The Young Bblood piece “Why be a nurse?” (7/21/19) by Johanna Zehender inspired me to write this.
My 72-year-old dad was recently discharged from the Philippine Heart Center (PHC) after an 18-day confinement due to a serious and most uncomfortable case of cellulitis. We are happy that he is back to his normal healthy self now.
Alternating with my two brothers in sleeping overnight at the PHC to tend to his needs (while our mom stayed during the day every day), I got to observe closely the kind and professional attention that he received from the nurses at Petal 4-B wing.
Dad stayed in bed throughout his confinement and was terribly weak during the first four to five days due to a fluctuating fever. Hence, he had to just completely submit himself to the expertise of the nurses who attended to him most efficiently and with much patience, respect and consideration of his dignity.
Again, it occurred to me when I slept there overnight for the first time, as it did when Dad was confined in another hospital due to his first stroke some years ago, that patients have to just fully trust and bare themselves to the medical and health care professionals whose job is to care for them and make them well.
Truly, a nurse’s job is physically and mentally demanding, meticulous, and requires one to have an enormous amount of compassion and humanity.
Thus, I also agree with the sentiments Jocelyn Santos-Andamo expressed in her letter “Nurses deserve higher, just wages” (7/23/19); their salary ought to be commensurate to the demands of their job (and would not compel them to search for greener pastures abroad).
Biased and proud teacher me used to easily say that, yes, of course, teaching is “the most noble profession,” bar none. But after this experience, I have gained a deeper appreciation of nursing. It’s now a tie between teachers and nurses in my view.
CLAUDE LUCAS C. DESPABILADERAS,
claudelucasdespa@gmail.com