I finished my 2-Year Practical Nursing Course at St. Augustine School of Nursing-Tacloban Branch on March 2008. I am so grateful that I earned my Diploma in this school because I learned so much from my Clinical Instructors who have taught us valuable knowledge and it had helped me a lot when I applied for a job.

I am right now, in California, USA since August of 2008, just few months after my graduation at St. Augustine School of Nursing. Looking back when I arrived here one year ago, I could only imagine how happy I am when the hospital I applied for as Nursing Assistant consider my credentials for the job. I also applied for the NCLEX Exam and the same is on process now.

While reviewing and preparing for my NCLEX Exam, I am at the same time working on two (2) different jobs in the Hospital and Adult Care Center. I am a Nurse Assistant in the hospital in surgery information every M-W-F and also in the Operating Room every T-TH for eight (8) hours per day. I am required to work on shift at the Operating Room. Before I started working in the OR, I underwent training on decontamination and sterilization procedure, aseptic techniques, precaution and safety procedures. I was assigned to assist the activities of the surgical team. We follow all the procedures especially the surgical hand washing, although its only basic as I recall during our school demos, but I found it very important and useful in the job.

My second part time job is Certified Nursing Assistant. I work every weekend in Adult Care Center for only four (4) hours. I really enjoy to work here because I consider it just an easy job like feeding the elderly, entertain them, assist them to the bathroom or simply giving them something like a drawing book where they could be busy. Sometimes, I commiserate them when they are lonely but I tried not to. I just treat them as my family.

At times I am tasked to handle bedridden patient and when my co-workers are on sick leave I usually handle the shift. Other procedures being done in the Adult Care Center was already known to me because we did the same during our SASN internship at the hospital like taking vital signs, measuring intake and output, recognition of abnormal signs and symptoms. We also did the aging process, first aid, patient rights, precaution, infection control, body mechanics, NGT feeding, providing fluids, bed bathing, dressing, oral care, and bedside care procedures here. I am at all times very careful with all the things I perform and ask the assistance of some personnel when I’m not certain what to do with patients.

As of the present, I am already a Certified Nurse Assistant with my California Phlebotomy License and a certified passer of the American Red Cross Training. And I could tell you that the income is good and I can now help my parents and the rest of my family.

I am shouting this out, my life story in California and the job I get here to inspire students and at the same time to encourage them to do good in their studies because just like me, it had helped me a lot. And this is to assure you that even a two year course can go a long way and the SASN curriculum is being recognized for taking the NCLEX exam and getting a job in a hospital.

So, to my fellow St. Augustinians…. hope to see you here and I wish I could help you. More power!