Tears from the "Heart"... A Blessing in Disguise

Newly registered nurses in the Philippines are required (or preferred) to undergo IV (intravenous) Training. For experienced nurses, they still require refresher courses and renewal of their IVT License.

Philippine Heart Center is one of the premier and prestigious government hospitals that offers an in-depth IV trainings for health professionals. Indeed, thousands of newly registered nurses wish to enroll on the said training and acquire the best knowledge they can get from the well-respected institution.

I first heard of their trainings last January of this year. I am one of the thousands of aspirants who go there and fall in line at around 5 in the morning, the day before the registration. I thought my arrival time is a guaranteed in for the limited slots they are offering. Unfortunately, i was the 120th person in line. And the disappointing part is, they only got 30 from us since they offer limited slots with "first come first serve" basis.

A month has gone by and a friend informed me that they will offer again the same training on March. Nevertheless, we then planned to go there the day before the registration just so we can be sure that we will be on the first 30. We got there at around 5 pm... and not to our expectations, there were already people outside, also waiting for the next day to come. We really thought we were early enough to be on the front line but unfortunately we were on the 54-56th slots. We stayed there overnight together with hundreds of the aspirants.

At around 4am the following day, newcomers were actually in front of the hospital entrance, blocking the way of the "legal first comers". We were at the brink of brawling with one another, fighting our rights to be in front since we were there the day before the registration. But they stayed there as if they didn't hear anything from us. We still manage to keep our cool and fall in line according to our numbers as to time of arrival. The security guards didn't expect the crowd and they really did have a hard time controlling us.

As soon as the entrance door was opened, all the people rushed in, pushing one another just to get the front seats. Unfortunately for us who spend the night and fall in line the whole day, the newcomers outnumbered us and they got the slots for IV training. The institution didn't acknowledge our numbers and list of comers as to time of arrival. They honor those who got the front seats first without realizing that most of those are the ones who just came in and blocked our way at the entrance. Of course, its very unacceptable for us... for us who stayed overnight outside the hospital premises, who slept (or almost no sleep at all) roughly just few minutes, who didn't have a good time to eat our meals, who desperately waited outside despite the coldness of the night. All these were not accepted as valid reasons for us to be regarded as the "first comers", therefore, we didn't get the slots (which is really ours legally).

The nurse supervisor just said sorry. She even said, irritated, "I already said sorry, what else do you want?” as if sorry is enough for all what happened to us, as if sorry will heal our aching bodies (because of the pushing instances during the entrance), as if sorry will take away all our hardships to fall in line for those freaking slots. Hearing those words, i wasn't able to control my emotions and cried. I blurted out that i have high regards for their institution and it's even my second time to fall in line just to get their freaking slot. And I said, very furious, and devastated that their decision to accept those who were seated first on the front rows (which were mostly are the newcomers who pushed and blocked our way to the entrance just so they can get the slots) was totally unfair. I was crying and very oblivious to others who are by that time listening to my arguments with the supervisor. But i didn't care, for at that time, all i want is to blurt out all my anguish to the institution, for their misjudgment, for their unfairness, for their unacceptable ways of acknowledging the trainees. And before i totally leave the hall, i shouted out that i will never go back to Philippine Heart Center ever again... And i mean it...

After a few days, i received a text message from an unregistered number. The text is actually informing me about an upcoming IVT registration at Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital. I suddenly remember that i registered my name and contact details last January under their waiting list of IV trainees. Fabella is one of my top options to undergo IV Training. I felt excited about it. My friend also received the same message and we planned to go at the said hospital early in the morning because it is a "first come, first serve" basis again.

Registration starts at 8 am and i got there at 6 am. I was surprised by what i saw. The line is not that long yet. In fact I am the 7th person who arrived at the venue. To summarize what happened, I was able to register for their IVT schedule in a totally hassle and stress-free way. My friend and I only took 5 minutes to register. And all we have to do is wait for a week and we will be trained for the IVT.

Haaayyy... I suddenly thought of what happened at Philippine Heart Center. It was really not meant for me because Fabella will be my training grounds for a didactic training. God, indeed, works in mysterious ways. We just have to trust Him. We can have what we need at the right time and at the right place. In my case, I admit, I was really rushing things. I am totally in a rush to go IV Training. And now I realized the importance of patience, of right timing, of faith, of prayers.

And as of now, i was able to complete my IV Training and just waiting for my completion of cases and certificate. I even met some new friends and I am totally happy with the sequences of the events.

Thank God! It was truly a blessing in disguise.