you’ve read your lessons that night. If only you’ve listened to your teacher explaining. If only you’ve ignored the gossip of your seatmate and concentrated more on the discussion. If only you’ve tried a little harder and made an extra effort. If only…

So many ifs. So many could-have-beens and would-have-beens.
Think of this scenario if you would keep on doing that..
Are you just going to wait until its only a month before the board exams before you start to actually study and indulge yourself to what you are reading?
You cannot cover so much to study on short notice. You can freak out, feel depressed or feel nothing at all then. But you can NEVER back out nor turn back lost time. You can’t waste your 4-year hardships just because you think that you are not prepared, nor you haven’t had enough time to prepare and study for it.
THAT is a very lame excuse.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
The making of nurse does not start 3-4 months before the board exam. It starts from your realization that you want to enter the realm of nursing. It then continues the moment you set foot on your chosen university until the moment your professor starts with their first lesson. It continues your very last one year in college.
So why nag that a 3-month review is too short a preparation when in reality the review and preparation started way too long ago? You probably were just too preoccupied and claimed that you were too busy to notice that time flies quickly not realizing the importance of every second.
Professors keep on reminding students to read. Read. Read. Read. That’s all. Because they care for you. They want what’s best for you. They know and see that you’ve got the potentials inside you. They know you can do better. It’s just that, sometimes, you tend to do unnecessary things and take the more important things for granted.
You say there’s always tomorrow.
You say you can always do things later.
But what if suddenly there’s no tomorrow?
How can you be so confident on tomorrow if you don’t even know if there’s still tomorrow for you? You can only assume. But you can NEVER be so sure of it.
What you have to do is to exert our freakin’ best today. For what tomorrow will bring to us are only the products of what we do today. Nothing more. Nothing less.
So do what you can do today. Or you’ll regret later.
The making of a nurse is not an overnight process nor is it a piece of cake.
It is a tiring journey and you constantly have to motivate yourself to keep going forward.
It only takes a matter of balance and time management on what you are doing.
Being a nurse is never easy. But throughout the journey, even with the hardships (the sleepless nights, stressful duties and the like), you get the prize of fulfillment that if you study hard and become a successful nurse someday, you can surely make a difference in someone’s life..

Nurses may not be angels. But they are one of the next best thing in life.

“As a nurse, we have the opportunity to heal the heart, mind ,soul and body of our patients, their families and ourselves.They may forget your name, but they will never forget how you made them feel.” - Maya Angelou

Inspiring Story of a Nurse to His Family

Apat na taon sa kolehiyo, apat na buwan na nagreview. Gigising araw-araw para pumasok, tuloy-tuloy na 3 oras na lecture tapos exam pagkatapos. Magtatanghalian habang nasa kanang kamay ang kutsara at libro naman sa kaliwa. Habang naglalakad, mas matagal pang nakatingin sa kwaderno kaysa sa dinadaanan. Kinabukasan magduduty, sandamakmak na NCP at paulit-ulit na Health teaching.

Ganyan umikot ang 4 na taon ko sa loob ng unibersidad. Hanggang sa huli, tinatanong ko pa din sa sarili ko kung sapat na ba ang lahat na iyon para makakuha ako ng magandang trabaho, makapangibang bansa at mabago ang buhay ko. Malaking tanong sa aming mga nars kung anung mangyayari sa amin pagkatapos ng 4 na taong pagaaral. Marami sa amin ang nakapagtrabaho sa malaking kumpanya upang sagutin ang mga tanong ng iba’t ibang bansa, meron ding mas pinili ang mag volunteer at ang iba naman nakahanap ng totoong trabahong nababagay sa propersyon nila. Pero naiisip niyo din ba na may mga Rehistradong Nars na mas piniling pasukin ang pagiging “Nars sa Pamilya”. Dumating ang panahon na pag may naospital sa kamaganak mo ay paniguradong ikaw ang pagbabantayin. Tama din naman dahil madami kang alam sa mga mangyayari sa ospital. Akala ko hanggang doon na lang ako nung mga panahon na yon, hanggang dumating ang pagkakataong nagpabago ng pananaw ko sa buhay.

Pebrero 2011 nang simulang magkasakit ang mama ko; “Kidney Failure”, ibig sabihin ay hindi na gumagana ang kanang bato niya, kaya minarapat nang simulan kaagad ang dialysis niya. Kitang kita ko kung gaano kahirap ang dinaranas ng mama ko nung mga panahong iyon, 3 beses sa loob ng isang linggo ang dialysis niya, labas pasok kame sa ospital sa loob ng 3 buwan, hanggang sa sumuko na siya noong May 23, 2011. Isang malaking dagok sa akin ang nangyari dahil Nurse ako at wala akong nagawa. Dumating sa punto na sinisi ko sarili ko, nanahimik ako, nalungkot, nalugmok. Nagbago ang lahat makaraan ng ilang buwan, iba’t ibang kwento ang narinig ko, iba’t ibang pangaral.

“Masaya na mama mo, nagawa mo na lahat ng magagawa mo at kahit sa huling sandali, napagsilbihan mo siya at tumayo kang Nurse sa kanya”.

Ngayon alam ko na kung ano ang kahulugan ng apat na taong pagsisikap ng isang nars. Yun ay ang mapadama mo sa mga taong nakapaligid sa ‘yo na kahit anong mangyari, may NARS silang malalapitan at mahahagkan.

Itinuring kong unang pasyente ang mama ko, at naniniwala akong ang unang pasyente ko na ito ay buong buhay na nasa tabi ko upang umagapay sa akin sa libo-libo pang pasyente na pagsisilbihan ko.

A Typical Day of a nurse

A nurse came to work at exactly 6am. Skipping breakfast just to make sure she makes it on time.

I hope I’ll have time to eat.

After endorsement it was 7am.

Hmmnn. I can still sneak a few bite.

Just as she finishes those thought, her patient calls her. “Can I have my meal now?”

“Sure ma’am”, the nurse replied. With a smile, she serve her patient’s food. I’ll have mine after setting her tray.

As the nurse walked away from the patient, she saw her drop the food in her clothes, her hands trembling.

Without hesitation, the nurse took the spoon from her patient. “Let me help you with that.” and started assisting her patient. I guess breakfast have to wait.

After a few minutes, the patient was done eating. The nurse looked in her watch and realized that it was already 7:45 am.

Okay, I can definitely eat in less than 3 minutes.

On her way to the pantry, she saw her co-staff. “Lend me a hand, will you? My patient keeps on slipping from her bed. I need to feed her.”

“Sure. It’s turning time anyway. Let’s turn all our patients.”

8:15am. The nurse was on a dilemma. Well I could grab a bite, but, I haven’t fed my other patient yet. She hasn’t taken her meds as well. She looks at her finger and it was starting to shake. She grab her pocket, took a candy and pop it inside her mouth.

To the treatment room she went and prepared osteurized feeding and medications to give.

“Do you sometimes wonder what an osteurized feeding taste likes?” asked a colleague.

“Wonder? I’m so hungry, I could gulp one right now.”

9:00am. Feeding and medication of patients done. Finally, I can eat. I’m starving, the nurse thought.

“Laboratories are in Ma’am. You can give your patients stat dose of 20ml Calcium Gluconate and 1g of Magnesium Sulfate, SIVP”, the resident doctor said. “And, oh, secure consent for blood transfusion, 2 pack RBC.”

“Yes, doc.” By this time, the nurse’s hunger no longer seems important.

10:00am. “Whose for EEG? Orderly is here” asked the head nurse.

“That would be my patient sir”, replied the nurse.

11:00am. Back from EEG. The nurse is not hungry anymore.

“Can I have my lunch?”, asked the patient to her nurse.

“Absolutely Ma’am.” With love and care, the nurse assisted her patient.

11:45am. Time to feed the other patient. “Let’s turn our patients guys.”

“Hey, have you taken your lunch yet?”, the co-staff nurse asked.

“Nope.” the nurse replied. “Have you?”

“Not a chance. I haven’t even started my charting yet.” They both chuckled and went to their respective patients.

1:00pm. “Blood is here.” the nursing aid said.

The nurse looked at the clock and resided with her faith. I guess no meal for me today.

1:30pm. Time to close the chart.

2:00pm. Endorsement time.

3:00pm. After endorsement, the nurse turned to her co-staff and said smiling… “Finally, I can have my – - -

“Code!!! Hurry guys, get the E-cart!”

This is a typical day in a nurses life. Sometimes you get to eat, other days you’re lucky if you can even sit. But choosing between yourself and your patients, the nurses always makes the right choice. It’s not even a choice, it’s a “reflex” that nurses have. To put patients first before oneself. And it is not appreciation of our work that we want. Just knowing that at the end of the day, we did our best to improve the life of another person, that in itself is a priceless reward. It’s what keep us sound asleep at night.

ANG TUNAY NA NURSE..MARUNONG DUMISKARTE!

Kilala mo ba si MACGYVER?

NAPAPANOOD ko lang po sya noong bata pa ko..hehe. Anyway kilala si Mcgyver bilang MATALINO, RESOURCEFUL, magaling mag TROUBLESHOOT na agent…MARAMI PONG FILIPINO NURSES ANG GAYA nya, on the nursing profession syempre. Lalo na kung nurse ka dito sa ‘PINAS.. ayyy LALONG LALO NA SA GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL.

Tinanong ako ng nursing student “Ma’am, san po ko pwede kumuha ng URINAL?”

Heto ang sagot ko:

Ay iha, wala ka sa private hospital..hanap ka na lang ng empty IV plastic bottle, cut it, make sure walang sharp edges, dun mo na lang paihiin patient mo. Ganun na rin gawin mo kung nagsusuka patient mo at kelangan mo ng EMESIS BASIN!

Mag bibigay ka ng IV meds at walang AMPULE BREAKER? Mahirap buksan ang gamot, gamitin mo yung BANDAGE SCISSORS mo. Lagarihin mo ng konti yung neck ng ampule hehe , sigurado MAS MADALI NG BUKSAN YUN .

Nag-SUSUCTION ka kay tatang pero KINAKAGAT nya yung suction catheter? Kuha ka ng syringe alisin mo needle and plunger, ibalot mo sa gauze ‘yun at ipakagat mo sa kanya para madali mo sya masuction, wag mo lang kalimutang alisin after, kesa naman magpabili kapa ng BITE BLOCK, wala na nga sila pera.”

Heto pa:

Mag baBlood Transfusion ka….kelangan mo ng COMPRESSOR dahil ayaw na tumulo?….AY WAG KA NA MAGHANAP NG WALA!!..Gumamit ka ng BP CUFF..

Kelangan mo icover ang IVF bottle kasi may halong gamot na sensitive sa light? TAKPAN MO YUNG BOTTLE AND TUBES NG CARBON PAPER..

Walang Hot Water Bag and Ice pack? Gumamit ka ng GLOVES…speaking of gloves…MINSAN ino-AUTOCLAVE ito para pwedeng gamitin ulet…pwede pa yan HANGGA’T HINDI NABUBUTAS!!!

Ngayon, kung kelangan mo naman FACE MASK para sa Nebulizer ng Pedia patient mo, dahil walang supply at wala silang pambili eh KUMUHA KA NG CLEAN BOND PAPER, SHAPE IT INTO CONE AND YUN I ATTACH MO sa KIT USING TAPE..OR YUNG IBANG NURSES THEY USE STYRO CUPS mas durable nga naman!! hehe..

Ang daming ADMISSION kulang ng OXYGEN TANK..gagawin ng HEAD NURSE KO iiSPLIT NILA ANG MAIN TUBE TAPOS IKAKABIT ANG NASAL CANNULA NG DALAWANG PATIENT..eh ‘di ang daming nakagamit!

Wala ng IV stand??.. ang sabi sa akin..”KUMUHA KA NG ALAMBRE.. (SO ANONG GAGAWIN KO PAKAMATAY NA KO???wahahahaha..Hindi!) SABIT MO SA CEILING MAKE SURE SECURED, DUN MO I HOOK YUNG IV BOTTLE!! So ginawa ko nga at napadasal ako….”Lord wag naman sana umabot sa punto na pati KAMA kelangan ko iimprovise..hmmm sige may WHEEL CHAIR pa naman, ‘nalang MUNA siguro kung may magkaka sakit pa…

During Code Blue..Nasan na ang CARDIAC BOARD???!!!! Ok wait.. oh eto na.. eto na…….whoa PLYWOOD??!!!San mo nakuha yan??? ‘Dun sa may bintana!!!…..or kung pedia ang patient abay BAKLASIN ang kahoy sa BEDSIDE TABLE!…na rerevive din naman ang pasyente..

Ngayon, wala silang pambayad sa MECHANICAL VENTILATOR…ay syempre hindi na kaya ng powers namen mag improvise nun!!! Kaya buong araw mag “aAMBU BAG” (BVM) ang watcher ng patient, salitan sila ng kasama nya, eh pano kung wala, SUPER NURSE to the rescue.. “AY SIR… AKO na muna dyan kahit isang oras lang, kumain na muna kayo at magpahinga”. ‘Yun nga lang nagsign ng HAMA ang relatives kasi wala na talaga silang panggastos kahit Charity patient Class D….Ang hirap talaga ng buhay.

Ilan lang po ito sa mga scenario sa hospital,BAKA NGA SA ORTHOPEDIC DEPARTMENT NG HOSPITAL NAG IIMPROVISE DIN SILA NG MGA TRACTIONS!!!!…sabi nga ng NURSE SUPERVISOR namen..”NASA GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL KAYO KUNG MAGPAPAKA IDEAL KAYO..HINDI NYO MABUBUHAY ANG MGA PASYENTE NYO”…Tama, wag na maghanap ng wala, wag na magreklamo, gumawa ka na lang ng paraan para sa mga pasyente mo, dakilang mga nurses!

Kung sasagot ka sa Board Exam or nasa Sosyal na Private Hospital ka…TAMA lang maging “IDEAL”.. SUNDIN MO LAHAT NG NASA LIBRO. Pero kung NASA MAHIRAP NA HOSPITAL KA AT NAGAALAGA NG MAHIRAP NA PASYENTE….TAMANG DISKARTE LANG…DAHIL HINDI LAHAT TINURO NI KOZIER..
Based on personal observation and experiences ko ang lahat ng nabanggit. I dont have anything against any Hospital or Individual… SALUDO po ako sa lahat ng FILIPINO NURSES! ^^

Beyond Vital Signs

He was a special stranger, a man with a poker face. His face was a blank sheet, too tough to decipher. He’s suffering from a psychological struggle, jailed by insanity, deprived by prejudice. He’s a victim of fate, a product of a stressed and troubled mind.

Let’s just call him “Mang Rob”. Mountains and miles apart, we met in the crossroads of an institution, a very special institution for mentally challenged patients. Dealing with him for the very first time wasn’t easy. It seemed that fear and anxiety turned into a huge barrier between us. He is boxed inside a room surrounded with grills. He’s spending most of his time behind those cold iron bars. The only time allotted for them to see the rest of the area’s vicinity is when student nurses come for scheduled therapeutic activities.

As I spent time with him day by day, I noticed that he’s already beginning to be at ease and comfortable with me. Though he cannot speak the way a normal person does, he’s trying his best to answer the questions I’m asking. There was a time when I asked him,

“Ano pong paborito nyong libangan?”

”Kumanta”, he replied.

I asked him if he could give me a sample of his favorite song, he just nodded and started singing. As I was listening, I can’t figure out what song that was at first for his tone was monotonous. And finally, the chorus came, it was “bed of roses.” Despite the fact that the song didn’t sound as good as it can be, having him singing for me was good enough to move me and put a smile on my face.

After almost a week of my duty in the mental ward, the termination phase came. It is the time when we have to bid goodbye to our respective patients. I explained to Mang Rob that it will be the last time that I’ll be handling him. It was really sad but I couldn’t be emotional for it is prohibited. Before I made my way back to the dorm to pack my things, he smiled to me while saying, “Salamat Eli”. It’s very heartwarming for me finding out that though he’s under a mental disturbance, he managed to remember my name. Seeing that smile and hearing those words of gratitude was more than enough to make me feel that everything that I did in that span of time was worth doing.

In the absence of his normal mental functioning, Mang Rob taught me that WHEN THE MIND WAS WOUNDED AND DEPRIVED, THERE WILL ALWAYS BE A HEART TO SPEAK FOR IT.

Things you want to say to your patients, but can’t

Note: What you are about to read are pure imagination and opinion of the author and never really happened. Promise.

1. Sir/Ma’am, I’m here at your service, you can call me anytime. Okay, not anytime, I didn’t mean that. Please don’t use it against me.

2. I know that I gave you a bell to call me if you need my service. But scratching your back isn’t one of them.

3. I know you can hear an alarm sir. But, it’s not yours.

4. No, sir. As much as I want to entertain you, I can’t tell you the medical condition of the patients around you.

5. Sir, rest assured that the other patients are not contagious. They are not on isolation. You are!

6. When the clock strikes 12. It means visiting time is over. And no, just because you didn’t come early, means we can stretch the visiting time for you.

7. First bell, means visiting time is over, and you have to leave. Second bell, means I can still see you. Third bell means, I know your hiding behind the curtain. Fourth bell means, I’m calling the cops.

8. Yes, it’s true. I am paying more attention to my other patient. It’s a good sign for you, sir. The other, patient? Not so lucky.

9. Yes, ma’am. Your relatives condition is about the same, since you called 5 minutes ago. And 5 minutes before that, and 5 more minutes prior to that.

10. Sir, as much as you think, we’re keeping you captive in the hospital. We beg to differ. We don’t keep patient in ICU for fun. We just don’t know how to tell you the truth, without you suffering another heart attack.

11. After pulling your IV catheter 5 times, and your other contraptions, now you’re wondering why you’re not feeling well? Are you kidding me?

12. Yes, we are going to insert foley catheter and ngt and IV site in you again. And we are going to do it over and over, until you learn to keep them inside your body, and not as an ornament on your side rails.

Top 5 Reasons Why You Should Date A Nurse

Valentine season is fast approaching and I’m sure it’s every couple’s agenda to make their Valentine date as memorable as possible. And while the rest of the pack is thinking that nurses have no time for this romantic meeting of two, our very busy nurses think otherwise. They might be dedicated in doing their daily nursing tasks but they still have their own definition of “love-life balance” intact. So if you’re planning to date one, don’t be discouraged but be thrilled even more. Why? Simply because a nurse is one heck of a lover and a person who will always bring special treats and surprises on the table. You want more? Here’s the top 5 reasons why you should consider dating a nurse:

1. They can be the best cure for your hangover and the most adorable first-aid provider in town.

Are you going to date a nurse? Well, I’m gonna throw all my worries and stresses away if I were you. No need to fret hangover because an expert will be on your side and ready to give you effective ways to get over it. Of course, your dear nurse will know first hand that coffee is not the best cure for it so you better be passive and play the patient role. Furthermore, if you or someone on the other table accidentally choke during your date, your dear nurse is so ready for the adrenaline rush that he/she will be done doing Heimlich maneuver after a few seconds. You don’t need to fear for other spur-of-the-moment incidents because you have your own nurse ready as hell for anything that might come your way. Remember, nurses didn’t get those first aid certifications for nothing.

2. You won’t hear “Eeeewww” when they see blood or disgusting body fluids.

For a well-exposed nurse, blood and pus are commonplace that they already think of squirting blood as something boring. Show your wounded blood to a non-nurse person and she will be nauseated; show it to your nurse-lover and you will have your wounds cleaned and dressed like its a work of art. They are always on the go and open for new and exciting things so if ever you have a broken heart, feel free to approach a nurse and he/she will mend it for you like its the most special emergency case.

3. They wont be disgusted by your toilet habits.

You don’t have to pretend to be Mr. or Ms. Perfect when you love a nurse. Believe me, they’ve seen all imperfections that a typical human being has to offer; name it, a nurse has encountered it. You can even fart while with a nurse and she will just answer it with a smile. A nurse looks at a person as a whole and provide holistic care despite that person’s flaws and bad habits. A good nurse is a nurse that is not judgmental so if you are dating one, just be yourself.

4. They can be your own personal Google/medical dictionary.

Dating and loving a nurse has a lot of advantages and one of these is the fact that if you’re lost with medical terms mentioned in Grey’s Anatomy, confused with what’s written on your doctor’s prescription, or in a serious search for the definition of Hirschsprung’s disease, you don’t need to look any further because your own nurse is willing to answer almost all your medical questions as detailed as possible. Of course, they don’t know everything but at least it will save you a serious amount of time.

5. They are great listeners and counselors.

Nurses are not robots programmed only to give medications and assist doctors; they are compassionate people ready to talk to every patient regarding their situation and give some pieces of advice that are vital for their swift recovery. Just so you know, this is what nurses call as “therapeutic relationship”. The good news is that if you love or dating a nurse, you already have your own personal confidante, friend, and counselor ready to catch you every time you fall. It might sound so cheesy but nurses have all the qualifications to take care of your heart and emotions. They are willing to give parts of their selves to people they really love and care about. If they can do it to their patients, there is no reason for your nurse not to willingly do it for you.