March 3, 2011, Thursday, I experienced another amazing chapter of my nursing life; this day was full of excitement and learning. Although tiring as it may seem, the fulfillment it gives is just so exceptional. Nursing comes with hardships and hardships are equal to success. I think it’s better off not to stop doing the best we could because it will all be paid off someday.

First day was exhilarating but enjoy. We started the day quite bad though. I got a low grade on our first quiz and that isn’t an inspiration! So, I moved on and did everything to compensate with that awful reality. We were assigned at the ER and OPD. No actually, we’re divided into 5, the last five in our group we’re assigned in OPD and the other, in ER.

In the first few moments in OPD, everything was running smoothly and steady along with our own attitudes and skills. We managed to use our time wisely and carry out procedures flawlessly. However there was an instance when a pedia patient with parents came over. The little girl was so lethargic and complaining of stomachache and nausea. While we’re taking her vital signs, the girl coughed up and we saw blood stained sputum. So we hurriedly tell the father to rush the documents to the window C for processing and so did he. The moment the father of the patient returned, I ushered them to the E.R and told the staff nurse what was the initial data, chief complaint and history then I left.

The time passed by, we stick to the routine. Clients come and go, we took initial data, vital signs, weight and height, established some rapport and history then assisted them to the ER or directed to the OPD.

In the Outpatient department, “there should be no room for mistakes, and there will be no room for mistakes”. Everything that will be processed in the ER will be dependent on the data from the OPD. So, it should be accurate. Thanks to our Clinical Instructor, Mr. Villanueva for guiding us through appropriateness. Maybe, without his firm disciplinary way, we’re making albums of mistakes now.