• November 5 2009

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    The Other Side of the Coin

    Today, I was supposed to get some important documents from my alma mater, which I have requested for almost two weeks ago. However, due to complicated circumstances on their side, I wasn’t able to get it - for the second time. I am quite annoyed by what happened because first of all, my much-awaited employment will be delayed again, and second, my schedule for the rest of this week is ruined.

    Speaking of that certain much-awaited employment, I had a hard time getting one in-line with my course despite having good grades and all. I had to prepare lots of resumes, acquire important documents necessary for their hiring, and then go to all hospitals I know of, rain-or-shine. But in the end, there was not much of a good thing that happened: all hospitals have stopped hiring due to excessive nurses on the job queue, some hospitals have certain requirements that are kind of impossible for me to have since I am not employed yet (i.e. SSS, tax certificate, etc.), and some hospitals are accepting jobless nurses for training that they - not the hospital - should pay for without having any assurance that by the end of the training, these nurses will be absorbed by those hospitals. It was a very discouraging experience if you ask me. But alas, in the end, because of certain connections within a certain hospital, I have a MINUTE hope of getting that much-awaited employment. I repeat: MINUTE. Fantastic.

    Four years ago, when I was just a freshman, I was promised by my parents and relatives that by the end of my studying, it would be easy for me to have a job since nurses are so in-demand, and that they would be happy if I took this course. Thus, I gave up, for the meantime, my big dream to become a famous international broadcast journalist, among others. Furthermore, I believed in the promise of those people, without thinking of the changes that might happen during my journey as a nursing student. And now, those inevitable changes - and the mess that comes along with it - have taken place (in no particular order):

    • Since nurses are so in-demand internationally, more undergrads want to take this course…even those who have graduated in another degree. Thus, more enrollment in Nursing schools and consequently, more graduates of BS Nursing.
    • Mushroom Nursing schools have sprouted here and there, producing more graduates of BS Nursing (although, they are not doing so well in the local board examinations).
    • Other countries are also producing nurses as well (i.e. India). Thus, less job placements for Filipino Nurses.
    • Due to certain economical crisis in the international scene, they too have stopped hiring overseas graduate nurses, even though they still are in dire need of nurses. Thus, again, less job placement of Filipino Nurses - and other overseas nurses for that matter.
    • Because these big-time international medical institutions deem overseas graduates of Nursing as ineffective/inefficient, they now require these nurses to undergo 1-2 years minimun employment at a tertiary hospital plus NCLEX/CGFNS/IELTS/BRIDGING COURSE PROGRAM. Since there is an overload of nurses here in the Philippines, I have the slightest chance to get a decent employment to qualify for that minimum 1-2 years experience at a tertiary hospital.
    • And so much more reasons to go that I dare not expound further anymore.

    It’s really difficult to fight my way through this mess that the changes have brought. And, there is nothing I can do - for now - to put order to this mess that has taken effect. Nevertheless, what I can do now is to put order to the mess I created within me: the loss of hope, the loss of motivation, and the dwindling passion to continue on with the path I have chosen.

    For me to put myself in order, one of the things I did was to search for some hopeful facts and figures on the net regarding the future of nurses:

    Although these are just few hopeful things to know, it just shows that there is still hope. I believe what matters most is that I remain hopeful, that all nurses should remain hopeful. For hope lets us carry on despite the difficulties that lead us blind. Hope makes waiting a delicious suspense. Hope makes problems an exciting challenge. Hope turns hurting into a life-changing event. Hope makes everything ennobled and worth it.

    So, I say to those things - or people - that make life difficult for me: Thank you for making my life exciting and challenging. Thank you for making me cherish the importance of my dreams in life. Thank you for building my character. Thank you for making me realize how much more I can do for myself and for others. Just a BIG sincere thank you for making me a better human being.

    And now, going back to the thing that annoyed me today, I also would want to say thank you for making me understand the value of anticipating and being flexible in situations I cannot control.

    Certainly, there is a greener pasture existing in our everyday experiences, the other side of the coin as some would call it. We just have to change our attitude towards them…to see the beauty of life that is promised to us <3

    Nov 5, 2009 @ 12:10 pm

    post tags: My First Blog