Transition and Continuity

Posted on by Mark Guayco

haring david is ANurseDad

We go through different kinds of transition in our lives. Just like everyone goes through developmental stages, it’s stepping up from one level to another.

I am now facing a transition. From the corporate world to the noble profession of health care. From the private industry to government service. This is a much awaited move for me I guess. Since the Nursing profession became such a fad for almost a decade ago, I was one of those who jumped in to the bandwagon of the nursing career. 3 years post graduation, I was able to work in a new “field” of healthcare in the Philippines – it is now called Telehealth Medicine. The company was managed as a BPO/KPO industry in short – a call center-like environment. My time in this field has finally come to its end. I am moving on.

I must say, it was well worth 2…

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10 years as a Nurse

Posted on by Mark Guayco

From the controversial 2006 batch of Registered Nurses the Philippines. I can’t believe that it has been 10 years. My nursing school life was such a colorful experience nonetheless melodramatic. 


The after-college life is truly a long haul journey. It was not easy at all. One thing, I was always consistently and unkowingly doing was, whenever I meet a person in any workplace with the potential of being a mentor  or even someone who has a great story about carrer, I would always get interested and will always try to associate myself and to look up to that person. And more importantly is to veer away from people with such a negative energy. Trust me, there are people who are sometimes can be both. 
I always strive for more learning. I once told myself when I was still working as tech, “I am more than this and that I can be better than this”. When I sat down for my NCLEX, the first thing I wrote down on the white board, Mark Guayco USRN. And it did work! I may have failed and fell down many time in the past 10 years, but what important is that there is always the defining moment that I need to pick myself and battle again. 
There is no easy way to success! But all these will be worth it. 
I am a proud Thaddean Nurse and a proud PINOY NURSE. 
Happy 10th year Anniversary for the BSN 2006 controversial batch of the Philippines. 

In the year 2015

Posted on by Mark Guayco

The year 2015 has truly gone by fast. This year have made such a milestone for me in my career and in my life in general.

In the year 2015, my dad’s uncle Lolo Angel have passed. I met him during my first year here on island. He was a great man. Though he is gone, he gave me the chance to meet all of his great family and was welcomed in to their family. Now, I have a big clan of relatives here on island. Thank you for letting me and my family be part of yours too. 

In the year 2015, I was able to visit home in the Philippines for the first time since coming in here on Guam. I was able to see my Lola Cora for the last time. It was a bittersweet reunion for me and her. Honestly, I have not even mourned for her passing. She once told me “You should have a goal in your life, focus on that goal, never lose sight of that goal and always aim to achieve that goal”. I will always remember this Lola Cora. I will. 
  
In the year 2015, I applied for a Staff Nurse II position, got qualified, got interviewed and got the position. When I openly have said to my coworkers about my desire to apply, I was told, I was not qualified. I was told that my experience from the Philippines will not be considered. They even said, “I verified that from HR!”. It did not hinder me to try. In the end, the boss have said “It’s nice to promote people who are ready”. Again, I had my goal and did not lose sight of it.  

In the year 2015, there are plans that have been set and goals being eyed on. 

The year 2015 may have gone by really fast. 

Capping off the year, I ask myself: What lessons have I learned? What are the things I need to improve on? What are the things I need to change and things that needs to remain?

In the year 2015, I turned 30. My son turned 9 and my daughter turned 2. My wife and I celebrated our 11 years of togetherness.

Life. Quality of life and banking on for the future. Can’t wait to see what lies ahead. 

I am but grateful. Thank you Lord!

NCLEX tip! Basic but worth it. It worked for me!

Posted on by Mark Guayco

 
One great thing that I believed really worked  for me is, keeping my hand off from the mouse while reading the questions. Do you have this habit of laying your hand on the mouse? Well, this is the time to practice not to do that. Hands off the mouse while reading!
This will give you consciously  and subconsciously the chance to read the questions and answer choices extra carefully. Just like when you encounter “needs further teaching”. NCSBN knows that test takers has the tendency to misread that and I’m telling you they intend to make it sound like you will be looking for a positive answer choice instead of the negative one.
It’s not how bad you want it, but how much you work hard for it. You can do it!

ACLS Certified

Posted on by Mark Guayco

When I got promoted to be an RN in the Emergency Department, I knew I had 6 months to comply with the requirements. First is to get the ACLS certification.

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It was another humbling experience for me. I had to borrow some books and materials from my coworkers. I watched some YouTube videos for the ACLS algorithms. The videos really helped me a lot!

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When it was my turn to do the Megacode the other group was done with theirs so everyone was watching me. That really added more pressure. So I just went on and did my thing. And it’s because I was able to be in an actual code for the past years, it was like my reflexes were working on the right time. After saying all the protocols after the Return of Spontaneous Circulation. Everyone clapped and our Boss said, “I want you in ICU!”

I said to myself my ER Supervisor will not like that. LOL.

My journey in becoming an RN

Posted on by Mark Guayco

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Determine what your goal is and never lose sight of that goal.

This was my first mantra.

I humbled myself in accepting that I needed to take another board exam to be an RN here on Guam or elsewhere in the States.

I would always tell all my coworkers that I was going to take my NCLEX-RN soon. Though I did not reveal the exact date of my test, I was very vocal about it.

Aim for it and go for it. There is no easy way. There is never a shortcut to success.

Since the beginning of the year 2014, I started answering my Saunders Q&A. Then I enrolled in the Kaplan NCLEX-RN On-demand. I only began to be religiously on it by July 2014. After working in the Emergency Department in the morning, I would always stay in a coffee shop to either answer questions and do rationales or watch videos. I did that every single day for 3 months.

I believed in my plan. I stopped talking to people with so much negativity. I started asking those people who also struggled from being a Technician to becoming an RN.

What they told me really made an impact. Whatever your plan of choice in preparing for the exam, the bottomline is YOU have work hard for it. YOU need to have faith in yourself that you can do it YOU have to have a faith in God.

If I can do it, so can you.

If you are working full time and struggling in your review and need some encouragement just tweet me!

http://www.twitter.com/anursedad

I am willing to be a coach and share some strategies.

Believe in your self!

And I am back.

Posted on by Mark Guayco

Will be posting blogs soon once again. After 1 and a half year of hiatus or incognito, I am really back.

I will be sharing what happened to my journey in achieving my goals. I will be using this as my platform in helping other aspiring nurses to pass NCLEX-RN too.

Twitter: anursedad

First Nurses week

Posted on by Mark Guayco

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I may not be an RN yet in this country but I am a nurse. Working as a Medical Assistant as my first entry level job while working on getting my license, is a humbling experience.

My current employer treat all the nursing staff at a dinner buffet in Fiesta Hotel. I am but grateful for this appreciation.

Food Review, Lutong Bahay, pinoy in guam

Vegan meal

Image | Posted on by Mark Guayco

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I never thought vegan food would actually taste this good. LOL. Hehehe. Nasabihan na ako ng ibang mga pinoy working in the clinic na all of them adventists here are vegan, ang handa tuwing may celebration is not just no pork food but strictly vegan. Masarap naman pala. In fact, I honestly enjoyed it. 🙂 hehe. Buti hindi masyadong ma-beans yung hinanda nila.

Living in the island of Guam

Posted on by Mark Guayco

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I have been here for a little over 3 months already. Hindi ako nahirapan mag adjust. In fact, I think the wind of fate has been going on my side. Ngayon, I have 2 part time jobs. I am working for both as a Medical Assistant. The slightly difficult part is actually dealing with senior pinays. They are the hardcore chismosas. Will skillfully concoct chismis out of every little thing you do or say. And they are great with extracting details. Daig pa ang mga naka tambay sa tindahan ni Aling Baby sa kanto.

But I was told that this is the culture here dahil na rin Pinoys represent the most numbers of minority people here, it’s like a home away from home.

Ngayon, medyo I am bit worried because I am planning to make some serious time for my NCLEX review and the 2 jobs might take its toll on me. But anyways sabi nga strike while the iron is hot at sabi ng Globe, go lang ng go.

While i was applying for a job, there were few unsolicited tips I got which is definitely should be the words to live by those who are fresh off the boats.

“Dont mind the chismis, pasok sa isang tenga, labas sa kabila. Just do your job. Remember you have bills to pay”.

“Know when to stand up especially when you are doing the right thing. Don’t let anyone belittle you but make sure you are RIGHT”.

Marami akong bloopers dito. When I was looking for some office supplies, it took me the whole week to find the only store that’s almost like National Bookstore. Ang servings ng mga pagkain sa foodcourt ay triple ng servings sa Pinas. Guam has the highest food wastage. Ikaw ba naman ang bigyan ng 3 putahe ng ulam. As in hardcore ulam like Kare-kare, sinigang at lumpia at 2 takal ng siksik na siksik na kanin na pwede na kumain ang buong barkada. Kaya nakakahinayang talaga magtira.