Friday, August 29, 2008

Ich Dien Class History

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

Dadiangas College. It has been four remarkable years since we have

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 General Santos City.

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 Davao to trace the patient's history. Ever ridden in a

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 Eden Garden for an outing. Who was

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.

Believe! Always believe that we can do it!

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