Let me share this conversation between me and an elder patient. Of course this was in norwegian but i'll be translating it and try my best to remember the exact words she used...

Me: Hi ----! Good evening. It's time for your injection. I'll be injecting it somewhere in your abdomen. (SC route)

Patient: What's that injection for? Why? I don't usually get injections in the stomach...

Me: It's an drug that will help prevent formation of blot clots on your leg. You've had an operation over a week ago.

Patient: Who said that i'd get that injection?

Me: it's the doctor's order and it's very inportant that we follow it.

Patient: Are you allowed to give that to me?

Me: (starting to get irritated of explaining. Breathed in. ) Yes i am. I am a nurse here.

Patient: generally, should I be getting that injection, you think?

Me: (scratching me head) yes. It's the doctor's order and it's a standard procedure that post-op patients get this type of injection..

Patient: oh is that so... (thinks a bit) I think that i am not gonna need that tonight. I was able to survive without that.

Me: let me emphasize that the injection will help you prevent further complications of your current condition...and you've had these injection for over a week now...

Patient: (shakes her head) can you leave me alonr now... you can go and close the door.

Me: (trying my darnest to keep my cool) ok... i'll go back later to check on you later. Rest well.

I went out the room feeling defeated and frustrasted...


After 30 mins I went back in. (Hoping she'll forget what occured there 30 mins earlier). Before i went back there, i thought very hard on what i'm gonna say to my patient to convince to get the injection. After 2 mins, she finally agreed. The only difference i did that made the deal? I didnt tell that she'll get the injection on the abdomen and instead used another SC route and promised that it wont hurt that much... :p yes! Patient- 1, nurse rosanne- 1 point too!

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oh mannnn...

This came in just today... my head nurse assigned me student nurse from february to april.... huwwaaaaaaaaat? Ok... let me explain. After one year in the field as a norsk sykepleier, so we get to veilede (supervise) student nurses... and it's one-on-one supervision, meaning we're gonna hang out most of the time while i'm at work... sweeet! Shadowing, the most likely term. And the thought of it kinda freaks me out... not that i'm not up for the challenge but you know, i gotta dig up all those nursing stuff somewhere inside my brain after years of dormancy and i am gonna supervise a norwegian?! How funky it that? And to make things awkward, the nurse student was the one of the many who helped me with the orientation/ routines at work when i first started working as a hjelpepleier over 2 years ago...

So, I'm both excited and anxious at the same time. Wish me luck.. she'll be shadowing me for 3 months...:)

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One year anniversary as a Pinay nurse in Norway

Yes! It's been a year since I began working as a sykepleier here... to be honest, it is harder than what i thought it would be but gratifying. Really.

My fears in the beginning - language and getting along with your collegueas- well, I have been continuously working on that since day 1. Common.... let's face it that no matter what we do, foreigners can never be as good as locals, unless you are born or grew up here and went to a norwegian school.... but I am so thankful that I have colleagues who always find time to explain or translate baffling norsk words or expressions... because believe me, after learning the basics and thought you have acquired a relatively vast vocabulary, and suddenly you meet these weird expressions, you'll still feel inadequate. :p
Recently, it's been quite an adjustment because we got new patients at the ward and we have to change the routines... new chief nurse (whom I really respect and look up to) and more issues related to patient care and colleagues...
As a nurse, there are a couple of things i've learned. One, for that matter, is that it's really frustrating not being able to give the best care your patients deserve because of shortage of manpower in the ward...and it's frustrating too that not everyone has the same will and enthusiasm to give quality patient care. This is the dilemma, I'm pretty sure, every norsk sykepleier faces everyday at work... it's a cycle and in the end, it's the nurse who gets most of the burden and responsibility...
To be honest, I'm quite burned out... and it's not a good sign. Patience begins to run out... don't get me wrong, I like my job as a nurse here but sometimes, you'll get fed up. Nurses are not superhumans. We have moments of weakness too. :) I probably sound like I'm complaining but I'm not. I still consider myself blessed and lucky because unlike my other counterparts in Pinas, who have longer shifts, bad pay and fewer resources, I don't feel that, employment-wise, I'm not being taken care of.
Language? Uhmm... yeah' it's always gonna be a minus point for us all the time... but don't fret too much about it.. most of the time they understand what I'm trying to say... haha but it would be really handy to familiarize yourself with norsk medical terms because when you sit there in front of the pc and write a patient report... it becomes really tricky with the grammar and usage of correct words. So be sure to have lexin.no or any internet-based translator. By the way, google translate? BAD IDEA! I really recommend lexin.no although it's an online norsk dictionary but it offers explanation and examples.

One last thing before I end this, I've become aware that the are some who follow my blog, esp. pinoy nurses eyeing Norway... I thank you for visitting my blog and for taking interest in what I'm doing here. If you have questions don't hesitate to email me at rosanne83221@gmail.com. I'd really like hearing from you. I'll try to make more time blogging from now on... note: TRY. Hehe

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