Capitol University Medical Center, Cagayan de Oro City, 1st Hemodialysis Training: A Success!

The "first-ever" Hemodialysis Training of Capitol University Medical Center in Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines started last April 17, 2017 and it took its culmination last May 29 of the same year. The 6-week training garnered quality teaching-learning experience especially for us, trainees who in the future serves as the frontliners of taking care of the patients who have kidney problems.

It has been said by Antonio Paraiso, DOH program manager for the Philippine Network for Organ Sharing, that close to 23,000 patients were undergoing dialysis treatment in 2013. He also added, "At the end of 2013, close to 23,000 and it is still increasing. You have about 10- to 15-percent increase per year” whom Paraiso found out that the leading cause of the outburst of kidney failure in Filipinos is diabetes, followed by hypertension and glomerulonephritis. (The whole article which was written by Sheila Crisostomo, dated February 25, 2014 - DOH: Cases on kidney failure on the rise can be read through the Internet)

This shocking rise in the cases of kidney problems among Filipinos are really serious and the need to reside on the “experts” on this field is highly in demand for it calls for the preservation and prolonging of life. In order to respond to this tremendous need,  Hemodialysis Nurses are much needed in the medical field in order to answer for the “call of these times”.

Through the wondrous, extraordinary and helpful efforts of the “honorable heads” of Capitol University Medical Center – Hemodialysis Unit, Rizza T. Fulache, RN, CNN (CUMC-HD Unit Supervisor) and Vanessa Claire Alban, RN, CNN (CUMC-HD Unit Head Nurse) and also with the never-ending support of Rosalinda P. Deleste, DM (President), Maria Theresa C. Huizo, RN, MN (Nursing Director), Helen Yvonne D. Villaret-Roa, MD, FPCP (Chair, Clinical Didactics Committee), Sandra P. Oliveros, MD, FPCP, FPSN (Chair, Scientific Committee), Engr. Joey R. Deleste and Frances Gay L. Pia, RN, MAN, we, the “pioneers” of the 1^st Batch of Hemodialysis Trainee in CUMC would like to extend our warmest “Thank You” for the quality teaching-learning experience that we savor from two weeks lecture, one week return demonstration and three weeks of clinical duty experience in the area. The 240-hour Dialysis Training Course are all worth it!

We also would like to extend our warmest thanks to the assertive, autonomous, equipped, compassionate, talented, skillful and competent Registered Nurses in the Hemodialysis Unit in Capitol Universtiy Medical Center for sharing their knowledge, learnings and for guiding us all throughout our training – Mary Jane Variacion Luna, Jennifer Jane Quijada, Jairus Magdadaro, Niña Mae Janolino, Porcia Grace Bajar, Adelane Concha, Kristy Dawn Gabule, Nhestly Abejero, Christine Marquita, Jerramie Kris Blanco, Nikka Engcong, Sarah Grace Emnace, Klerramae Hope Barretto, Angelica Allere, Chona Bonglay, Angie Low Sabado and Stephanie Micayabas and Sheryl Cortes.

We would like also to thank the technicians for sharing their time for introducing us to the world behind every start of the Hemodialysis processes. This is spearheaded by Mark Anthony Nudalo, Edu Lou Acerdano, Kariim Ray Garcia, Jerome Tingabngab, Axyl Russ Sagarino, Neil Javon Aranas, Gretel Maglacion, Rex Lim, Artemio Aclo, Jr. and Jake Labuntog.

Furthermore, a big "thanks" to the clerk who in any way designate us to our patients who we take care and give our best. A big thanks to Edlyne May Reyes, Charmagne Macabaya, Charito Pisla, Aura Paz Barillo and Marlyn Zabala.

Lastly, "thank you" to our patients who bring out the best in us for letting us give the right nursing interventions based on our assessment and for responding to their seriuos concerns regarding their health condition. We have learned a lot from encoutering them. Understanding and prioritizing their needs pave us to be more knowledgeable, alert, equipped, more sensitive to their needs and compassionate in extending our care. We learned how to build rapport and communicate with them in the best possible way that we can.

Moreover, I would personally say "Thank you" to my co-trainees (Batch 01) for the opportunity for us to cross our paths, building the gift of friendship, love and understanding and for the spirit of helping each other on our training days - Mae Dagupan, Paulette April Mercado, Mary Grace Imboc, Nikka Pangonahon, Jhalil Sangcopan, Ma. Elena Valle, Ruby Jane Estrada, Katrina Lariosa and the couple - Maria Michaela Cabasag and Benjamin Cabasag. I definitely know that we will see each other someday.

The training is not just merely for the sake of learning the skill and mastering them, but it is also a values-formation that nurtured us to be more Christ-like as we go along the journey of our individual lives. Being in the Hemodialysis Unit at CUMC spells a big responsibility and accountability that the very moment you enter its door, trust is build to everyone not just to every patient, but also to their families and loved ones. The quality training that they instill in us lets us become more humane to be always ready to accept the challenges this world could ever bring.

It is good to produce history that spells quality. Thank you Capitol University Medical Center - Hemodialysis Unit for making us grow individually and letting us excel in our chosen path to be a Hemodialysis Nurse. We are saturated with all the learnings in this training. Continue to be an avenue that opens the doors in dealing with the rising health problems in "these times" to give hope in the lives of many.  And I can say that this training is a good start!

Understanding: All that was left.

Have you ever felt that there is always "missing" where in fact there is really none, for those who sees you as such. But deep within your soul, there is. It is quiet weird, but it is worth tolerable.

 

Life is queer. Captivating to be mesmerized by all the selfish pleasures and material happiness this world could ever give, I stand calm for not a single one, I remember, I dream of.

 

There you are standing in the crossroads, often. You have nothing in mind, but just a piece of understanding all the time. A kind of understanding that makes you numb from complaining because there is really no reason to complain. And all of a sudden, you create suggestions in your mind, but just in your thoughts, for as usual, your attitude of "you don't have the right to complain" flourish on you. Then, you just understand everything as if you don't have the choice, but really to meet at one point - to understand.

I was welcomed in this "new year" (2015) with depths of much understanding in every situation as I was tested many times this day. And as usual, since I don't have the right to complain, I keep my word and just stay calm and understand the situation because I am more on "their" feelings than "mine".

Am I always a martyr in this? If I were to ask, "Yes!" my reply because "to understand" is the only thing that I know and deeply rooted in me whenever I encounter situations. I can't force the scenario if it is not justifiable. All I just do is to "always understand".

"Understanding" is my way of sacrificing, my way of respecting, my way of showing how much I love and care the person, my way of giving what I want to let them in, my way of accepting things that life doesn't always come my way. But the best in all of that:

"I will not stop trying because I want to know what is on the other side of the road."

Just a sort of reflection I have for this day...:-) I know you have yours in mind too.

What to look out when you cook "Kangkong"

"Kangkong" is one of the vegetable that I love to eat. It is a vine that finds me appealing to eat when cooked. You can actually think of many possible dishes that you can collaborate having this in your recipe. And mine is called "Adobong Kangkong with matching corned beef".

What you are going to pay close attention when cooking "Kangkong" is its leaves (most especially) because it can be overly landed by dusts of any kinds.

There you go, you got it fresh, but it is dusty, that is another big problem for once the dust is not properly taken away through thorough washing, then for sure, you will surely enjoying to also be eaten them. And that is a big no, no!



My not-just-an-ordinary Champorado (Chocolate Rice Porridge)

The weather is cold and my appetite for cooking is incredibly unstoppable. So I prepare what I have got to warm everyone's day. How? It is through my so called "Not-just-an-ordinary Champorado". In short, it is "Chocolate Rice Porridge", Filipino style.

What makes it not-so-ordinary is that when you have extra cooked rice at home, instead of throwing them as leftovers, you can add it on this. It is the idea of recycling and being not wasteful about food. Plus, when you cook, it doesn't mean to say that you have to buy everything to really perfect your creation. I mean, you need to utilize what is available. In this part, I don't have glutinous rice or "malagkit" which is supposed to be the original ingredients for this, I use plain rice. I don't have condensed milk as toppings, but I just utilize the bits of bread to appear my "Champorado" tempting to eat.

In cooking, you can make your own initiative, have your own style, follow your instinct as long as it will not compromise the exact taste as you wish for your food to appear.

And for my "not-just-an-ordinary Champorado", this I got for you...

The ingredients are:
1. 1 and 1/2 cup of rice (or you can use glutinous rice or malagkit)

2. 1/4 cup brown sugar (or you can also use white sugar)

3. 100 ml Ricoa Sweeteened Cocoa (or you can use "tableya" or any other cocoa powder)

4. 400 ml water

All you need to do is to follow these simple steps:
1. Pour 400 ml of water in a pot and bring to a boil.

2. Put-in the rice and allow water to re-boil for a few minutes.

Note: Don't forget to add the extra rice instead of throwing them as leftover. Put-in the old rice once the rice (new) is already cooked. Make sure that the old rice is not spoiled.

3. Pour-in the 100 ml. cocoa powder and add the 1/4 cup brown sugar. Stir.

4. Mix and wait until all the mixture is fully blend.

5. Once done, remove from the pot and place in a serving bowl.

6.  Serve hot with a swirl of condensed milk on top, but for me since I don't have condensed milk, I use my creativity. I make initiative of the bread, get bits of it and form "smiling" face on my "not-just-an-ordinary Champorado".

Bring on the happiness for you and your family with this so-called "Not-just-an-ordinary Champorado"! I just did for my sisters! :-)

How to spoil everyone's day? The secret? Here's how!

Long hours of waiting for another day and just get bored. Well, it is a sort of how to you turn boredom into excitement. It is a matter in a way of thinking how you can bring spark to everyone's lonely faces in the home.

I believe that the way to everyone's stomach is to make their tummy happy. Food, the ultimate solution! And not just the ordinary foods, but the ones that indeed give justice especially to their delicate "pouch".

Food. It is not to intentionally add weight to their growing body. It is to spoil them with the ultimate taste that you got for them. And so far, this is my ultimate love.

Being at home for a long vacation, I want to create a big smiling face to my sisters. That is why, in order for me to spoil their day, I always make it sure to cook or prepare something special for them.

Honestly, when you are not good in cooking, don't frown because I do believe that everything can be taught. Everything can be learned. I started from lots of trial-and-error attempts in order to perfect my cooking. And now, I can say that I am not in the losing end. I have applied what I have learned.

This afternoon, I prepared them the so-called "Egg Sandwich". It is just so simple. Here's how:

Ingredients:
150 g of all-purpose mayonnaise
3 pcs. boiled egg (peeled and chopped into very small pieces)
sliced bread

Procedure
1. Chop into small pieces the boiled eggs.
2. Pour the all-purpose mayonnaise and mix.
3. Spread the Egg Sandwich in the sliced bread.

See, it is just so simple. With just 3-steps away, you can create big smiles to everyone's faces. Happy delighting!

Yum! Yum! Yum! Delicious! :-)  Egg Sandwich, it is a day's spoiler!

Jumping in at Iligan City: G-Force Rocks!

Christmas Time in the Philippines is not complete without exchanging gifts with friends, families, etc. It has been a part of everyone's culture in my country that when there is an occasion, there should always be a celebration. And one of that is having a Christmas Party.

Filipinos love to feast whatever celebrations in the month calls for, whether it be a birthday, fiesta, wedding, thanksgiving, Christening, farewell, relocating to a new house, New Year, etc. We feel the essence of love, the presence and togetherness as we enjoy celebrating the occasions with our friends, families, cousins, relatives, neighbors, loved one, etc. It is already part of our culture. That is why,  last December 20, 2014 (Saturday), we had our party. It is called the "G-Force Christmas Party".  Why "G-Force"? Because I spent the event with my "Gorgeous" (the adjective of how I describe our group) circle of friends  who are precious and important to me. We held our party at Iligan City which is part of Mindanao.

 

Why Iligan? Because we want to experience something new. And indeed, we really, really experience something new. All the places that we have been were unplanned, but shall I say that I enjoyed them so much!

The call-time is 6:30 in the morning and all of us should reach the meeting place where the van will pick us up on or before 6:30 and so I did. Evening of that day, I just can't sleep. It is because I am overly excited.

 

It takes about 3-4 hours travel from Cagayan de Oro to Iligan City, but we didn't noticed the time because all of us were having a sort of "Sing Along" in the van. The music are extremely great. All are my favorite songs, both classic and the latest ones were played.  My friends are enjoying too. We sing at the top of our lungs. Boisterous laugthers and unstoppable loud noises are everywhere. It is a sort of, "Who cares?!?".

We had three places of excellent invites that we have experienced landing:

First, we had our first stop at Maze Parks and Resort where we had our simple yet meaningful Christmas Party celebration. It is where we enjoy submerging ourselves in the cold water. It is also where we had our exchange gift and of course, eating time!

 

The area is tremendously huge. There are lots of cottages and mostly are "reserved" (already taken for occupants). Ours are P350.00 only. It is big.

 

Almost everyone in there are celebrating Christmas Party too. There are lots of people. Children, young and old adults are present. And all of them are enjoying the cold waters just like we do.

 

The pool caters for various ages. Children's pools are the coolest. There are countless kids swimming there. Adult's pools are just so-so. Not too many people and not too few.
 

 

What I love most is the time when I take the slide. It is wonderful. Actually, that was my first time and so I was never acquainted. As I was taking the last drop, it so happen that I drunk little amount of the pool's water. That is indeed hilarious. But that was indeed fun!

 
 

Second, I wasn't expecting that the tide would drive us to the place called the "Nature's Park" where the "Crocodile Park Botanical and Zoological Garden" as well as the "Maria Christina Falls" are awaiting for us.  This time I am super excited because I really love the nature so much and I know it is about time for me to discover something new. I have realized. This is a sort of an educational trip as well.

 

The crocodiles are like lifeless. I wonder if they ever move. They are super big and scaly. If they could ever stand, probably almost all of them are 9 feet long. They look scary because it seems like their stare are ready to take a bite. The baby crocodiles are the cutest. They are like lizards. They are tiny.

 

 

It is my first time to see the ostrich. Its long neck is an advantage because it can see views way up there. The duck is attractive. His color is purely white. I remember seeing the duck as the dove. But the most furious are the snakes. There were two of them. The one is like transforming his skin. I love to disturb them to see how they react, but I think it is not a good idea because I know my friends might be afraid. The moment I see the snake, there is that feeling that I would like to fight with them with a sword. Hahaha...what a weird thinking!
 

 

Third, since we are running out of time, we directly went to the place where the beautiful "Maria Christina Falls" is situated. It is also my first time to see the falls. I have seen them many times in pictures in some Social Study books in my elementary and high school years. Seeing the falls for real, it is a fulfilling adventure.

 

I want to capture the view in the near site, but we don't have the opportunity to do it. They said that the way to get intimate to the falls are closed. But nevertheless, I enjoyed a lot. The falls are like coming its prime start from the clouds above and it flows to the bottom. Its water drips down low and the sounds of the waters flowing in the river are suggesting me to take a rest and unwind for some time. Hope I had the time to go up close-and-personal of the falls but it is okay. At least, I am filled with much happiness on that day.

It is a wonderful feeling to see what nature can give for us. I have realized that I have to really work hard and even strive to study harder so that I could land a job with good salary after college so that when I have lots of money, I will let my family to travel places that they have never been.

Traveling makes me write a book. There is a sort of "ignition" that is happening in me. It is like there is a fire burning in me to do the composition now, as in now! It is a kind of determination that inspires me to see life in a greater chance of opportunity and that being with nature inspires me to love life even more and to thank God more, who is the Giver of life because of the opportunity that I have seen His wonderful creations with love and happiness in my heart, with my circle of friends who also inspires me everyday.

The experience is immeasurable. It can't be paid by money or luxury. Simple things like being with nature and with the people that I love (my friends who is my family) are worth-remembering. It is life-determinating!

And the most that completes my day is because we have made meaningful circles such as these:

 

I had a lot of fun! Thanks that the sun cooperates!

Hooked in the middle: What should I do?

Until now, I am in the point of finding the right moment how to comfort the "important persons" in my life to ease their sadness that they are feeling. I admit that I am a people-lover person and I have this inner self of reaching out to persons, but this ones made me stop for some times and let me think all over, again and again and again on what to do, how to do it, what to say that they will not get offended or if what comes in my mouth will not aggravate their feelings. I admit that I find it quite hard to be in this situation because what I want is more on happiness for everyone, but life lets me think about the reality that there are some points that I need to accept and further place myself in a situation where understanding is always a must. That me too, I need to accept the reality and emphatize them the way how it should be. Frankly, I am just looking for the right time, the appropriate move to approach them.

This is one of the hardest part that I have encountered so far this year.  What I have in mind is just the thinking that I just have to keep quiet and let time heals because what I think is that if I talk to them on the delicate matter that causes the breakdown of their heart, then I will add more to the sad feelings that they bear.

Life has everything - sadness, failures, depressions, turmoil, plaques, frustrations, etc. Name them, the world has it all. But to surpass all those unwanted "viruses" that kills the heart, time settles the feeling of a broken heart.

Realizations will come. What happen to them is unexpected and of course, no one wants it in the first place. It is to tap them out from their sleep. It is probably to hurt a person in order to be formed. It is to calm the wild waves of procrastination so that it will swiftly drip into its level of doing the things now. It is giving a tranquil atmosphere where rooms of improvement are theirs to take and that give some extra shots of ultimate force to sacrifice - a matter of prioritization.

What I know for sure that I do is that I did not give them false assurance because it is much hurtful for them to know because I know from the fact that the situation will lead to a bad news.

I just listen and keep quiet. I just keep my mind registering all those information and create judgment which I just know in my mind because I do not want that someone will get hurt.

One thing that ALWAYS holds this Earth is that REALITY BITES. And that is the fact that everyone needs to STRONGLY face. :-(

This one tests me. My answer: Conquer them with all tranquility. In time, answers will then form.