Thomasian Nurses: The Best or the Beast?

Column Name: Just Thoughts

Title: Thomasian Nurses: The Best or the Beast?

By: Mervyn C. Tan

“Congratulations for making it in the UST College of Nursing! Being accepted here would only mean you are the crème de la crème among thousands of people who aspired to enter this college!”

Or so we think.

This is not to spite our beloved Alma Mater, which has been nothing less of excellent in terms of performance and dedication. Instead, this is another perspective and perhaps a new challenge for the citizens of our college.

In this world where everyone seems to be the best in everything, or at least they perceive themselves to be, nothing you do ever seems good enough for anyone. It’s like anything and everything around you is insufficient and is coupled with a complaint or a criticism. What’s worse is that the voices of the aforementioned won’t settle for anything less than a ruckus.

Perhaps, it’s a normal course of nature, especially when a best from one end meets a best from another end—to slug it out in a face-off that could be chronic since no one would want to give in.

As we all know it, superlatives like the “best” should only be owned by a single entity—be it an individual or a group. If everyone would want to be the best, and won’t settle for being one of the best, competition persists and crab mentality may exist, eradicating the existence of a “common unity”. Instead, what would most likely exist is an unending battle of critical points, as one would only view things in his or her own spectacle and would be quick to spot the faults and loopholes committed by the other.

This prevents people from moving forward as they are fixated on being the best. Moreover, this would make them sustain their inability to accept and to be happy for another’s success.

This is the unfortunate predicament that besets most of the chronic, persistent, and cut-throat achievers in the world, who have received much praise and yet they still hunger for more. It continuously fosters one’s mentality of having to compete with another than to just compete with oneself, which simply aggravates the situation. It promotes one’s faulty mindset of infallibility, preventing someone to have the humility to accept his own flaws and defeat—which is just one marker of immaturity.

Rounding it up, it seems that pride is the number one enemy of much achievers. And if we would try to picture what would most likely be the conclusion of their stories, one might even confidently say that it would eventually lead to their great decline—all for the title of being the best.

But what do we mean by the best? Does it only focus on an individual’s intellect, skills and mastery? Or should we also consider one’s attitude?

Moreover, can the best turn into a beast who steps on others to get ahead?

As they say, the things we have to consider are knowledge, skills, and most especially, attitude. The best and the beast have a marked difference and it is vital for us to know it by heart.

The best possesses a quiet confidence, without a desire for self-proclamation. He or she is eventually recognized and appreciated by the ones around him or her. Moreover, his or her confidence is accompanied by proper behavior and right virtues, and not by a mere thirst for recognition.

Unlike the best, the beast finds a need for boastful declaration, hungers and searches for power, and abuses his or her control over others. If in case people follow him or her, it’s because of fear or force and not of reverence or respect.

The best would not choose to destructively pass on judgment. Advertently, his or her comments would be constructive in nature. Moreover, the best would make sure that fellow colleagues would be treated well and are given the ample opportunity to make things better.

Yet for a beast, it would be very easy to spot-the-not rather than to praise-the-grace. It’s comparable to an exploratory laparotomy, where a patient is placed under the knife, cut open, examined, diagnosed and then, left open and untreated...rendering him helpless and practically unable to recover. The beast has a keen sense in detecting the flaws of others and shooting disparagements where it is uncalled for. He or she would also be fast on sending low blows to give insult to injury and dampen one’s level of resilience.

The best would help his/her fellow back on his/her feet, while the beast would see someone lying on the ground and still kick them to the curb. Amidst crisis, the best would present solutions, while the beast would only bring damnation.

For the best, success is measured, not only through the recognitions he or she is given, but also through the friends and experiences he or she has gained. With such amiable personality, the best has people expressing support toward him or her, and he or she will never celebrate his or her success alone. Not to mention, he or she would also help others taste the kind of success that he or she has attained.

For the beast, success lies solely on fame and fortune. Unlike the best, the beast tells another story—preferring solitude in the limelight and celebration above everyone else.

As the University is celebrating its quadricentennial year and our college, its 65^th anniversary, we, Thomasian nurses, continuously strive to be known as the best in our field, pressuring ourselves to be our best and to do our best. However, being reminded that we are the best, the standard and the cream-of-the-crop instills in us a kind of pride that we may not have actually earned – not yet. Not to mention, numerous students in our institution have a background of being achievers in their previous years. It can be said that it is difficult for a known achiever to shy away from having the need to achieve and prove that he or she is the best.

Thus, the sporadic occurrence of crab mentality in our surroundings takes place leaving no opportunities for other willing individuals to serve the college – a depressing sight as we see Thomasian nurses pit against fellow Thomasian nurses.  

This hinders us, our college, from the progress that it deserves. It impedes everyone from having a capacity to grow and from having a peaceful work environment.

 And at the end of all these, we realize: it would all depend on us.

Now, I ask you: what would you be, the best or the beast?

The Promised Dream: Reality or Ideality?

Pwede na muling mangarap? Can the Filipinos dream again?

A new chapter in Philippine History is being written as a new administration, believed to bring about the pivotal change that our country needs, assumes office. Most Filipinos believe that having the son of two prominently virtuous and patriotic icons as their president would resolve the country’s chronic problems of graft and corruption. Yet, some still dwell on the scarce competencies that the newly elected president possesses compared with his opponents. No matter what one’s opinion may be, the elections has concluded, and it is clear that Pres. Benigno “Noynoy” C. Aquino III won by a clear mile.

Though still in its primacy, the Aquino administration is not altogether safe from the painstaking scrutiny of the public eye. Each decision and action is a target for criticism as high expectations derived from the promises of busting corruption and leading with bureaucratic democracy is expected from the current government. However, it is undoubtedly too early to pass judgment on the Aquino administration. We can only go as far as criticizing his apparent leadership skills or methods and his plans for the various sectors of the country.

In President Noynoy Aquino’s first State of the Nation Address (SONA), apart from emphasizing the inherited “mess” the current administration has to clean up, he was also able to enlighten the Filipinos on how he will be as the leader of the country.

The “wang-wang issue” became a mainstay in broadcast media even several days after the SONA, and numerous remarks and jokes have been made about the whole issue. But amidst all criticisms, Pres. Aquino stayed true to his word and did not use his wang-wang privilege to steer clear of Metro Manila’s very heavy traffic jams. Small and simple as it may seem, this action taken by the President actually depicts how he would, more or less, rule the country.

“A leader leads by example, whether he intends to or not.”

            Choosing not to use his presidential privileges emulates identification with the Filipino masses, depicting that he does not see himself better than or above them. It depicts that he is willing to lead with the people by example. The wang-wang has often been abused by officials, who have no authority using them, in cheating their way through traffic jams at the expense of the common Filipinos who sit through long rides just to get to their destination. Through this example led by the highest authority in the country, stricter implementation of rules and regulations would now be more possible, and the people would not entertain the thought of cheating, especially when the leader does not.

“Great things start from small beginnings.”

            This simple gesture, together with the decree prohibiting the use of the wang-wang, can be the start of the battle against blatant cheating, a simple and thoughtless crime that may ultimately lead to corruption, which remains to be an unresolved issue despite efforts on the part of the new administration to rid the old government of such rampant anomalies. As much as lying or cheating can lead to worse crimes, simple measures of following rules and regulations can bring about a more peaceful and organized country. Here, one is once again reminded that things both great and devastating have always originated from small, simple acts.

“Be the change that you want to see.”

            Oftentimes, in the perspective of the majority, implementing change for a better future falls under the responsibility of a single individual. There are numerous opinions, aspirations and desires of the people but there is no follow through. A leader is indeed necessary. However, a leader should not fight this battle alone; we, Filipinos should be one in our battle for a better country. We should not rely on just a single authority to make the changes that we want to make. Instead, we should initiate these changes and commit ourselves as living examples of the kind of Filipino that we want to be.

If we can do this, then maybe we can dream again.  

Nursing – Compassion = Success?

What is nursing without compassion?

I haven’t asked myself this question for quite a while now. Perhaps, I have been very preoccupied with the stresses of being a junior nursing student and an editor-in-chief that I sometimes tend to forget the simple yet important things in our profession. It was not until our class was required to attend ABS CBN news anchor Ms. Karen Davila’s talk, Discipline: Path to Personal National Progress, when I have been reminded of the importance of having discipline, passion and compassion towards the things one does.

Who would have thought that a famous ABS-CBN news anchor could talk sense and relevance to a group of future nurses and remind them of their responsibilities to themselves, their families, their patients and of course, their country? I do not mean to be indulgent and give Ms. Davila too much praise. It’s not her persona as an established broadcaster that I would like to dwell on—rather, the substance and sense of the words she had imparted within that short span of time is what I would like to highlight in this column.

The words of wisdom served as a good reminder, a wake-up call if you may want to term it as such, amidst the very hectic schedule and challenging school workload that we were beset with. It reminded me of the importance of enjoying the things that we do and making the most out of every situation that we are placed in. It reminded me of the passion that we must for our work and how that passion can give one so much drive and make us affect a huge difference. It had reminded me of the simple yet vital things that we tend to forget whenever we are preoccupied with our own ordeals. It had reminded me of our field’s essence – compassion and care – and that without them, we forfeit all that we work for, which is our identity as Thomasian nurses. Perhaps, I am being too idealistic in believing that values must accompany education in the formation of good citizenry in a country and in the continuation of the good posterity of professions.

In this era, when nursing has become a hit—or a “trend” if you may allow the term—a lot of our students have been persuaded by the prospect of gaining monetary rewards in the long run, or pushed by their families to pursue this course for hopes of greener pastures.

Some individuals may have been undecided, and eventually went for what they believe was practical. They wanted to have financial stability, so they chose what they could foresee as financially-rewarding. It didn’t really matter what they had to do as long as they will be able to earn a good living. They make money as their driving factor - nothing more, nothing less. I wonder though—what will happen to them when the money is gone?

Those who were pushed by their parents have been impelled to face something so foreign that they dismiss it as a stressor in their lives and want to be out of it as soon as they can. Some of them would finish the course just to satisfy their parents’ wishes, and then chase after their “real dreams”, believing that this was the only best solution.

I can recall an established professional saying that this was inevitable and that those who were forced to take up this course will learn to love the profession when they start with their related learning experiences. Truly, a lot of successful nurses didn’t plan on entering the profession. They would always say that they just learned to love it in the process. I would like to believe this because I know that the experience one gets from Nursing can be so unique and fulfilling. However, most of the time, this is not the case. The feelings of disinclination persist to the point that any chance of converting an “obstacle” to an “opportunity” is hindered. This leads to the production of future nurses who lack the drive in everything that they do and be nonchalant towards the simplest acts of having compassion and caring. They may still be functional and knowledgeable of the dos and don’ts of nursing care. However, they lack the very essence of the profession—caring—a simple yet powerful quality that can make the big difference. Caring is an experience that only a few professions are privileged to provide, and as a matter of fact, this is what we nurses are given in abundance. Nursing allows us to affect other people’s lives and make them better. It gives us the opportunity to serve our brothers and sisters in Christ, to exercise our role as stewards and stewardesses of God’s Creation, and to gain that sense of fulfillment once our efforts are put into good use. This, I believe, is much more fulfilling than any satisfaction money can buy.

But what can we do to change this trend in a trend?

Hoping that this would remain etched onto every single reader’s mind, I would like to emphasize on what Ms. Davila said, “There are no accidents in life. Everything has a purpose.”

To my fellow students who chose this course out of their own free will, I salute you. May you find the deeper meanings of life that this profession can bring, and may you always keep the passion inside you burning. It may be a bumpy ride filled with rocky roads and jagged trails along the way, for the roads were never smooth, never easy. Yet never forget the very essence of why we are spending restless days in the classrooms, and sleepless nights shoving our noses on the hollowed spaces of our books—never forget that this is not only for self-improvement, but also for the better quality of care we could give to our patients. The aforementioned would be useless without compassion or care.

To my fellow students who feel trapped in this profession, if you are not meant to be in this college or in this field, then you would not be here in the first place. It may not be to your liking, yet the fact remains that you are here and you had no other choice but to stay. Since you are here, you might as well enjoy the ride. Resisting and carping would only make it difficult for you. There are a lot of opportunities that you could embrace, and a lot of people to appreciate along the way. Make the best out of the situation because that’s what you’re given and that’s what you are going to get.

Perhaps, another way to look at it is this: If you were in the position of your client, who would you want your nurse to be? Would you want your nurse to be insensitive, uncaring, unknowledgeable and ignorant? Would you want to feel that your nurse hates what s/he is doing or is forced to care for you?

So now, I ask you again. What is nursing without compassion?

PGMA Administration: ‘So Long!’ or “Sooo Long!”?

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (PGMA) delivered her last State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July 27, 2009 at the Batasan Complex… or did she?

This is the mind-boggling question that has been lingering in everyone’s minds even after PGMA had delivered her 9^th and “last” Philippine SONA for her administration.  As ridiculous as it may seem, the most anticipated part of the SONA wasn’t her declaration of the country’s status or the contributions of her administration but rather, it was hearing a straight-to-the-point, vindictive, and hopefully final statement regarding her political plans and her plans of accelerating the ratification of Charter Change. But to everyone’s dismay, there were no straightforward answers delivered during her last SONA, and the expected contents were delivered with a surprising blow.

After delivering her speech with the usual trends of having statistical data and some testifying personas, she extended her hopes and wishes for the persona and her gratitude for the Congress. This was common for the last SONA of the president.

However, the president designed her speech to deliver quick jabs to her critics and other political aspirants at the end of almost every achievement she mentioned - a low blow which was certainly unfit for the occasion. Ideally, the event should be a medium for the Filipino people to learn about their country’s development and the things that they will be doing to improve the economy, not the woes of their president. In whatever way the First Family would like to defend their mother, the fact still remains that this was not an appropriate event to vent out her feelings. But what’s done is done, and what we have to focus on is the present and, hopefully, direct it towards a good future.

To end her speech, PGMA said, “I shall step down from this stage but not from the Presidency. My term does not end until next year. Until then, I will fight for the ordinary Filipino. The nation comes first. There is much to do as head of state—to the very last day.” This may not be the answer that we were all hoping for, but, from this, we can see her intentions of stepping down from her position when her term ends.

This is not to say that PGMA was a lousy or useless president; she was able to do a lot for our country. She was able to alleviate, if not solve, the problems of our country especially in those concerning our economy, education, employment and energy reserves. She is a well-educated economist and was able to complete her education in other countries. Whether she has the heart to serve the Filipino people as much as others would serve them is the one left unanswered.

But why are we so worried about, then?

With all the attempts of trying to accelerate the Charter Change coupled with famous scandals like the “Hello, Garci”, “ZTE” and others, the Filipinos have heightened their senses in detecting the possibility of history repeating itself. They would like to prevent the possibility of another period of dictatorship and another need for an EDSA revolution. We want to ensure that the president would willingly and peacefully give up her position when her term ends and that she will not have any other political interests of holding that power once more.  

As we have always been told, prevention is better than cure. The Filipinos want to prevent this from happening again. We have experienced much from the Arroyo Administration, and we are grateful for their services. But come 2010, I believe that we will be ready for the elections and welcome a new administration.