sponges, needles and instrument count: COMPLETE

• this is how i spent my semestral break: ON CALL DUTY.

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• Amidst the time for relaxation, breaking free and most of all deep slumbers, I am awake like a night owl almost every night waiting for a dear mother to deliver her child. And I did not came there for nothing! I achieved my goal- completion of DR scrubs!

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• the first week, I was in Janiuay for my completion duty in the health center delivery room. I was so happy that i have completed my scrubs there. The primary reason why i went there is to complete my DR scrubs..vacation was secondary..hehe..I was together with my few close friends; kai and queencie among other else. It was our last bonding time before the 2nd sem kicks off. we won’t be classmates anymore so we spent fun times with each other. I was thinking that we had spent more time together compared with our families this break!Oh well, I will still be seeing them everyday when i get home..nevertheless, i did not regret the experience.

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• We really had fun there! waking up at 10 in the morning, doing our everyday routines, cooking meals and of course, it’s never quite an on call duty if an information of a waiting delivery is not sent at the middle of the night! So we end up, grabbing our scrub suits or at times, wearing it hurriedly over our shirts and pants just to arrive at the center in time for the delivery. We do this almost every night! Fun, isn’t it?!hehe.. we even had a time where we almost stepped on a frog while running to the center. Oh! For the love of deliveries! haha!

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• We end up whining about how sleepy and tired we are at the end of the day. We even had different positions while sleeping when waiting for a delivery. One would settle for the classic "leaning on the table", while one would stand up and turn the head to the side. as for me, i sat down with my hand up to shoulder level just to keep my hand as sterile as it is! tsk,tsk..this is what sleep deprivation can do!

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• Nevertheless, we had funny moments in the DR. From the silly sleeping positions to the mothers in labor! we had so much fun during our stay there and we also did something very important on top of it. It was worthwhile.

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• I came home after a week of stay there. And after 1 day of rest which was on Nov. 1, I was back on track! On call duty in the operating room! I only had 3 minor operations to go and I’m done! so I volunteered myself to replace those who can’t scrub in. I handled 2 cases yesterday.

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• It was funny since I went back to the OR yesterday just to get the last case. It was raining. I received a text that I had to go back there since there was an emergency operation. So i rushed to get dressed, grabbed my things (which fortunately, i did not place out of my bag) then grabbed an umbrella and flew like a bird! My clinical instructor even called me up and asked if i could come since the patient was on her way up the operating room. Fortunately, i live close to the hospital, just 2 blocks away. when i arrived there, it was not long after that the patient was wheeled in since i saw the outside stretcher being pulled out. I rushed to get dressed and scrubbed immediately. i was able to handle the case.

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• As the cherry on top, the surgeon commended me that i was "very good", as quoted, in assisting her during the procedure. I was the only scrub nurse there. the staff nurse did not scrub in since it was only a simple case. i was very happy with the positive reinforcement that i got. She was quite constantly saying that i was good. She even told my clinical instructor that i am good and that he would give me good grades..hehe..too bad, this is only a completion duty..no grades at all..by the way, she is the chief of obstetrics in one of the hospitals here..Go me!! yey! hahaha!

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• I was back in the operating room today and at long last, I finished my minor operations this afternoon! whew!At first, i said that I have to finish my scrubs before I graduate but lately, it lowered down to finishing it before the start of the next semester. I DID IT! I completed all my scrubs! yeey!

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• I felt bad for kai though..hehe..she was dreaming of scrubbing for a craniotomy for her last major operation but she ended up with a tonsillectomy which she almost had nothing to do..She just stood at the side wile the scrub nurses did what they have to do..poor her..

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• As for me, i’m going to miss the operating room and delivery room for sure..my work there is done. i’m officially laying my scrub suit down..hay..my experiences there are worth remembering and they form a bulk in my best clinical experiences.

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• being an operating room or delivery room nurse would still continue as a vision and as a dream..let’s just hope for the best and let the future take its course.

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Hazel Joy Te SN/ SPU-Iloilo is officially scrubbing out!

nov 3, 2007