This is how I spent the Vday

This is an unforgettable Valentine's day for me. Not because my boyfriend surprised me with beautiful bouquet of flowers (he didn't actually. Haha!), but because I was one hell of a busy nurse on this very special day for couples.

At 12:00 am, I texted my boyfriend who was already sleeping at that time. I had the time to text him because I was INITIALLY not busy. I even had the time to cut paper hearts and posted on our bulletin board.

One of my patients though who was hooked to a mechanical ventilator through an endotracheal tube was febrile and hypertensive. Her blood pressure yielded 160/100 and her temperature was 40.3. I immediately referred it to our charge nurse.

At 1:00 am, her blood pressure and temperature was still the same. I also suctioned her regularly.

At 2:00 am, her blood pressure dropped to 120/80. It is already normal but I kinda got worried because my patient the other day died. His blood pressure dropped from 200/80 to 70/40. I didn't want another patient to die during my shift.

At 2:30 am, my patient's daughter requested to suction her mother. When I went inside the room, I noticed that my patient's lips were cyanotic (bluish in color). I checked her BP immediately as soon as I finished suctioning. I can't hear anything anymore. I can't even feel a pulse. I immediately ran to the nursing station to ask help from Sir Renz who also couldn't find a pulse.

From 2:30 am to 5:00, we were busy. We hooked dopamine and epinephrine drip as per doctor's order to save the patient. While we carried out the doctor's orders, the medical residents talked to the husband and daughter about the patient's situation. They asked them if they are aggressive with saving the life of their loved one. They contemplated about the pros and cons but there was definitely no assurance that the patient will survive since she now relies from the drugs we induced to stimulate her heart. They then decided not to go for a cardiopulmonary resuscitation in case the patient will arrest. I was teary eyed while I heard the husband talked to his wife. "Lumaban ka. Kumapit ka. Kelangan ka ng mga anak at apo mo. Kumapit ka. Mahal na mahal ka namin." Just typing those words I heard from the husband makes me teary-eyed again. I don't like being put in a situation like this. I easily get emotional.

Fortunately, my patient didn't die during my shift. She was still holding on when we endorsed it to the next shift. I don't know what happened next. I am not sure if she's still alive.

At 8:00, our station had a meeting about the new policies in the hospital. I actually do not like the new program for nurses because I already had enough with the oral revalida and return demonstration during my college days. Now, we have to do it again to evaluate the knowledge and skills of the staff nurses. Ugh.

Our meeting ended at 12:00 pm. We, the night shift nurses, were already groggy. I was in a hurry to go home and to sleep. On my way home, I fell asleep on the train and on the jeepney. I walked like a drunk person that the security guard in the LRT station even checked me if I was okay. Haha!

At 1:00 pm, I was home at last. After taking the shower, I called TJ to greet him Happy Valentine's then took Tylenol with diphenhydramine for my muscle pain. Then after 15 to 30 minutes, I already felt the effect of diphenhydramine.

At 8:00 pm, my father woke me up to eat dinner. He apparently bought cake, ice cream and pancit canton for mama. How sweet.

So this is how spent my Valentine's Day. No flowers, chocolates nor an extravagant date. I'm kinda envious of other couples who went out but... sleep is my priority. Hahaha!