Saturday, March 8, 2014

THE NURSE (Copyright © 2014 Claire Louise Sienes)




                                                      THE NURSE
                                     by C. Louise P. Sienes 1/8/14 @ 2:30 AM


                                              Work is love made visible.”
                                                 --- Kahlil Gibran

Impeccable in her white uniform, she walks around the room with fluid grace. Moving from one bed to another, she checks on patients, asking them how they’re doing and if they hurt anywhere. Now and then, she surveys the room, her shrewd brown eyes never missing anything. Her inner senses are so attuned to the near-chaotic state of her present surroundings --- patients whining here and there, ambulance sirens sounding off in the distance, patients being wheeled in, the frenzied pace of the other hospital personnel attending to emergency cases, and the customary questions doctors ask their patients. It’s as if she never misses a beat and readily offers assistance where it’s needed.

At times, she sits on the desk, asks patients or their relatives for the needed information, and scribbles the details down on the hospital forms. Then, she gets up again to either talk to the attending physician or the other nurses assigned to the area. From there, she goes bedside again to help a patient struggling to sit up on the bed, prop a pillow at the back of another patient, assist a mother in giving her infant son a sponge bath, or hold the IV fluid bottle of yet another patient being moved by a younger nurse from the bed onto a wheelchair so the orderly could wheel him up to his room. Sometimes, she instructs a junior nurse to check on the vital signs, asks yet another junior nurse if the laboratory requests are in order, and stands in the middle of the room where she could easily see where an extra helping hand is needed.

From where I stand inconspicuously at the entrance of the laboratory, I watch her spring into action, amazed by the agility packed up in her seemingly delicate 5’3” (or so she claims even though to me, she looks taller) frame. She sure isn’t built like an athlete but, she doesn’t look skinny either. In fact, she’s fit and healthy. I don’t know if it’s just my imagination working overtime or something, but at times, I swear, I can see a ‘fragile look’ in her eyes albeit fleetingly. I guess, this only sharpens the realization that looks can sometimes truly be deceiving. Underneath that laidback demeanour, is a person wired for action and blessed with an astute mind. 

So, okay, she checks if the doctor’s orders are properly carried out and helps ensure that vital signs are done. So, what? You might ask me that. Okay, she fills out hospital forms and goes bed to bed asking patients how they’re doing. What’s so special about that? You might even tell me any nurse can do that. I won’t contest that. But, I guess, what I find most refreshing now, in these ultra-modern times, is watching THAT nurse in her element and seeing nothing casual or perfunctory in her actions. Behind her “How are you feeling?” or “Where do you hurt?” questions, there is real warmth. No sugar-coated words --- just simple words filled with compassion. I can tell that much from the tone of her voice. She squirms not at the nearness of an unkempt young patient and gently threads her fingers through his tousled hair before rubbing his forehead as if to soothe his pain.

I stand there transfixed at the sight with visions of a white angel with a sweet voice and gentle touch swimming right before my very eyes. The ringing of a phone somewhere in the distance draws me out of my reverie and I glance back at THE nurse, telling myself she’s no angel. At least, not of the winged kind. But then, I find myself smiling at the thought that if God were to send angels of healing down from heaven, I’m already catching a glimpse of what that angel should be. 

She stands there a few feet away from me, impeccable in her white uniform. She walks around the room with fluid grace, moving from one bed to another just to check on patients and ask them how they’re doing or if they hurt anywhere. I stand amazed at the delicate strength, intelligence, compassion, and gentle heart packed into her 5’3” frame. Once more, I dart one last glance at THE nurse, seeing her little patient bask at her gentle ministrations. I turn away, sighing and thinking that good ol’ Florence Nightingale must be mighty proud of this nurse. Now, if all nurses are like that --- angels-in-disguise, then we’d all be enjoying a little piece of heaven on earth, thanking God that we’re in good hands and that we’re blessed to enjoy caring at the very best.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

PLAY BLOG TAG: 7 INTERESTING THINGS

I have been tagged by Hazel Quinn and this is long overdue! I hope you can forgive me, Haze!

The rules:

Link to your tagger and list these rules on your blog. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random and some weird. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blog. Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog or email them.


1.) I have a tiny scar on the tip of my nose. My one remembrance from a bout with Chicken Pox as a toddler (so my late Mom told me).


2.) My Dad nicknamed me CLING-CLING (the sound of bells) because I was baptized on Christmas Day.


3.) As a child, I joined the English Dramatics Club and joined a school Musical where I had to sing my dialogues several times (of course, since it's a Musical, ha ha ha). It had been called the Sampaguita Vendors. I was invited (along with other cast members to join the PETA in Manila) by our DRAMA instructors (who were PETA members) but, my parents didn't want me living far from them. :(


4.) This is embarrassing for me, and I don't mean to boast, but I only spent one schoolyear to finish both Grades 5 and 6. I belonged to an "accelerated class" and we were all accelerated from Grades 4 to 5 and then again, from Grades 5 to 6. It was a nice experience, but no fun at all-- not when you're already taking High School subjects even when you're only in Grade School.


5.) I was a huge fan of Charlie's Angels (the old tv series which starred Kate Jackson, Jaclyn Smith, and Farrah Fawcett who was later replaced by Cheryl Ladd) so much that I wanted to be a detective when I grew up, ha ha ha. Then came QUINCY (Medical Examiner) and then I also wanted to be a Medical Examiner, hee hee.


6.) I am scared of heights. I can take the escalator going up but I have trouble using it going down. I dunno. I hate having to look down at times, ha ha ha. But, I sure have been working to face this fear and deal with it. So far, I've been making progress.


7.) I may be in my late 30's now, but I'm still a child-at-heart. I'm the Resident Clown of my family and my workplace, ha ha ha. Well, laughter is always the best medicine and it does make you feel younger:)









Friday, October 24, 2008

Sleepless Me

I can't believe my last post here was way back in September. My gosh. I hadn't realized Lab work could be so consuming. Well, add to that the fact that I'm doing two jobs at the same time -- both in clinic and hospital settings. It's just a matter of creating balance, and of course, catching up on sleep when I can, LOL. Since I've mostly been assigned the "graveyard shifts" or the 10 PM to 7 AM duties, I'm afraid that I haven't been able to sleep well and I can't even catch a few winks so that the day after a graveyard shift, I end up feeling like a zombie, ha ha ha. Aside from Lab work, nothing much has really been happening to me. Except for the fact that I just turned a year older last week. Oh, well, Happy Birthday to me:)

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Back from my 16-Hour Duty (URI-PARA)

Hello! It feels like forever since I've last been here. Things are well and good for me with regards to my Hospital Laboratory training. Before anything else, I would like to make special mention of all my Med Tech friends at the Medical Mission Group of Hospitals who have been most welcoming, accomodating, and very, very friendly -- first of all, Thanks to my former classmate-now-acting-HR-officer, Liezl G-L. Now, for the best part, HELLO to Jinky, Grace, Jay, Mars, Malla, Elvie, Denise, and Rhodora who all tolerate my antics and sometimes corny jokes. Well, at least, there's never a dull moment when we're all laughing and being silly, right? Good luck also to Elvin who's soon to leave for work in Saudi Arabia. Hey, Elvin, CHOCOLATES, CHOCOLATES, CHOCOLATES, hee hee hee. Okay, now that I've just about mentioned everyone here (I hope I didn't forget anyone) it's now time to talk about my 16-hour duty yesterday. Well, it was nothing special. Just the usual -- I was BUSY examining Urine and Stool samples all of last night and very early this morning. I dunno why, but everytime I'm assigned at the Uri-Para section, I get loaded with lots of urine and fecal samples. "Yuck!" you might say, but, hey, it's our job as Medical Technologists to analyze urine and fecal material to aid doctors in diagnosing what could possibly be wrong with you. Besides, it's not like we, Med Techs literally touch the fecal samples we analyze. YAWN! Oh, well, I guess, I better catch a few winks now. I'm sleepy. To all my blogger-friends who have been visiting my blog now and then, thanks. I've just been too busy to post entries as much as I would have liked to. But, I hope to remedy the situation very soon:) SEE YAH!!!!

Saturday, September 13, 2008

IT'S BEEN A WHILE

It seems like an eternity has passed since I've last posted an entry here. Let me remedy the situation today, then. For the last few weeks, I'd been busy doing some freelance writing and editing for a couple of Training Manuals. Then, I finally went back to Hospital Laboratory Training last Sept. 8. Apart from the usual blood specimen collections and Clinical Miscroscopy, I've had to deal with the possibility of taking ABG (Arterial Blood Gas) samples (from the wrist (radial) or the arm (brachial) -- something I have never done before in my entire Med Tech career/life. It's not really a Med Tech's job to take ABG samples since it's assigned to the Pulmonary staff/Respiratory Therapists, but for some reason, in this hospital where I am currently training in, Med Techs are assigned to take ABG samples. Well, I guess that means I simply have to face my fear and hope that I make a good job of it. Like they all say, it's only hard at the beginning. I sure hope so. So, help me, God:)

Saturday, August 23, 2008

To All the MEDICAL TECHNOLOGISTS Out There

To my friends in the Medical Laboratory Profession:

Ms. Emie Romero, MIM, MBA, MT(ASCP), CLS (NCA), Senior Consultant of International Networking and Research Consultants (INRC/Arizona, USA) will be coming to the Manila on September 13, 2008 (Saturday) to meet Medical Technologists interested in knowing more about the status of MT careers in the USA.

The last I heard was that the meeting place will be at the lobby of the Hyatt Hotel in Malate. I will contact Ms. Romero to find out if there haven't been any changes made as to the date and meeting place.

Those interested to get in touch with Ms. Emie Romero may send me an email:
clairesien1019@yahoo.com

Good luck, guys!

--Claire

Saturday, August 9, 2008

The Power of Prayer

This is a Prayer for the MV Princess of the Stars fatalities and survivors.

It's devastating to think that hundreds of bodies still haven't been recovered from that ill-fated sea vessel.

Thank you race and Marites for this tag.

~~Start Copy:
Prayer for the MV Princess of the stars fatalities and survivors.

Dear God, we pray that you comfort each bereaved family everyday as they grieved for their loss, we pray that you will supply all their needs, we pray for the survivors that they may have good lives after the tragedy, that you will bless them and let them know in the deepest part of their heart that in spite of what have happened, you LOVE and CARE for them. This we pray in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen. I encourage everyone to keep the prayer going. LET’S P.U.S.H. (PRAY UNTIL SOMETHING HAPPENS).


We Prayed: 1. Through The Rain 2. God’s gift 3. The Adventures of Dong and Jing 4. Me, Myself and I 5. malditang bunso’s journal 6. Underneath It All 7. 100% Kelly 8. My Colorful World 9.InkBabyStudios 10. TheSaladCaper 12. MommyTalks 13. All About the Memories 14. Enchanted Play 15. I Am Mommy 16. MY Happy Place 17. IamDzoi 18. ClikTrik 19. I Love the Thirties 20. Explore Manila 21. Because Life Is Fun 22. All Things Me 23. Just What I Always Wanted 24. Simply Jen 25. A Slice of Life 26. This and That 27. Jenny Said So 28. Race Corner 29. A Beautiful Life 30. Moments of My Life 31. My Crossroads 32. Watchamacallit! 33. Nellypie's Chatterbox 34. Pinay heart wanderings and musings 35. Me, the islands and the world 36.CLAIRE...BY HEART 37.SLIDES 38. YOUR BLOG HERE
Tagging Jan, marly, and ambica.
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