Ich Dien Class History
By Grace Mosqueda, RN
This day marks a major milestone in the lives of every person in this
room. We are about to exit the portals of our alma mater Notre Dame of
first entered into these hallowed halls of learning. Looking back into
our formative years as nursing students, it is truly amazing to see
the transformation taking place in everyone, in every aspect including
the physical, intellectual, emotional and social.
During the first year in college, our lives were marked by the
transition from high school to college. We were preoccupied with the
emotional changes and establishing new and lasting bonds of
friendship. We were adjusting to changes in schedule and having more
breaks between periods. The first time we socialized with each other
was during the Acquaintance Party. The competition was stiff for all
five sections strove to be the best.
The second year in nursing is marked by rigorous study sessions and
lack of sleep in preparation for return demonstrations that occurs
once or even twice a week. I could still recall the blunders, tears
and the fainting spells of some of our batch mates in trying to master
the basic nursing skills like NGT feeding and IM injections. How about
the pain we endured while doing skin testing using sterile water? Did
you know who put his hand inside the sterile cotton ball container
while Ma'am Sestina was watching? How about the girl who said
that the bed must be anchored so that it won't run way from her?
Our very first community exposure was also done at this time. We were
limited to communities within the city limits. Remember the feedback
that nursing students are "maarte" because some cannot bear the stench
of fecal matter and covered their noses? Or were always squirting
alcohol into their hands after interacting with each client? On the
other hand, making the initial community diagnosis was fun. We got to
stay overnight and bond with each other over midnight snacks. Our
bonds were so tight with each other that we had great escapades
together. There was this race to the airport just to see our favorite PBA stars.
This is truly the year of trial for us, to see if we have what it
takes to be a nurse. Remember the reason why Bim-Bim fell down the
stairs and sprained her ankle? It was because she was late from a 7:30
quiz. The quizzes were tough and the dreaded killer calculations exam
was taken here but I'm proud to say that almost all of us passed it in
one take. There were five sections then which was cut
down almost to half by the end of the year. But the most
memorable time of this year was December 8, 2004. It is
the 18th Capping and Pinning Ceremony where we are the stars. It was
where we were christened ICH DIEN. The name coined by Mary Joy Dela
Peña was chosen. This batch name was derived from the German word,
which means, "I serve". A noble name that was first tested during the
first exposure and orientation to different institutions in
The ward duties were tedious indeed! We had to be early always or have
sanctions for tardiness. The paraphernalia are always checked, were it
complete? Do you know who was the man who garnered the most extension hours?
Do you still remember when the entire batch went to the mall and
rented all the bumpcars at the same time? Or the fight with the man
who wouldn't go? How about the concert and videoke contest? The things
we'd do to blow off steam, huh?
It was during the summer period just
after the exam in pathophysiology and pharmacology. We were very
stressed out and fed up. But worse of all, let's not forget the
scandal of the year.. when we were tagged as cheaters and an entire
section was called to the faculty for an interview with Ma'am Diaz.
Guess who used to say "you will flunk." Do you still recall the pet
names we used to call our teachers who were mean or strict? Don't you
just love the teacher whose favorite expression was "haay..
terribli!"? I think were had our fill of memorable times here.
The batch's third year was started with a return demonstration on
OR/DR instrumentation, gowning and gloving techniques. This marks the
start of fun and funny experiences in the OR/DR department, recalling
those first assists in operations and in labor monitoring. Dreading
being scolded by our clinical instructors when we had mental blocks on
how to do surgical hand washing. Who did the first assist with Dr.
Dideles? Do you know who almost fainted at the sight of blood during
an operation? Wasn't it Des who assisted in a septic and stinky
caesarean operation. Experience wise, this is the time where we are
having rotations in hospital duty especially in the wards. A lot of
our former classmates flunked here, too.
The summer of this year is truly a formative time for us. It is a
time where we have come to know the weaknesses and strengths in
ourselves and in others. Tremendous development in our perception of
others and ourselves were noted. For the first time some of us
experienced being away from family for almost a month. Trying to be
independent and effective in dealing with patients confined in the
mental institution. Dealing with people whom we termed "higala" is at
first difficult because of the doubts and inchoate fears within us.
But as days passed, there was no time to think past "today" anymore.
Sleeping time was drastically shortened from extensive nightly
practice of the activities and therapies for the higalas. Who is the
narcoleptic in your batch? Mornings were hectic with make up sessions
in front of the one and only mirror, the sharing of paraphernalia in
grooming. Remember the arguments about the hairs on the floor, the
schedule of cleaners and who gets to be the first to take a bath? I
think the batch three was the one who had the worst
end of theparanormal visits, don't you? Remember how
poltergeists used to echo what you used to say? The sightings
in the mirror and the bedshaking were terrifying indeed!
Home visit was fun. Some groups even went to Toril, Digos and other
parts of
multicab to Toril before? It was indeed the time where emotional bonds
between family and friends were strengthened. This is the start of the
"loveteam" craze, where friends became boyfriends/girlfriends
overnight. The behind the scene acts were rampant. This time is
tumultuous indeed, there were quarrels everywhere but
then again,there were more reconciliations.Remember how
we used to laugh at the SNs from Liceo who were fond of
saying "sama niini and culminating?". How about when they stole the
decorated ark for the culmination and chopped it down so that they can
make their own ark? Remember how they copied every dance step and
decoration we have and had the gall to ask for the music? Who will
forget these experiences? I won't. Who will forget Jimmy, Ronelo,
Princess and Dencia? I think the lessons they taught us about coping
with problems will forever stay.
To help us debrief and unwind, we all went to Mergrande. That was
also a fond memory. It was where we bought the pearls we have used as
accessories for the Integrating Seminar. Our insights broadened and we
processed our experiences here. We got to pretend and imitate how it
is to be a "higala" during one of the exercises and I've got to say itwas no fun.
On the other hand, we also went to
too scared to try Indiana Jones? Remember the chicken that was ma'am
Ruiz said was "gilugum"? how about the trek in the park and climbing
trees to get a picture? Now that's what I call a nature trip!
Fourth year is all about community immersion and learning the ways of
employing COPAR. Nursing students largely act as community organizers.
Functioning as area-wide coordinators of all the programs of different
agencies so as best to meet community needs for health and welfare
services. Ideally, we facilitate self-help programs initiated by local
common-interest groups, for example, by training local leaders to
analyze and solve the problems of a community. Indeed, the community
exposure has been one of the most memorable times of nursing life. We
acted as external forces of change. Through this process, we learned a
lot of the ways and the dynamics of the community. Teaching the people
to be self-reliant and to gain confidence in their abilities. It was a
time for discovery too of long-hidden talents and skills. Do you know
that Loda's group has to ride a trisikad carrying a megaphone while
announcing to the villagers in Kawas that there will be a program at
the health center? Which group climbed a mountain with Sir Krantz?
Taking a break from our studies, we participated in the party were our
representatives Juliem Ilejay and Mark Borro became Mr. & Ms. BSN.
In team nursing, we learned about coordination and cooperation in the
team to optimize time and minimize effort. We learned how teamwork can
help in performing nursing functions. This is also where we have time
devoted for OR/DR completion. Where we experienced 16-hour duties and
being on call, waking up in the middle of the middle of the night
because a woman has gone into labor.
Can you remember the day of the friendster craze where all Ich Diens
became online members? How about the proud time of being the first to
have an internet site exclusively for nursing? Do you remember Ich
Dien? How about the time when we discovered
that Sir Faderon is a member of the Yahoogroup were
we posted all our grievances andventilated feelings?
Exposure to different companies and learning about work in commercial
institutions were quite memorable. This is to orient us of what
choices of work we have. Nurses are not just confined in hospital work.
We also had the chance to be exposed to different specialized areas in
the hospital where we honed our skills in the ways of the different
departments without direct supervision from our clinical instructors.
Remember the bundee clock fiasco? This is the timewhere we also
had lectures on professionaladjustment so as to help us cope with
professional life, its legal andethical aspects and our
responsibilities and liabilities in nursingpractice.
Now we are in the termination phase of our nursing education. Our
lives are filled with endless ringhop practice and myriad details. The
stress of taking interminable and innumerable exams is almost over and
our cases are almost completed. In barely 2 weeks' time, we are going
to have our walk that symbolizes our exit from this institution. We
have also enrolled for review in preparation for taking the board exam
this June. The review series is almost done now and we've got three
more months before we will take the board exam.. Are you ready guys?
Indeed how the years have passed. It has been four years since we
started and it won't be long now for us to be colleagues and be called
Registered Nurses.
God bless everyone! May we achieve our goals and never give up.
