A Nurse's Point of View

 Part II - http://arlineraijmakers.blogspot.nl/2013/12/part-ii-second-encounter-happy-and-sad.html While still working at my previous job, I’ve taken my education to the next level by enrolling at a post graduate degree (Master of Arts in Nursing). I’ve met the people I will be working with for the rest of my teaching career.   The ones that encouraged me and 2 others to apply for a teaching job were nurse educators at one of the best nursing schools in Laguna, the Colegio de San Juan de Letran .   It was also during this time that I have met some of the most wonderful people in our profession. Attending a master’s degree class made all the difference for me. I will never forget one of our professors who taught us about assertiveness, she explained that we as professionals should be aware of our rights, be confident and direct in claiming one’s rights or putting forward one’s view . I was elected the president of that class in the first semester of 2006. I wa...

 Part I - http://arlineraijmakers.blogspot.nl/2013/11/is-there-life-after-teaching.html A lot of things happened in my life after my first taste of one of the noblest of all professions. I spent 2 years (1993-95) in Taipei working as a private nurse in a military hospital. I learned a new language, Mandarin which I thought then was difficult to learn just like what I speak now most of the time, Dutch but because it was spoken every day, made it easier for me to get used to it.   I learned how to cook Chinese food which became one   of my favorite cuisines in the whole wide world. I’ve met the father of my daughter Isabel soon to be born in 1999 whom I thought was one of the good things that happened to me and will last for the rest of my life. Went abroad again for 2 years with Isabel’s father. Went back to the Philippines, lived a domestic life, got pregnant while managing a small business. Had a difficult life while pregnant and a broken heart after Isa...

My first encounter I was introduced to teaching when I attended a caregiver training course at Multiskills Development Academy in Makati City, Philippines in the year 1992. I was then working as a company nurse at Laguna Laundry Processing Inc. in Sucat Muntinlupa City, Philippines and since I was always on the lookout for another job opportunity, there was never a day that I didn't buy a Manila Bulletin newspaper especially on a Sunday where almost half of it were just advertisements. I saw one about an agency (mentioned above) sending people to Canada to work as a caregiver. Because I wanted to go abroad and thought that will be a good vehicle for me to realize my dream of going to Canada, I went there and inquired.  The requirements included attending and finishing a 6 month caregiver training course and at the end of it, a certification will be awarded during the graduation.There were a lot of inquirers from different places not only in Manila but from the neighbo...

For most of us who believe in God and the power of prayers, the act of praying or meditating especially when everything is so hopeless has a calming effect that make us just let go and believe that God will help and guide us and never forsake us.  I believe in prayers so much, it never fails to strengthen me, to uplift me whenever I feel down, bored and worried. It just gives me that peace of mind and contentment when everything seems to be going nowhere and nothing but prayers accompanied by faith and belief saves me from being restless to being peaceful. I always say this at the end of my prayers “ not my will Father but your will be done, Amen” and I will lift it to our Almighty God and believing with all my heart that what I prayed for will be answered. How do we pray? We all have different ways on how we say our prayers. When prayers are said deeply and sincerely and done intensely communicating the deepest desires of our hearts to God, believing, trus...