The Downside of Premature Application

The Downside of Premature Application

I am recently attending the RN Residency Program at work. One recurring topic that the instructors delve upon is assertiveness. “Assertiveness is the ability to express yourself and your rights without violating the rights of others. It is appropriately direct, open, and honest communication which is self-enhancing and expressive.” I have no objection that such notion is constantly being ingrained to us. In fact, there is a connotation that nurses are passive, and assertiveness is some instances are very much vital.

Arguably, I am opposed to the notion of pseudo-assertiveness. Pseudo assertiveness would fall on the category of situations not requiring assertiveness, but people are doing it anyway so as to have a story in the debriefing session of the RN Residency Program, as applied to its attendees. I would call it as a gray are in being assertive and aggressive.

For the purpose of example and not for the purpose of full disclosure, there was one attendee who would fall into the category of pseudo-assertiveness. An RN orientee made a big deal about a Respiratory Therapist mistaking her for a student, and not as an RN. Then, she delivered a spiel: “I am an RN now, and not my preceptor’s student.” She considered it as an act of assertiveness. Not to burst her bubble, I would say that the mistake was an honest one, and would not warrant a very remarkable and assertive correction.

One of the pitfalls of having a well-appreciated concept (in this case, assertiveness) in the class is to have a premature application. This is an appeal to my fellow attendees of the RN Residency Program. I suppose it would be more appropriate if we would apply the concepts that we learned based on its needs, and not based on the whimper of a suggestion. Arguably, people will eventually detect what is a genuine assertive experience as opposed to whimper crazed-driven pseudo assertiveness.

Now that I have used the word “assertive” and its derivatives more than 4 times in this entry, I hereby pronounced thee as a commonplace word.

Blog Statistics

Thank you for all the readers/subscribers of my blog: Suppose, Contend, Differentiate. According to my feedburner statistics, there are at least 6 readers/subscribers on average per day. Thank you again, and I would need your feedback and comments. The comments section on my blogger is open to all. On the "Choose an identity" part, please choose "Other" and/or "Anonymous" instead of "blogger." Then, it would let you post your comments. Above is the graph showing the statistics from Tuesday, June 6, 2006 - Saturday, July 22, 2006

Discomfort Zone Disrupted

Discomfort Zone Disrupted

One might say that this entry sounds like constipation, bloating, and diarrhea. I assure the readers that it is not. Not to burst the bubble of gastrointestinal discomfort fans, such topics shall be discussed on future entries.

Partly, the NPR radio essay “This I Believe: Disrupting the Comfort Zone” as narrated by Brian Grazer, producer of A Beautiful Mind , "Friday Night Lights, "East of Eden” and more, inspired this entry. In a gist, the radio essay talked about subjecting oneself (Grazer) to the point of humiliation by a physicist just to have his comfort zone disrupted.

I agree to some parts of the radio essay, but one can say that if there is a comfort zone, there can be a discomfort zone. For instance, a discomfort zone is for some people to talk about their insecurities in public. It would be an awkward scenario, but can be simply satisfying. I guess that this example is a simplistic one. Some might argue that discomfort zones can range from the darkest of hearts to the sweetest taboo.

People will subject themselves to any violation of decency. Most people shall associate themselves to the extent of having criminal minds. Inadvertently, the very process mentioned is disrupting the discomfort zones. Conscience would paint a decency violation like a discomfort zone, but people will do it anyway, without remorse to gains or losses.

Arguably, the only thing given importance is comfort: the easy way out. And as for people who have the courage to disrupt the un-confronted, uninhibited, and the darkest of thoughts, it would be a triumph for disrupting the discomfort zone. As Stephen King simply puts: “Time takes it all whether you want it to or not, time takes it all. Time bares it away, and in the end there is only darkness. Sometimes we find others in that darkness, and sometimes we lose them there again.”

Panhandling: Baby Shower Universe

Panhandling: Baby Shower Universe

My friend Patricia was talking about her upcoming baby shower that is to occur months from now. She emphasized that she would not engage in any baby shower registry. She claimed that it was a rude practice to command what gifts guests should bring.

I agree with Patricia. Most Americans have this practice of dictatorship. The definition of baby shower is given too much euphemism: A baby shower is a rite of passage in which the parents of a baby arrange and organize to receive gifts and money from their families and friends. (Wikipedia.org). If someone would attend a baby shower, it is mandatory for guests to register what gifts to buy. I would suppose that this is one of the discrete ways to panhandle, or to beg. The very action of requiring gifts to guests seems to be an act of desperation, because the parents can not provide, their friends and families would provide.

It is the responsibility of the prospective parents to provide what the baby needs. As I have contended, Americans oftentimes prefer euphemisms. They would say baby shower, instead of panhandling. Panhandling is defined as: “to accost on the street and beg from.” The difference seems to be negligible.

That is why I agree with Patricia. Baby shower is a backward tradition that seems to undermine the ability of prospective parents to provide for their own baby. It clumps on the solidarity banner of family and friends. Arguably, it (baby shower registry) is a tradition for parasites, and I am glad that my friend vehemently shuns this backward tradition.

Pinoy Phonies

Pinoy Phonies

The topic that I may raise would seem volatile to some readers, specifically to some ‘balikbayans’ and compatriots. After living for almost 5 years now in the US, I noticed some misguided beliefs had developed for some Pinoys here in the US. I can only wonder what the sources of these misguided values were, and I would only cringe when my fellow Filipinos live up to the beliefs in question.

The show Wowowee! seems to be a perfect example of a Pinoy phony deception. There is a portion in the show where balikbayans would give away dollar bills to our compatriots in need. This is predicated that it would help our destitute “kababayans” This action seems plausible. The show is even regarded as a tourist attraction, which is good for a third world economy. However, what my fellow balikbayans inadvertently do is advocating the so-called “beggar culture. The very action of giving away dollar bills would also attached the nirvana perception that “money grows on trees,” here in the US. Some people would oppose the “beggar culture” because it promotes complacency. A Juan dela Cruz may think Filipinos in the US have lots of money, and he would just wait for the aid and charity. The perception “money grows on trees” here in the US would be hard to uproot from some Juan dela Cruz. The peso devaluation and the show Wowowee! seem to advocate this kind of Pinoy phony deception.

Another Pinoy phony deception is Fil-Am speech. This gets into my nerves a lot. What seems to be the problem is that some Pinoys find their mother language unappealing. As a result, they would try to “American –ized” most Filipino words. It seems a little bit hard to describe it in writing, but when you have time, go to Seafood City and just listen to the chatter of fellow Pinoys, you would really hear the very bad combination of “Tag-glish.”

Some Pinoys can lay claim that they speak Tagalog imperfectly, because they got used to the English language. Unfortunately, the English language they always refer to is English slang. .For instance, some of the most common English slang/ ebonics that most Pinoys emulate:

• “We will not go here no more.”
• “I ain’t gonna not pay for that.”

This seems to be a problem because the usage of English slang often denotes unsatisfactory knowledge of the language. If most Pinoys would live up adapt this kind of language, at the extreme of renouncing their mother language, they would end up not proficient in both languages. As I have emphasized on the last paragraph, some Fil-Am speakers just pretend to be inarticulate in Tagalog, because they find the latter unappealing.

I will have more Pinoy phonies entries. This is the first in the set.

Post-Birthday Denial

Post-Birthday Denial

I seem to be in a state of disarray after my birthday. One of the reasons is I am in denial of my age. For some twisted logic, I kept convincing myself that I am 20. I know I am not, but I still feel 20. Some people would contend (especially Erik Erikson) that I may not be fulfilling the developmental tenets that he proposed. With all due respect to the advocates of the developmental milestones, I am an ardent supporter of people staying young at heart.

Moreover, I quit my hospital job. Although quitting denotes a negative definition, I already applied to another facility which I will be starting also as an RN. Certain factors compelled me to quit. I may be on the verge of a burnout. Add to that, the 72 miles I have to travel everyday to go work. Hence, in order to prevent a foreseeable burnout, quitting the first hospital job was necessary.

I will be a hypocrite if I would say: “I never really liked the first hospital.” However, I am a pragmatist by default. As I have said, quitting was necessary.

There goes my birthday. Denial. Disarray. Happiness….. Relatively. I bought a DS lite, and I bought a new cellular phone. There, I seem to bask in the heat of materialism.

The Case for Short Words

The Case for Short Words

by Richard Lederer

When you speak and write, there is no law that says you have to use big words. Short words are as good as long ones, and short, old words -- like sun and grass and home -- are best of all. A lot of small words, more than you might think, can meet your needs with a strength, grace, and charm that large words do not have.

Big words can make the way dark for those who read what you write and hear what you say. Small words cast their clear light on big things -- night and day, love and hate, war and peace, and life and death. Big words at times seem strange to the eye and the ear and the mind and the heart. Small words are the ones we seem to have known from the time we were born, like the hearth fire that warms the home.

Short words are bright like sparks that glow in the night, prompt like the dawn that greets the day, sharp like the blade of a knife, hot like salt tears that scald the cheek, quick like moths that flit from flame to flame, and terse like the dart and sting of a bee.

Here is a sound rule: Use small, old words where you can. If a long word says just what you want to say, do not fear to use it. But know that our tongue is rich in crisp, brisk, swift, short words. Make them the spine and the heart of what you speak and write. Short words are like fast friends. They will not let you down.

The title of this article and the four paragraphs that you have just read are wrought entirely of words of one syllable. In setting myself this task, I did not feel especially cabined, cribbed, or confined. In fact, the structure helped me to focus on the power of the message I was trying to put across.

For centuries our finest poets and orators have recognized and employed the power of small words to make a straight point between two minds. A great many of our proverbs punch home their points with pithy monosyllables: “Where there's a will, there's a way,” “A stitch in time saves nine,” “Spare the rod and spoil the child,” “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.”

The King James Bible is a centerpiece of short words – “And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good.”

You too can tap into the vitality and vigor of compact expression. Take a suggestion from the highway department. At the boundaries of your speech and prose place a sign that reads “Caution: Small Words at Work.”

kbps.org

Free Speech Zones

Free Speech Zones

We seem to live in a world wherein one’s woes and frustrations are no longer private and personal. Technology may compel us to share any expressions and sentiments. Arguably, this notion may be just in time for the possible and imminent demise of the First Amendment. “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”

The first amendment appears to be restricted nowadays. With the so-called “free speech zones,” wherein the pro-protesters can protest anywhere they desire, and the anti-protesters are cordoned off to the designated places distal to motorcade or reception. The notion of antiterrorism conveniently supported the pseudo urgency of free speech zones. Mostly, I have posted this kind of topic in this blog, when “Boston Legal” would delve into topics such as this. I needed to write own view on this based on Emerson’s writing: “I hate quotations. Tell me what you know.”

What happens today, I find it hard to reconcile. Even illegal immigrants are given the freedom of speech regarding their outcry: “We want to pay taxes! We want to pay taxes!" In this instance, freedom of speech is at its best. However, having "free speech zones" seems to be unnecessary. Every land in USA is a free speech zone, I hope.

A topic germane to free speech is having blogs to express contentions and differentiations. The World Wide Web is a community. I hope that having the luxury of blogs (free speech and thought expression) would remain at its prime. In the future, I hope that people can share their thoughts without restraints and fear of persecution. Having free speech zones is a rudimentary step to censor freedom of expression. It just makes me wonder, what would be the pro "free-speech-zones" next step in order to create zombies and drones (refers to people controlled by someone else's will)?

Photo Source:

safetystate.com/ss.cgi?action=material&id=34

Season Defiance

Season Defiance
I was listening to NPR earlier, and they mentioned about people being amenable to the changes of the season. For instance, people will learn to accept that it is not yet strawberry season, or watermelon season, or apple season. However, my time seem to be changing. I can eat any fruit, should it be winter, spring, summer or, fall. This makes me wonder, is it human nature to be defiant? Are we setting ourselves to a time that we can say “patience” is an obsolete term? How far would people go just to get what they want, when they want them? It would be reasonable to infer that we are part of the slow, but sure defiance of the seasons.

Remember When!

Remember When!
By popular demand, here's the anonymous poem that Richard read on our recent show about the 1960s:

Remember when hippie meant big in the hips
And a trip involved travel in cars, planes, and ships?
When pot was a vessel for cooking things in
And hooked was what grandmother’s rug might have been?

When square meant a 90-degree angle form
And cool was a temperature not quite warm?
When roll meant a bun and rock was a stone
And hang-up was something you did to the phone?

When fixed was a verb that meant mend or repair
And be-in meant simply existing somewhere?
When neat meant well-organized, tidy, and clean
And grass was ground cover, normally green?

When lights and not people were switched on and off
And the pill might have been what you took for your cough?
When camp was to quarter outdoors in a tent
And pop was what the weasel went?

When groovy meant furrowed with channels and hollows
And birds were winged creatures like robins and swallows?
When fuzz was a substance that’s fluffy like lint
And bread came from bakeries, not from the mint?

When jam was preserves that you spread on your bread
And crazy meant balmy – not right in the head?
When swinger was someone who swung in a swing
And pad was a soft sort of cushiony thing?

When far-out meant distant, way up in the blue
And making the scene was a rude thing to do?
When dig meant to shovel and spade in the dirt
And put-on is what you would do with a shirt?

Words once so sensible, sober, and serious
Are making the freak scene like psychodelirious.
It’s groovy, man, groovy, but English it’s not.
Methinks that our language is going to pot.

Source: kpbs.org

A Los Angeles Faux Pas

A Los Angeles Faux Pas

Los Angeles is known for its extravagance and lavish lifestyle. When one has to pay for parking everyday, and a parking ticket has to be validated when a person just park on a store would support the fact that space in L.A. is expensive. This can be manifested by skyrocketing real estates in Brentwood, Inglewood, and Sherman Oaks etc. (adjacent to West LA). Hence, LA seems to support the subculture of extravagance and a lavish lifestyle.

In LA, there seems to be an unwritten rule that one must have a lavish life. A budget of $6 a day for a meal is laughable. $6 is not even enough for parking .Some people consider budgeting as an anti-social act. This is Los Angeles, land of the rich and home of the pricey.

Arguably, I am a Los Angeles Faux Pas. I am a very frugal person (confirm this with my classmates in UST). Maybe it is not environmental because my siblings are in the opposite. At work, I bring food that I brought from Costco and I would promise that I would never buy anything from the cafeteria. The items are exorbitant.

My friend, Patricia, advises me not to be cheap (monetarily) when it comes to dating. However, frugality seems to run in my veins. I would even go to the lengths of using discount coupons just to save on a date. (This might explain: I rarely date which might amount to never). People can say I am a social blunder in LA because of my frugality. Nevertheless, I am proud to be a Los Angeles Faux Pas.

Photo Source: www.plan9publishing.com

The Alpha State

The Alpha State

Commuting three days a week from work would seem to be a tedious. Especially when one traverses the dreaded I-405 and the I-10, an issue would arise. Thanks heavens to the Alpha State. The Alpha State is defined as: "Slow brainwave activity state of hypnosis (resting but awake). Also known as hypnoidal. Alpha is slower (deeper) than Beta, the awake state, and faster than Theta, a deep hypnotic state." The term restful but awake is predicated on the premise that stressing about the traffic is not a priority.

One way of achieving the alpha state is by listening. Specifically, I listen to podcasts of my favorite radio shows: "A Way With Words," "Catholic Answers," "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell me,” Boston Illegal." and a lot more. This can also be termed as conscientious distraction, because I pay attention to my driving while being in the Alpha State.

Some people argue that the alpha state is a good thing. Well, it could be a good thing, as long as it does not detach people to interpersonal relationships. The term detachment would be bad if people are engrossed too much and they do not see what is happening around them. As a side note, technology such as mp3s, videogames, and movies would put people into an Alpha State. This is the claim that I am asserting throughout this whole entry.

EKG class

My work requires its employees to get 90% or above to pass the EKG class certification. As opposed to other hospitals which would only require 80-85% or better, the requirement of my work seems to be do-able and sensible. If a patient in to our unit would be given a choice, it seems that he would prefer a nurses who have a 90% or better score on their EKG test. Hence, work is like nursing school again. I have to comply with their cut off score. Studying mode again.




Photo Source: http://www.ogrodnik.com/mbdesign/media/ekg.gif

Renounce Rialto

Renounce Rialto

Sometimes, people say things. And when the speech center of my brain seems to process logic and words rather hastily, there must be an opportunity to rectify hasty statements; Hence, I bring you “Renounce Rialto.”

i. “I don’t like Nursing.” Whew… this is a big one. Right now, I truly and deeply love this course. A reader can see how exhilarated I was on the entry “I passed the NCLEX-RN with 75 questions.” I witnessed how broad the scope of nursing during my clinical. Now that I am a registered nurse, there would be endless learning, especially which I am working in a cardiac unit. In a few years, my plan is to obtain a Masters degree. I saw how systematic and methodical nursing practice is, and since I am trained and continued to be trained this way, I will be a systematic and methodical nurse. The rationales for loving nursing are the endless possibilities of learning, and at the end of a very busy and tedious day, one can say that a nurse made a patient smile when the former gave the latter his morning care, or provide a warm blanket before sleep time. From little things to big things, nurses would be instruments for excellent healthcare, and I am in the process of being a whole part of it. Go ADPIE (Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Intervention, and Evaluation).

ii. “Jessica Zafra is the greatest writer.” Let me correct this statement by writing: Jessica Zafra is one of the greatest writers. After reading different authors other than the revered one, it came my thinking that she is just one of the greatest writers. Greatness is subjective and can be defined in different ways. Semantics played a great role in this change of view.

iii. “I never liked Japanese animation and food.” I now like anime and sushi. In terms of nutrition and palatability, sushi seems to be the best bet. I can now finally say that American foods are less desirable. American food such as fries and burgers are high in bad cholesterol as opposed to one. In terms of entertainment, the graphics and story in anime seem to be unique and refreshing. Movies nowadays are a bunch of graphics bonanza, but poor in storyline. Most anime that I watched (Castle in the Sky, Final Fantasy: Advent Children, Ghost in the Shell, Metropolis etc.) are rich in graphics and can be considered having great storyline.

iv. “I don’t want to exercise.” In the lieu of nursing as my profession, being healthy seems to be the preference. Arguably, nurses are role models, and having moderate exercise can be enough.

v. “I don’t like OPM.” Dahil walang “for life” at “forever” na radio station dito.” Being “jologs” would seem to be the cool thing. Hey, most people like TFC. Arguably, GMA network seems to appeal to majority of Filipinos with great taste for entertainment. Mediocre entertainment (can be TFC) seems to appeal to Filipino Americans. Enough for the digression, I like OPM now. Most of the music here are very much commercial, and Clear Channel has monopoly for the radio. What I do not like is when a company is explicitly dictating what will artist and music will I listen. Hence, I like OPM now.

vi. “I will never join friendster.” Arguably, I am friendster’s prodigal son. I joined it last 2003, and seem to be against its philosophy, then withdrew my allegiance. Now, I joined friendster for one objective: shameless self/blog promotion.

As of press time, Irony is my friend. There might be more renounce rialtos in life and in blog. Whatever the case, the preference is to convey irony and learn from it.

Repair

When I was on the brink of what should and should not be done, I had done it anyway. What seems to be wrong with human nature is endless and inveterate curiosity, the desire to click the self-destruct button, thinking it would be easier to have a total overhaul, than to selectively repair what was wrong and retain the old and working ones. This seems to be the kind of thinking that has a double-edged sword. Most of the things would just require repair, and that is it. There is no need for the “quick to cut” principle and find out what is wrong and what is ought.

Forget Me Not

“Blessed are the forgetful, for they get the best even of their blunders.” -Frederich Nietzsche

Human nature usually supposes that ignorance is bliss. There is comfort in not knowing. Arguably, this comfort might be the source of happiness, or can be viewed as an impending tragedy. The mind plays tricks on us, and the more you know, the more enlightened you become. And when you become enlightened by the truth, pangs of frustration might arise, for what you may think as bliss, is not bliss at all. Then, you tell yourself, it was even better that I did not know. I was happy and peaceful. Now, I have become a train wreck with knowledge of betrayal and frustration.

“How happy is the blameless vestal's lot!
The world forgetting, by the world forgot.
Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind!
Each pray'r accepted, and each wish resign'd;
Labour and rest, that equal periods keep[…];”

-Alexander Pope

I suppose memory would choose to remember what was joyous, instead of lachrymose. Sometimes, this is what seems to work: to be hopeful in the midst of the unpromising outcome. To say to oneself: “Impossible is the possible not yet done.” Memories are filtered that way. Remembering is easy. Forgetting takes a lot of hard work. And when happiness sinks in, expect that somewhere in there, a memory has been put in the bin of forgetfulness.

Work Cited:

Photo Source: Forget me not by Asya Schween

People, Pets, and Peeves

People, Pets, and Peeves

Most Americans love pets. In fact, according to Frappa Stout, a writer in USAWeekend Magazine, states: “They've (pets) moved from the back yard to the bedroom, and 84% of American pet owners consider them part of the family.” Here is a great idea: people should be eliminated, and let pets rule the world.

The aforementioned magazine states: “Americans spend about $28 billion a year on their four-legged friends, and that's not all food and veterinary care. The pet product industry is exploding, and more than half of all owners regularly buy gifts for their pets .” $28 B. Sure, the starvation in Africa, and destitution in any third world country would not matter, as long as the important and vital pet would have its exorbitant pedigree. Many should realize that when one country would spend this much on pets, then, it is just reasonable to make an ultimate sacrifice: people should be eliminated, and let pets rule the world.

Becker, author of “The Healing Power of Pets,” opines: “The pet gives you unconditional love, limitless affection and to-die-for loyalty. So you spoil them worse than grandkids." This is the absolute truth. It is just reasonable to spoil the pets. The edict of society seems to be changing. The ultimate sacrifice (mentioned above) may come. Therefore, it would be futile to have the grandkids spoiled because they might have no memory of it. It is a slippery slope to opine that pets can provide unconditional love and limitless affection Putting emphasis on “unconditional,” if one would spend that much on pets, pets would justify the monetary compensation by just giving attention. But in the changing edict of society, people would seem to be secondary to pets (its ok for people in third world countries to starve as long as one country spend the 28 B).Just like in business, people are replaceable and expendable. Hence, the timing for the sacrifice might be right. People should be eliminated, and let pets rule the world.

Therefore, love the pets. Soon enough, pets can replace people and it will be their time for world domination.

Work Cited:

USA Weekend Magazine: Click Here
http://www.aperfectworld.org/cartoons/petswitch.gif

I passed the NCLEX-RN with 75 questions

I just passed the NCLEX-RN. After all the prayers and hardwork, it is justifiable to have the RN suffix on my name. I study for almost three months, and the first take, I passed it.

The study materials and schedules that worked for me are:

• 100 questions a day using Saunders Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-RN(r) Examination cd-rom
• watching the content review of Kaplan 2 times
• watching the ATI videos (Med-Surg, PEds, OB x 3) (Mental Health x 1)
• Reading the whole Saunders Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-RN(r) Examination book and answering the chapter tests
  

• Supplemental books include
• NCLEX-RN Review (Nsna's Nclex Rn Review)
• Kaplan NCLEX-RN Exam 2005-2006 with CD-ROM (Kaplan Nclex-Rn
• NCLEX-RN Exam Practice Questions Exam Cram, First Edition
• NCLEX-RN Review Made Incredibly Easy! (Nclexrn Review Made Incredibly Easy)
• Nclex-Rn Questions & Answers Made Incredibly Easy (Made Incredibly Easy)

Some people would say that this is overkill. But I passed the NCLEX. After the test, I have a feeling that I will pass. Contrary to the premise that when a NCLEX-RN test takers think that they will pass the test after the test, they would usually fail. I got this from the forum of Allnurses.com by a member named TEXASCCRN.

Well, I have proven that premise wrong. As long as I believed in myself, and nourished my mind with positive thoughts, I passed the NCEX-RN. With the aforementioned materials above, and reading each rationale, it helped me a lot. Of course, the endless prayers.

Boston Legal:Stick it Closing Video

Alan Shore's Closing video: Click here
"It is far easier to fight for the principles, than to live up to them."


Photo Source and Video Source: boston-legal.org

Kaplan Scores

I was informed that 55% or above scores on the Qbank and/or Kaplan Question Trainer is deemed to be favorable. I am getting scores above 55%. I just have to study more and polish the weak areas/topics.