Don't get me wrong. I'm an OFW. And I'm proud to be. Gets me a little sad sometimes (being away from loved ones and all), but being here for almost three years now, (eeeps, where did all the money go?) I've gotten used to the fact that where I am now is probably where I will stay for a looooong time. Not that it's a bad place to be, like i said, i'm not complaining, i'm just saying.
(I was gonna write about the TV shows i luvlike to watch lately and the songs on my playlist that i play over and over for 24hours, (i've been keeping a draft of these posts for the longest time) but a talk with my supervisor just kinda blew me off a little bit. People can be soooo unprofessional and self-absorbed.)
Like i said, i've been here almost three years. 2 years and 5 months to be exact. I wasn't one of the first batch of nurses who got hired as kinda like the experimental group, to see if International nurses would be benefecial for the hospital. And lemme just say, the first four who were hired were the best so far and thanks to them, we got hired. I was from the third batch and so far, they STILL loved us, not until the 6th or the latter ones came. Sigh.
I'm not saying I'm perfect, as a nurse. I get along pretty well (most of the time, when i'm not in my rotten mood, hehe, which is rare, i swear) with my colleagues, i get the work done, and patients love me. That's what matters. I get by. It's not as easy as i write about it now, but you kinda get used to it and adjust to life the best way you can. Just give it time.
I remember my first few weeks on the job. I was like so scared i was gonna pee on my pants everytime i go to work. I'm not used to the machines, not used to talking to Americans for 12hours sometimes not understanding what they're saying and them not understanding what i'm saying, not used to talking and giving my own sense about the management of some patients to the doctors, but most importantly being alone ALONE in the wilderness working with people who are staring at you and looks at every single move you make and make you feel like an outsider. But look at me now....
Yes, we party with them, hang out, attend their kid's parties and wedding parties etc. Ok, i agree that we all have this individualism, like we don't have the same personality, so some may have a hard time getting along with everybody. But since this is your life now, you gotta adjust and not just bail out anytime you want to. You signed a contract to work for three years, if you can't handle the stress anymore, talk to the Gods that be, and arrange a nice compromise. Which they have always been willing to give to the new nurses who's been complaining since they arrived.My supervisor was complaining to me about the nurses who just resigned and how they just used them to get a visa and some other crap then leaves them hanging after they've gotten used to living and working here in the states. Four nurses already resigned after passing their boards , not finishing their contract and of course living their floors understaff. A couple just didn't show up, and the other two didn't even go to the nurse managers and officially handling their resignation letters. To think that these are the people who, since they came, had been given a lotta consideration in regards to their assignments, schedules and work loads.
My point is, how's about a little professionalism and integrity? We may not have "utang na loob" as what they call it, to the hospital 'coz afterall we worked hard for all the money they paid us. But the fact that they hired us and helped us get here, isn't that at least one good reason not to leave them hanging and just do what you want to do.( that i know you have all the liberty to do with an immigrant visa.)
I may be one of the fortunate ones who got along pretty fast and well with my colleagues and adjusted with the work setting, but heck, i have friends who had their worst nightmares on the job. But they got over it and now well adjusted to it. If they can do it , how can these special people not? I hope i'm not sounding self-righteous here, but, seriously, grin and bear it, do your job, put on a lil sacrifice, keep the faith and hope that everything will be over soon, and it will. It did.
You might think that the question now is , would you keep a job you don't luvlike for practical reasons? I agree that it's not healthy and so unfulfilling sticking to a job you don't like but it won't hurt to show some professionalism/ integrity while planning for your future and just make sure you don't step on anyone or be a bad person while doing what you think you want to do.
I may not understand where these people are coming from , and maybe they have their own good and practical reasons too, but how about the rest of the Filipinos who wants to try their luck in this country too. Are they gonna trust them now as much as they did the first batch? More importantly, would they be hiring anymore nurses from the Philippines? Poor nurses, the irresponsible ones ruined it for them. sigh.
As it is, the 3 new nurses who arrived a month ago was told that they have to get their boards and pass it in three months as opposed to giving us a year before using a limited permit to review and pass. It was a great help to have a year to adjust and get settled first without having to worry about an exam. Now the new nurses has to adjust to the work place, look for a place to live and review for the boards in three months. Lemme tell yah, that would be tough.
One thing stupid about all these is, the people who are resigning are asked to pay like $500 a month for like 2 years for all the expenses the hospital paid for them to help them come over. Yaaargh. I could buy a good BMW deal with that money. And i'd have a nice car. What would they have with that waste of huge moolah? Nothing. And where's the practicality in all these?
Filipino nurses are highly competent. I'm proud to say it, and i do believe it. No matter how old they are or what school they came from, most of them are still better that the rest of..er..them nurses. The integrity of Filipino nurses are in jeopardy. We (the first few batch) might not be in danger because we 've proven our worth to the medical community, but how about the other Filipino nurses who wants to prove theirs?
I remember on our last staff meeting, my manager handed over a comment slip from one of the patients saying " Filipino nurses are very compassionate. Americans and the rest of the staff should learn from them" Whee! (And to the people who weren't at the meeting, i tell them the comment says...esp Ada...mwahahaha) Some of the americans are probably bummed hearing it, but most of them agree. And that's how Filipino nurses should be remembered by their peers and their patients, caring, compassionate and highly competent.
Not only are we working to give a better life to our families, we're also working for our country. We carry the name of our country in everything that we do. And we should think about all the rest of the Filipinos who, like the rest of us, are hanging on to that American Dream.
So, i'm kinda frakkin' pissed with some people right now. Hmp. Nananahimik kami dito eh.
