Community Heath Nursing (When I did my training years ago!)

I am not an avid fan of Community Health Nursing. As a matter of fact, it’s been one of my most dreaded subjects during college. My professor, Ma’am Zeny Famorca’s eagerness and unfailing devotion in teaching the subject matter were the only summoning force that allowed me to bizarrely accept my fate… “I cannot earn my BSN degree if I don’t try to fall in love with it! So I better swallow my bile and bear with it.”

As I graduated college and entered the realms of UST Hospital, I thought I have lawfully skipped the venom of Community Health Nursing. But like what the Tagalog phrase, “Maling akala,” has proven with the passage of time, mali ang akala ko! Now as I ventured the beauty and grandeur of being a clinical instructor, ironically speaking, I came face to face with my nightmare for the second time. ALAS!

The Pedro Gil Health Center and Lying-In clinic was the place I was assigned to have my Manila Health Department Training. It was in District 5 Manila which I find acceptable since it was situated near my house. However, when the heaven threw the gift of direction, I was still asleep. Finding the place was like finding a needle in a haystack. It was disastrous. Even taxi drivers can’t decipher where in the hell could they find such place on earth. At least, I’m not the only one who is lost and not gifted with good sense of directions. With still luck on my side, my sister knew the place. I was able to breathe out. She offered to take me there every day so I’m grateful.

 “FROZEN,” That’s the word I was looking for. I was frozen in a state of shock. The people who worked at Pedro Gil Lying-In and Health Centers are all blessed with accommodating embrace. They have welcomed me to their sanctuary as if I’m one of them. Dra. Mendoza, the Physician-in charge, allowed me to work like a real Public Health Nurse. Ma’am Vicky, the Nurse-in-Charge, and the other nurses trained me well. They have shared all their wondrous knowledge and skills freely considering I’m just an outsider to their time-built camaraderie. Oftentimes, I wondered how it is possible. But then  my conscience just thunderstormed inside of me saying, “Sometimes, there’s no answer to a certain question.” My conscience is right. I should have known better. Like what the mad hatter asked Alice, “Why is a raven like a writing desk?” some questions are created not to be answered. It’s just the way it is.

“Ooopsy Daisies,” “Is this for real?” “Am I dreaming or what?” Eyeballs popping, nose flaring like Toothless the dragon and jaw dropping were the only reactions I managed to exhibit. My baptism to Pedro Gil Lying-In Health Center has gotten a toll on me. “Ang Toxic!” I once worked in the hospital and I know the toxic atmosphere. But a toxic health center? What the heck? Never compare. I heard this from someone. But I can’t quite help it. Seeing the flow of the patients coming in and out of the doorway seems endless. Non-stop! You just have to be quick like a cheetah to accommodate all clients who were all asking for care, immunizations and consult. Working in the hospital and in this health center is just the same. Many similarities and few differences. As is by chance, I did get through the day. What inspires me the most during the first day was how the people in the health center manipulated the time. They have finished everything in a blink of an eye. Teamwork is the name of the game. From the barangay health workers, to the utility workers, from the nurses to the doctors and dentists, everybody seemed to work in an elegant manner, complementing one another. They are like screws and corks working together to move the hands of the grandfather’s clock. It is a wonderful view to behold.

During my stay in the health center, I somehow appreciate Community Health Nursing. More than that, I did enjoy myself. Feeling of nostalgia came dashing back to me. I injected immunizations to baby which I did way back in college. I remember the feeling of shaky hands combined with ecstasy and feeling of nobility. I admitted cases with different signs and symptoms, allowing me to provide the initial assessment. This, however, faithfully reminded me of the days I’ve spent at the Emergency room. The rush of blood, the adrenaline splurging in my veins and the increased alertness have made me alive again. I do love the feeling!

The DOTS section of the health center has given me shiver. There are a lot of cases. Mostly composed of people living in depressed baranggays. What made my heart throbbed heavily was the fact that there are patients who were children. Pedro Gil Health Center did a great job in taking care of the needy. As a primitive student of Daughters of Charity congregation, I was glad that I’ll be able to live up to what was inculcated in me and that is to help the poorest of the poor.

The power of health teaching has been used up to its full potential in health centers. This was evidently shown because before the admission phase of each day, time has been allotted for such activity. It has been the life of a Public Health Nurse. I was tasked to deliver three lectures and it was fun. The opportunity to clearly converse with clients has been a fulfillment to me because it means that I have shared what I know to my patients for their benefit.

The sun was at its peak when I did my community survey. I’m a certified homebound person and so being outdoors has lost its appeal on me. However, the adventure of doing a survey in a baranggay has won the battle. Walking aimlessly from one direction to another to inquire, “May refrigerator po ba kayo?” “Ilan po ang anak n’yo?” has provided me a free pass to make rapport with the community. With an umbrella in one hand and a survey tool in another, I felt like, somehow, I’m part of this baranggay. A member of a community. The survey has done me a big favor of understanding the baranggay more. It awakened the inner nurse in me. I now realized the true and absolute meaning of the phrase, “Prevention is better than cure.”

Lying-In Center of Pedro Gil is located adjacent to the health center. So finding it has never became a big problem for me. Although it looks empty as I arrived, the nurse-in-charge, Ma’am Norma, has spoken of its ability to provide intrapartum and postpartum care. Being oriented to the set-up while maintaining my fingers crossed all the time has been my habit ever since I need to be trained and to handle cases. This is a pre-requisite because I have the queer ability of warding off potential cases. Well, I really did have a hard time completing my cases. My stay in this Lying-In has filled me with good memories. They have embraced me wholeheartedly and they always sufficiently satisfy my stomach with food, provided me with a good laugh and inspire me that OB nursing is a miraculous field of Nursing. I did make some friends here like Ate Perla. =)

The magic of giving birth has given me goose bumps all over my body. The feeling of witnessing another life came into existence is always a privilege. Even though I have no intention of being an Obstetrical Nurse, this experience allowed me not to close my doors. OB nursing intrigues me.

I recommend that Lying-In exposure should be lengthened. Completing the cases has given me a hard time. Although, the whole Lying-In staff supported me in every possible way, waiting for a possible case has summoned every ounce of faith I had. Lengthening the time of exposure will provide future Clinical Instructors enough time to complete their required cases.

To conclude everything, my Manila Health department Training has been SO AWESOME!