Partying Sometimes Has a Big Price to Pay!

Everytime I see a schematic diagram of a pathophysiology of a certain disease, I am sure that one of its precipitating or predisposing factor is either smoking or alcohol drinking. We cannot blame the fact that sometimes these two things are the "lives of the party". But there is a big price to pay for too much of everything...

Take a look on what happens to our body when we smoke and drink beyond limits!

Personalized Your Blog with a Weather Badge

Bloggers like me really try hard to increase page rank and traffic even gave too much effort for an exchange link. But we also need to make our blog very interesting so that our readers will comeback often. Recently, I have signed up with www.blogskinny.com and they have some widgets there for free to make blog looks more personal. Blog reflects the personality of the writer and the more personal the blog is, the more the readers can connect with the blogger.

The weather badge blogskinny has is an example of a personalized widget. It gives a real time weather condition in your location without any fuss. A simple widget that could increase traffic in your blog and makes it interesting.

Get a Free Weather Bagde in your Blog

When will Japanese Market be Open for Filipino Nurses?

We have been hearing a lot from the news and other different sources for so long, with regards to job opportunity for nurses in Japan, but the truth is until now, JPEPA or The Japan- Philippine Economic Partnership Agreement has not been ratified yet by the Philippine senate. (B-3 of Business section, The Manila Bulletin, September 16, 2007)

As USA is giving nurses a hard time to get a visa to work there, we are hoping that Japan is the answer but unfortunately, it is not the option either for now.

As soon as the JPEPA is ratified, it will really help provide jobs not only for nurses but also for other professionals like IT and Engineers and it means no quota for qualified professionals! The first two years after ratification will be a trial period. The DOLE or the Department of Labor and Employment and other departments are well prepared now in case the opening will pursue. There will be 1000 slots for nurses and caregivers for the first two years and will increase its number the following years if Philippines will have a good placement in Japan.

The reason why the economic agreement is on hard negotiations is because this is the first time Japan will open its market for Filipino professionals. And JPEPA is the only way the government can see to liberize the restrictions of Japan's visa requirements and if this agreement will not be ratified, there will be a close door for us in Japan.

And Yes, Nihongo is one of the requirements. The original agreement was, the first six months of the nurses' contract will be solely for Japanese language study in Japan. Although they have their employers already, but they are not allowed to start working unless they finished the course and pass the JLPT or the Japanese Language Proficiency Test. Upon knowing these issue, The PNA or Philippine Nurses Association strictly imposed that nurses should have the Nihongo study here in the Philippines before leaving. And presently, DOLE is coordinating with TESDA for that matter.

There would always be ups and downs for nurses. This is the moment where we want to fast forward. But all we can do right now is to equipped ourselves and explore the other sides of our profession. We should not allow ourselves to be conquered by our frustrations and anger. Now stand up! And stop checking the net over and over again when will retrogression be lifted!

SideDrip: Finest Ice Cream Ever!

It`s GELATONE at Greenbelt 3! At 100php per scoop, you can taste one of the finest and smoothest ice creams ever... I selected dark chocolate because I love it so much. Try it!

What I can see outside my window?

View from our hotel inspired recovery room...

Seeing these releases my stress from work.

SideDrip: My First Trinoma Mall Visit!

My first Trinoma Mall visit was splendid! Although it was raining during our travel by MRT but fortunately, the station ended at the foot of the mall. TriNoMa (Triangle North of Manila) Mall　is located of course, in north of Manila, Quezon City. You can find there the most famous restaurants and shops such as Chef d` Angelo, starbuck`s, Yellow Cab, Tokyo Tokyo, etc. and fresh establishments such as Dairy Queen, Five Cows, Taco Bell and more. Each floor has its own breathtaking mini park and/or man made garden surrounded by coffee shops and restaurants.

SideDrip:An afternoon with Sam and Toni....

It was a Sunday afternoon when I and my boyfriend were having some coffee at Glorietta when we saw the announcement that Toni Gonzaga and Sam Milby will be performing for free at the atrium. Well, it`s been so long since I am hoping to see them in person and I was so lucky.

My New Environment

Today was my first day in my new environment. At first, I was a bit hesitant if I can fit in. The fact that came from Davao means I have to compete with my "Manilenya" counterparts. During the interview I was glad that the Medical Director were impressed with my resume and asked me immediately to go on a trial period. Well, it was a great start for me. I must not let the Medical Director down and I must prove to him his impression. I am at the Operating Room and we have few cases that morning. It all went well and I am glad that I have some hospital experience in OR and had been teaching and supervising students as well in same area for almost three years. It really helped me a lot. I never mentioned the "CI thing" to my co-trainees and staffs because I don`t want them to expect a lot from me and/or it might hesitate them to make friends with me or they would ask me a lot of questions which I cannot answer...or am I just paranoid! hahaha! There are times during my first day that I acted like I am still a clinical instructor in the OR because I am used to of imposing what is the "ideal", especially when it comes to violating one of the principles of Aseptic Technique. Hehehe. But, I anticipated this ahead of time so I kept reminding myself that I am working now as a plain OR trainee (I guess this is one hell of a value that I leaned from OR "anticipation"...hehehe) and it helped me to gain control of myself. So far so good, I hope I can established a good reputation and gain more learnings from my new environment especially expressing myself more in Tagalog! hahaha!

Wish me luck!

Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass

Gastric bypass is one way to promote weight loss usually recommended to treat obese patients. Nowadays, this surgery is also one of the services offered by some plastic surgery clinics.

Mnemonic Series No. 5: Care of Client in Traction

T- Temperature (extremity) R- Ropes hang freely A- Alignment C- Circulation check (5 P`s) T- Type and location of fracture I- Increase Fluid Intake O- Overhead trapeze N- No weights on bed or floor

June 2007 Nursing Licensure Exam: Performance of the Schools in Davao Region and North Cotabato

The most awaited June 2007 Nursing Board Examination is out and here is a list of the performance of the most popular nursing schools in Davao Region and North Cotabato.

Arriesgado College Foundation Inc., Tagum City Davao del Norte - 63%

Ateneo de Davao University, Davao City - 60%

Brokenshire College, Davao City - 42%

Davao Docotors College, Davao City　- 40%

Mindanao Medical Foundation College, Davao City - 20%

North Davao College Foundation, Tagum City - 17%

North Valley College Foundation, Inc., Kidapawan City - 39%

Notre Dame of Midsayap College, Midsayap - 47%

St. Mary`s College of Tagum, Tagum City - 40%

San Pedro College, Davao City - 72%

Tecaro College Foundation, Inc., Davao City - 22%

University of Immaculate Conception, Davao City - 17%

click here to view the topnotchers and the complete list of the performance of all Nursing schools.

click here to see the full list of names of passers.

GOd BleSs YoU All!

GOoDLucK

MaNiLA nCLex-RN ExAMiNEeS !

PRAYER BEFORE EXAMINATIONS

Lord,

it seems as though our lives are one test after another, weighing us in somebody's balance. Save us from taking the coming test too seriously or too lightly, but grant that we may reflect the best of the work we've done and the best of the teaching we've received. . . .

John W. Vannorsdall Notre Dame Prayer Book

Dear Lord,

Sometimes I feel a little strange praying to you because of an exam. It doesn't really seem all that significant when you consider the "big picture." But right now, the test looms so large that it is all I can see before me.

I pray to you for three things: - the strength to handle the pressure that I feel, - the confidence to feel secure in my knowledge and preparation, - and the ability to keep an appropriate perspective on it all. Help me to keep in mind what is really important, even as I focus all of my time and energy on this test in the immediate future. Amen

Mnemonic No.4: Mixing Insulin

Draw up the clear...

(clear and fast-acting)

before the cloudy

(cloudy and long acting)

This is to prevent contaminating the short-acting insulin with a long-acting insulin.

Where I was Born as a Clinical Instructor

SPC having some improvements...

San Pedro College is located at 12-c de Guzman Street, Davao city just beside the San Pedro Hospital and at the back of Gaisano Mall in Bajada is the number 1 nursing school in Mindanao and accredited to Level lll by PAASCU. I was with this institution for 3 years and I'm glad in some ways that I am part of this prestigious school. I miss my days here and the friends I made...

Finding the Cheapest Medicines in Town

click the LOGO to view the price list of the common OTC drugs available.

"Botika ng Bayan" is a drugstore where Filipinos can find the cheapest drugs in the country. This is one of the government's program that has been implemented for a couple of months now. The government aim to decrease the prices of essential medicines by 50% by year 2010.

These pharmacies are placed all over the Philippines and able to reached most remote areas that are far from drugstores and hospitals.

It is indeed a great effort from the government to reach out to us and be able to make us feel that somehow we have been given something.

Click the LOGO above to view the price list of the OTC drugs available at the Botika ng Bayan.