A Nurse in the Time of Pandemic

What if I told you that I had never gone home for a week? What if I told you that it is a privilege for me to sleep in a bus going home after work? What if I told you that I have been ambivalent and anxious for the last months?  I guess these are all the same feelings with other people especially the frontliners.

"Paul, Mike, Noel, Kris, Gwen, Joy, Kelvin - my former IELTS students"

"With Karen, Nell, Janine, Van, and Villaros"

My Life before the Pandemic

I went home in Cebu last March to celebrate my mom and dad's birthdays not knowing that I'd be stuck here until now. Back then in General Santos City, I was an IELTS Trainer while working part-time in the hospital as a nurse. I would say that I had the best in both worlds practicing the nursing and teaching profession.

"Before everyone else becomes busy"

"My day as a medication nurse - sorting before medicating"

But everything changed due to the country's lockdown implementation. I was stuck in Cebu unemployed! I was stuck in Cebu away from home since it was that same day that I was on my way to Camotes Island for a short solo trip. In a literal view, I was alone.

Indeed, resilience defines me that I started to connect with a former colleague in Danao City. Her family helped me during the strict quarantine days. They allowed me to stay in their place while waiting for the next quarantine status. My parents were worried but I reassured them that I was doing fine and safe.

The Opportunity after being Laid-off

I was laid-off as an IELTS Trainer by my UK-employer. I understood about the retrenchment. There were only few nurses who enrolled in the program so it was not wise enough for my employer to continue my service. It got me worried in a moment but I would say that I was prepared for it. With my savings and would-be-travel expenses, my former colleague and I put up a starter milktea business and eventually, we have it running and expanding until now. (We already have a physical store, and our business is already registered under DTI and BIR.)

Being optimistic also plays a great role in my situation. I found myself applying for a nursing job in the hospital in the tri-city but I felt discouraged with their conditions. Being a nurse is a challenge, itself, how much more working during this health crisis.

The Universe Heard my Dream

As if heaven heard my heart's desire that one afternoon a close friend called me for a job. At first, I was hesitant to accept it. One, it relates to one global problem, and two, it is a new job under an international organization. I knew I was defying the law of attraction but whatever path I would take, my nursing profession always calls me. As they say, "A nurse is always a nurse."

"Joy and I became substitute Clinical Instructors when we had a short stay in Cebu."

"It was all worth the experience with these students."

So I stepped on the challenge. I attended their training both offline and online. One orientation after another. One meeting after the next. I must say that my job description is getting clearer and clearer each time I finished one webinar and session each day. Finally, I had the chance to join my team together with the Barangay Health Emergency Rescue Team members. I still couldn't believe that my advocacy to help others would be made possible by this non-government organization.

On Final Thoughts

When a door closes, a window opens. My window of opportunity just opened due to this pandemic. It opened an opportunity for me to practice both my profession - Nursing and Teaching. I am happy to say that I am part of Cebu COVID-19 Response Team. We are the city's mobilizer whose aim is to strengthen the capacity of the Barangay Health Emergency Rescue Team of the 10 barangays in Cebu City.

"The BHERTS together with Councilor Wee and Nurse Robyn"

"Here is the team!"

I may feel tired and sometimes anxious these days but the greatest feeling that I have is for me to be able to render my service to people.

P.S.: Nurses are not only assigned in the hospitals. They could be in the barangay sectors as part of the BHERTs.

P.S.S.: Please don't feel bad if they are prioritized in public transportation, you don't know how tired they were after a 12-hour shift or longer. Let us help them, and try to be considerate.

Here are some of my unexpected emergency nursing moments while on vacation:

1. Helping a TIA Patient while in a Beach Vacation

2. Helping a friend with a minor injury in a rope course

Share on Google Plus

About anjville

This is a short description in the author block about the author. You edit it by entering text in the "Biographical Info" field in the user admin panel.