Thank you Nurses; Thank you Front Liners!

"Who would be there to care for us when we’re not feeling well? Who would help bring new life into the world, care tirelessly for the sick and injured, and sometimes watch the patients they did everything to save pass away despite their best efforts. Nurses play a key role for the health and wellbeing of people all around the world."

Here's my fair share of story when I was still working as a Nurse back in the Philippines.

After passing the Board Exam, I was given immediately an opportunity to work in a small clinic where I used to handle pediatric (children) patients. Still fresh in my mind when I had my last duty as a Nurse, 8 years ago. It was a very tough night, me and a female colleague (newly passed as well) handled all patients, no Doctors, just the two of us. We started our shift with a promise to give our all and help our patients to gain optimum recovery (as every medical professionals aim for). I was assigned with a 5 year old convulsive patient. With 40 degree celcius temp, I really need to monitor him all the time and do all the interventions to make his temperature go back to normal. It came to the point where the convulsion got worst (imagine from a movie where a child was possessed), and the relevant others got hysterically worried, shouted and doubted our capabilities. As a newby, though we were strictly taught in school to remain calm in any situation, I can't help but to panicked. Along with prayers, we did our best efforts to aid the critical situation of the child. It took us hours to successfully normalized his temperature; from rendering tirelessly a cold compress, meds administration, vital signs monitoring, emotional support and reassuring the family that everything will be okay, thanks God we were able to get through it. I'm not a believer of a Saint, but that time, I called all the names of the Saints I knew ??. It was indeed a long night, I sat on the wheelchair and rested for few minutes to gain my composure and energy, and went back to check the other patients with a smile on my face.

Until I was already in that scenario, never I have imagined that learning the theories, sleepless nights of reading, memorizing all the Nursing hefty books will just vanish in a glimpse of an eye.

My experience was just nothing compared to what other Nurses went through. So It is just a must to "acknowledge the hard work, long hours, and emotional duress that are part of the life of every Nurse, and honors them and recognizes all of their efforts!"

Let's extend our gratitude to all our Nurses and all healthcare professionals who gave everything just to save life of our loved ones.