MY EXTRAORDINARY CARE

.. A pleasant morning to one and all

As to introduce myself, Im John Alex Melencio, a staff nurse from the Emergency
Care Service with almost one year of tenure. At this moment, I am tasked to deliver not
just a typical story of nursing care but indeed an extraordinary one. When I was asked
yesterday by our ANUM over the phone about an instance wherein I was able to render
an extraordinary care, it took a while for me to scrutinize my experiences in the ER. In
my own principle, I can actually say that I already made something special or even
extraordinary if my patients would just simply appreciate my care to them by just
uttering the words Thank you! or even just smiles on their faces after doing
interventions towards them. But after a period of introspection, there was a
circumstance I remember which made me realize that I did a distinct intervention among
any other usual actions that I do in the Emergency Room. Other people including those
healthcare providers not working in the ER might think that it would be hard for patients
to really appreciate the care being rendered by the ER nurses for they are working in a
fast pace with only limited time of patient interaction. There are times that we find
ourselves quite jealous of the nurses in the nursing units who have long-term contact
with patients, building rapport and sometimes close or deep connections with one
another making their professional practice more fulfilling. But in this particular instance
that I encountered, I was able to realize the point that effective nursing care or even
compassionate care does not depend on the quantity of time you spend towards your
patients but moreover, it depends on the quality of care you give to them.
As far as I remember, a couple of months ago, I had a patient who went to the
Emergency Room due to head trauma. She had an incidence of fall. Nevertheless, she
was diagnosed with Clinical Depression, what we commonly known as the Major
Depressive Disorder. At that time, she was on antidepressant therapy. Upon my contact
with her, she suddenly told me that she should have been dead instead of being alive
still. With what she stated, my retrograde memory was tickled. My personal struggle
during my college days flashed back. I remembered the time when I also felt quite
depressed to the point that I also had suicidal ideation because I was bombarded with
various problems including those in the family, in school for I was not performing as
expected and even with issues about my sexuality. At that very moment, I can genuinely
relate to what she was experiencing but together with such experience, I also
recollected the steps that I took in order to surpass that pressing situation of mine. In a
quick span of time, I just said these words, Maam hindi ka nag-iisa, pinagdaanan ko
din yan. Oo mahirap po talaga ma-depress pero kayang lagpasan. Isipin mo na lang
ang mga mabubuting nagawa mo at magagawa mo pa sayo, sa pamilya mo at sa ibang

tao na ikaw lang makakagawa. Nandyan din si Lord, hindi ka niya papabayaan. Lagi
kang magdasal at manalig sa kanya. Kung kinaya ko, kakayanin mo rin I knew that it
sounded non-therapeutic if were going to base by the book but with my God-given
instinct, I took the risk. After throwing upon her those words of wisdom, she stared at me
with fancy eyes then she just said Salamat Kuya gumaan pakiramdam ko. Salamat
talaga sa mga sinabi mo. with matching smile. I did not expect her to be as such for
she was at a depressed mood. It was really a warm feeling inside my core to witness
her smile. I cant believe that a person with clinical depression would display such
positive act with the aid of my words. In one way or another, I just realized that I made a
difference into her life. It was an extraordinary manifestation of my nursing care. Usually,
in our field, we address only the physical dimension of the lives of our patients. We just
manage and treat the disorders of bodily systems. Well, that experience was something
at par with the ordinary. In this case, I even address the psychological dimension of the
patients life. Indeed, nursing is holistic and I, myself had recognized it with my
experience.
Thats the story behind an extraordinary care I rendered to my patient. It was a
worthwhile encounter yet a fundamental maneuver for that experience made me realize
that I made the right choice to become a nurse. A lot of people around me kept insisting
that I should have changed my course way back in college and changing my mindset
even after graduation when I had a hard time landing for a nursing job. But I did not
cease to believe in Gods divine providence. I knew deep inside my core that He
destined me to become a nurse and I have to fulfill a mission to serve others. Practicing
our beloved profession since 2011, Im already sure of what Im doing. No matter how
good or how bad peoples perceptions about nursing, I believe and will always believe
that what Im doing is of noble cause and is something that even without an earthly
reward will have a return of investment from heaven. In light of this philosophy, we,
nurses must continue to care because Jean Watson, a nursing theorist said that caring
is the essence of nursing. Lets continue to care and even give extraordinary care
towards our patients for their gratitude and warm smiles are always priceless!
That would be all. I hope you were somehow inspired. Thanks for listening