Hospital Workplace Incivility

I guess most of the hospitals here in the Philippines runs a bureaucratic structure wherein an organizational chart portrays a clear line of subordination. I know you know what I'm talking about. Whom is responsible for who thing. Well okay, this is suited for large numbers of workers who performs routine task since orientation and management of workforce is easier. This fosters authoritarian leadership style and the "need to control attitude" which in turn alienates the inferior staffs.

Job description on the other hand is provided to every employee to acquire role clarity. But in reality we work way beyond what is just. The international standard for the ideal ratio of nurse-patient in hospitals is 1:4. Hence, we are serving 10-14 or more patients per nurse + the work of our aides/orderlies even if they're around but cannot be found most of the time. No one seem to think that role ambiguity and heavy workload is detrimental to a healthy milieu.

Superiors' self insecurities magnifies abuse of power by being vindictive despite own fault. Unconsciously, admit it or not, we always desire to reciprocate to that uncivil act and inflict harm. But then again, we chose not to because we were raised by our parents to be eminent even if job dissatisfaction results to low morale. This photo depicts HORIZONTAL VIOLENCE. Grabbed from Medscape (Clark, 2011).


Burn out and angst lingers when we take our eyes off our goals.

One way or another we had experienced workplace incivilities, it may be subtle or overt to be significantly noticed. Classic day to day scenarios are:
1. Being absent or late
2. Feigning unawareness
3. Not listening
4. Side conversations
5. Backstabbing
6. Prejudice
7. Emotional attacks
8. Disrespecting colleagues by harsh comments and gestures
9. Demeaning about professioanl competence
10. Undermining credibility in front of others
11. Overruling decisions without seeking others
12. Giving public reprimands
13. Speaking with a condescending tone
14. Insulting others
15. Production deviance
16. Hostility/ personal aggression
17. Sabotage
18. Misuse of information
19. Poor communication pattern
20. Iniquitous attitude

21. Deliberate disruptions
21. Sexual harrassment....What else?

Why I Hate Nursing #16

16? Well that's the maximum hours of work we can accommodate for each shift. Screw your judgments if you have. My page, my rules.

So I hate being a nurse because....

1. Changing soiled diapers. Why can't the patient's relative do it instead of bugging the nurses if our ate and kuya aides/orderlies are not around? So much with the back breaking pasty/watery stools every now and then. Human shit!!

2. Unavailability of nurses' bill of rights. Patients have their copies of the so called "Patients Bill of Rights" upon admission. A powerful handbook eh?? Why do nurses cannot posses "Nurses Bill of Rights" handbook? We were mistreated and dehumanized frequently but we cannot complain. Sore losers. Damn you too "secretary!!"

3. Manpower agencies belittling nurses. Google it! Just type nurse cook yaya on the search bar. Professional yaya? What a menial job. See for yourself! I intermittently had one on one encounter with the actual posters downtown.

4. Inadequate health benefits and PPEs. We don't have health hazard fees. I'm always queasy and pigging out for antibiotics. This only applies to ou r beloved physicians, swearing an oath to practice medicine ethically, and so on. And a part of this Hippocratic Oath is to cure their fellow sick physicians without charging any professional fee. What about our "Nightingale Pledge??"

I solemnly pledge myself before God and in the presence of this assembly, to pass my life in purity and to practice my profession faithfully. I will abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous, and will not take or knowingly administe r any harmful drug. I will do all in my power to maintain and elevate the standard of my profession, and will hold in confidence all personal matters committed to my keeping and all family affairs coming to my knowledge in the practice of my calling. With loyalty will I endeavor to aid the physician, in his work, and devote myself to the welfare of those committed to my care.

5. No work interruptions. Holidays, rain or shine, in sickness and in health we still have to commit ourselves to serve our patients. There will never be a valid excuse to be missing, except if you are contagious and dying. Poor nurses on duty that they have to work for 16 hours straight just to cover up for the absentee.

6. Human working machine. Ok this is not about money, but the crap that goes along with this job! Everybody knows that we're under compensated, and not much appreciated by everyone else. We're a virtuoso of our routine task, even way beyond our job description.

7. Understaffing. =Fatigue and exhaustion!! Do I need to say more?

8. Dealing with the impossible. Patient's relatives requires more attention than the patient. Shit! We're not your personal maid or private duty nurses. Don't you think that we have other seriously ill patients to minister? Ever heard of prioritization?

9. Competency in all aspects. The need to know

everything attitude is a must. Anything bad is forbidden. We don't want to commit sentinel events right?? If something goes wrong, it will ALWAYS be blamed on the nurses.

10. Doctors who decry nurses. Respect us the way we respect you. I detest writing doctors order during their rounds, seems like I have left with no choice. Delegate that unpleasant strain to your resident doctors than being an outright rude. The

fact that I accompanied you during your rounds means that I acknowledged your presence and willing to assist you on whatever patient endeavor you will make. I'm not your secretary.

11. Sexual harassment at workplace. Old man's arm wrapped around your shoulder and waist caressing you, what a common hospital scenario. I once had a horrible experience with a wild disorderly doctor who has a great craving for women

!!! Disgusting!!

12. Workplace incivilities. Senior staffs who treat their "juniors" as minions and not a part of the team. It's a shame that so many experienced nurses who has superiority complex are so inconsiderate to the "un-experienced."

13. White uniforms. Absolutely a fashion killer!! Affixed on our head is our nurses' cap that makes us distinctive from yayas. Yes, we all hate our caps and tight buns but it dignifies our profession.

14. Unfinished business. 1 nurse vs. 10 patients or more with all those useless demands. They don't even have common sense to think how tired their nurse can get on each shift. I'm physically and emotionally drained. How I wish I can just leave them all at my own pace.. to eat, and rest.

15. Biological clock disharmony. We can't sleep and eat on time with that work shift inconsistencies, such drift does not take place under normal

circumstances because external cues reset our internal clock each day. We're living with an accustomed jet lag!! Complete resetting of my cockerel requires a week or more. Darn to my immensely erroneous brain component!! And ooohhh I really really really hate my raccoon eyes!

16. Because I'm a NURSE!? Trapped in this dreadful career?? Grotesquely miserable!!

But of course we do have generous SELFLESS REASONS why we LOVE NURSING...

No matter how we hate or love our job, its what we make out of it... :) XOXO!!

Customer Review: Times Trading Co. Inc.

Times Trading Co. Inc. Since 1945 (http://www.times.com.ph/contactus.do?action=showContactUsPage). Oh well, I don't really care how established they are since they provide poor customer service. I only visited that store 2x and I'm not happy with my experience buying office supplies there. The service is inefficient and time consuming as if they're jam packed with customers!! To tell you, your 5 fingers is more than enough to count their potential buyers.I purchased Colop brand self-inking stamp. Of course I inquired about the prices of the stamps, font styles and sizes available. The one who entertained me I can say is not product cognizant, what's she told me when I inquired was: "Sila na magllay-out at bahala sa size pipili ka na lang doon." I asked for the font sizes because I find it too big and she answered: "Wala. Ganyan lang talaga." And when I reiterated it to her a while ago, she admitted that she didn't offered any font sizes to me, time wasted on that transaction last Monday is 40 minutes. My excitement down poured when I got my erroneous stamp today, so I decided to return it and have it fixed. Again, they wasted 45 minutes of my time waiting for their shitty response. I think its not convenient to join a conversation when one can't even understand basic explanations just to overcharge your client. For me this is very similar to that of CD-R King experience, long waiting lines, manual writing of receipts and poor customer service (at least they do really have a lot of customers!!). This is my 2nd stamp I suppose, my 1st stamp was Shiny brand, bought at NBS. In there, I encountered a systematic process of ordering accurately and getting what I want. Lists of available alignment and fonts/sizes with samples was shown, the sales clerk also assisted me on filling up the order form. I am very satisfied with the product, I completed the process for <15minutes including the long lines for payment.

Elizabeth Arden Flawless Finish Sponge-on Cream Makeup

I got this cream foundation from my mom's aunt and yes I was downhearted upon receiving it because the color might look too dark for my skin tone (but I was wrong), the product seems to swim on lard, and ohhhh!! I really really hate its fetid old maiden perfume smell. I am now forced to ignore them all due to my affection for this product.

Elizabeth Arden Flawless Sponge-on Cream Makeup shade in Warm Beige goes on smoothly when applied and gives me a full coverage. It precisely conceal any skin imperfections for that glowing flawless look (literally and figuratively). Moreover, its staying power is superb which almost lasts all day. Despite its unpleasant smell, this product do not cause any skin break downs nor will aggravate your present skin conditions.

Just blend well and apply evenly to avoid that heavy feel on your face.

I highly recommend this awesome foundation to those who have normal to dry skin 5/5 rating! I have a super oily skin but still this product never failed to work at its best :)

*I don't have any idea if this is locally available.

Elizabeth Arden Color Kit Review

Who wouldn't drool for this one? Creme eyeshadow and color intrigue lipstick in one handy package. This can be flipped open with middle mirror on both sides, this comes with a small lip brush and a sponge applicator.

L-R: Blossom, Sunrose, Blonde, Caramel, Aubergine

Creme eyeshadows are not oily and has the same texture with mousse make-ups. However these are not pigmented and doesn't even last a couple of hours. I just love its subtle gold shimmery effect on my eyelid when used with other e/s. Nonetheless this product is a huge disappointment!!

L-R: Dream, Catherine, Intimate, Cabana

Color Intrigue Lipsticks on the other hand has a creamy texture and is super pigmented with shades ranging from pink to orange. These lip colors last for couple of hours but has an awful grandma lipstick smell. Overall, this product is 2/5 good.

The Great Interior Designer/ 3D Visual Specialist

His name is Cheney Wendell Ching

Call him Chinz for short

His work of art is fascinating

So throw your bleakness back court

Each day Mr.Sunshine gleams

Don't you just sit there and squeak

Piece by piece you build your dreams

Now is the time to act and speak

Have no idea? Worry no more

What you want is what you get

The Master is waiting ready to explore

Turn your old rag into a great asset

Tissot------ Shinagawa Optical-------2 Branches of Sookee Jewellery @ Singapore

*Photos grabbed with no permission :)

For more eye-popping creations and interior visualizations: please visit his website--

http://idesignchinz.carbonmade.com

02/09/2011 2141

Tikoy

Tikoy or Nián Gāo is a traditional Chinese New Year Dish made of sweetened glutinous rice flour. Chinese customs, and foods are naturally tailored by the Filipinos thus making it a piece of their own. This stemmed from the legends and beliefs of Chinese that eating sticky rice pudding brings luck.

The LEGEND

According to the legend, every house of Chinese have a Kitchen God known as Zaowang. He watches every family and tasked to deliver their overall outlook in life to God on the 23rd day of the last month of the year. But before Zaowang leaves the house, the family serves delectable foods for him to convey good news to God. However, there is a notion that tikoy is given to him to glue his mouth from declaring delinquent news.

The SUPERSTITION

In Chinese language "Nian" means sticky and year, on the other hand "gao" means cake and rising. Therefore, Nian Gao means "Moving Up Every Year." The final adjudication, TIKOY is believed to bring good fate and tight family bond.

Happy Chinese New Year!!

02/03/2011 1500

My New Love: Falsies :)

In 1916, American movie director D.W. Griffith designed the first set of false eyelashes.He wanted his leading lady to have lashes so long that it will be noticed when she blink or look down. The result was a movie magic. However, the false lashes were remembered to the misfortune of Griffith as he never made a claim to their fame and had his idea stolen, and altered in the decades to come.

Bet every Chinese gal has a lifelong battle with their chinky eyes and almost bald eyelashes. I'm always allured with thick-long lashes for the reason that my lashes were too short to be clipped by eyelash curlers, extra dose of volumizing mascara does not work as well.

Learning to apply those takes time and patience. Give it a try if you want a sky-high lashes. They come in various styles, colors and sizes. Have a happy lashes! :D

01/27/2011 2303