IVT Completion at the NKTI: Day 3

Here is the final installment of my 3-day IVT Completion at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute. I know, I know. This entry has been long overdue since I have been very busy with a number of petty things, which I will, eventually, narrate at some point during this lifetime. Nevertheless, here's the conclusion of my completion. :)

Day 3: Panic

Panic- Panic disorder produces a sudden onset of feelings of intense apprehension and dread.

After finishing all the required number of cases necessary for my IVT card, I journeyed back to the NKTI to have my form checked. Ma'am Jarry scrutinized all the entries I made on my form just to ascertain its validity. After which, she instructed me to retype/rewrite everything and have the new form signed appropriately. So, my body automatically increased its Epinephrine levels as I dashed my way home. It felt as if I was to have a panic disorder or something of that sort, since I wanted to finish everything ASAP. Grrr. Type. Type. Type. It took me about an hour and a half to finish my form. Print. Print. Print. I then, again, surged my way back to the NKTI to have my form signed to avoid the lunch break. Unfortunately, I saw Ma'am Jarry on her way to lunch and she instructed me to have lunch and wait for my turn. Grrrr.

After lunch, I got my form signed appropriately and I immediately decided to submit everything at the ANSAP office located at the Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Sta. Mesa, Manila. Took the MRT at the GMA Kamuning Station. Got-off the Shaw MRT Station and took a Quiapo-bound PUJ. Upon arriving at their uber small office, I was insturcted to submit the following items:

• Accomplished IVT Completion Form (2 copies)


• 1 piece of a 2x2 Picture


• Certificate of attendance to an ANSAP accredited IVT training seminar


• Application fee of Php. 350.00

After that, I got my official receipt and was advised to claim my IVT card and IVT Completion form by next month at their new office located at the Lung Center of the Philippines along East Avenue. Yipee! At least it'll be in close proximity of the Philippine Heart Center. I certainly hope that it'll be a bigger and better office. Haha. :)

Overall, my Php. 700 IVT completion at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute was very fruitful and definitely rewarding. Considering the fact that I was able to finish the required number of cases within the first 2 days at the emergency room and got the chance to experience a fast-paced and nerve-wrecking ER scenario was seriously prosperous. I'll definitely miss hearing and following Dr. Montoya's orders. Whatever they may be. Haha. :D

Coffee, anyone?

IVT Completion at the NKTI: Day 2

Here's the 2nd part of my 3-day National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) based IVT Completion. As y'all read on my earlier entry, I'll be, yet again, squeezing my neurons harder in order to extract my good (and not so good) experiences. Haha. Fun. Fun. Fun. :)

Day 2: Obsessive-Compulsive

Obsessive-Compulsive- Obsessions are preoccupations with persistent intrusive thoughts and ideas while Compulsions are repeated performance of rituals or purposeless behaviors designed to prevent some event, divert unacceptable thoughts, and decrease anxiety.

I read and memorized this exact definition back in college and, as if an acquired skill or something, I seriously became an OC-ish individual, especially during my good and bad nursing moments. Haha. :)

Anyways, I arrived at the NKTI around 7 AM, as usual, and got assigned again (Yipee!) at the Emergency Room (ER). Surprisingly, the 2 perky ladies who were with me during day 1 were still there in need of a single Blood Transfusion (BT) case each. At first, I was glad to have them with me since they will be able to teach me a couple of methods in preparation for my first IV insertion. But, after my first 2 insertions, I utterly wished that they would be eaten whole by a 10-eyed female-eating monster entering the ER. Grrrr.

No. I have nothing against these ladies, honestly. They appear nice, approachable and clearly friendly. Not to mention that they're beautiful, educated and elegant. Any straight guy would fall in love with them instantly. However, they repeatedly interrupted all of my attempts to successfully insert an IV cannula to all of my patients. They are like these 2 floating entities behind my back literally SCREAMING endless concepts and comments about my IV insertion. They were treating me as if I'm a student nurse or someone waaay below them when in fact, we're all on the same level. Argh! Let's take the following examples into consideration.

Exhibit A: Lady 1 kept on bugging me that I ALWAYS overshoot my IV cannula in front of my patients.

Exhibit B: Lady 2 GRABBED my IV cannula after I tried to reposition it and inserted it herself, leaving me clueless.

Exhibit C: Both ladies kept on whispering comments audible to ALL of my patients during the whole time.

Now, y'all do the math, okay? :D

I know that we, the people in the medical-nursing profession, have the responsibility to perform all of our functions (independent, dependent, and co-dependent) in the most accurate and appropriate manner possible. However, taking into consideration the fact that this is my first time to perform the aforementioned procedure and being out of the hospital setting for 2 years and counting, I can't help but be on the OC-ish persona from this point on. This is my profession and I have to be responsible and accountable for all of my actions. I saw how most, if not all, of my patients cringed or whined every time I mis-inserted the IV cannula or had to repeat the procedure on another site. In Pinoy terms, NAKAKA-AWA (pitiful). Maybe that's the reason why, during my IVT training at the PHC, we had to do an actual insertion in order to empathize with our patients the HARD way. Ouch!

On a lighter note, Dr. Montoya was at his friendliest manner to all of us (esp. to me), since a lot of patients were entering the ER. He kept on ordering stuff here and there and I, of course, gladly obliged to do everything he asked me, including IV insertions, taking initial ER vital signs, and collecting blood specimens. Haha. :)

At the end of the day, I was able to finish all of the necessary cases needed for my IVT completion. Moreover, my sleeping and rusty nursing knowledge had a loud wake-up call during the whole day. I seriously need to brush up on procedures and laboratory values. *wink*wink*

Yes. There will be a third and final installment on this topic. Haha. :)

Coffee, Dr. Montoya? :D

IVT Completion at the NKTI: Day 1

As promised earlier, I'll be narrating my 3-day (supposedly 5-day) IVT completion at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute along East Avenue in Quezon City last week. Of course, I'll try to squeeze my brain cells so hard in order to extract every ounce of memory I had at the said institution. Here goes nothing...

Day 1: Varicose Veins

Varicose Veins - Distended and protruding veins that appear darkened and torturous are evident. Vein walls weaken and dilate, and vales become incompetent.

Yes, you read that word correctly. That medical term would be the most definitive and precise word that would exactly sum up my first day at the NKTI since majority of the entire 9-hour completion was dedicated to standing and waiting for patients. Haaay.

I arrived at their office at around 7 AM (call time at 8 AM) due to my mother's persistent reminders of courtesy and respect. Because of that (my courtesy plus respect), the completion coordinator, Ma'am Jarry, was very pleased as to assign me to the Emergency Room (ER). Amazed, I gladly accepted her offer and thanked her for her kindness and generosity. After which, I wrote all my personal details on the identification card and pasted my 1x1 picture. Then, she explained how I should accomplish my IVT form. Blah. Blah. Blah. She also gave me some hints on how I could maximize my completion days by helping the medical and nursing staff with their duties. Yehey! :)

Upon arriving at the ER, we (I was, unfortunately, accompanied by 2 super perky ladies, also for their IVT completion) were introduced to the soon-to-be head nurse (I forgot her name but she seriously looked like Wendy Anne Semana of FEU) of the ER. Then, she sort-off oriented us at the ER's unique set-up. Of course, we all know that the ER is a special and fast-paced area, where life and death duel each other out for supremacy. Haha. Anyways, after the short but semi-sweet quasi-orientation, I then started my hunt for veins, or so to speak, around the borders of the ER. Haha. :)

Of course, with this area's character, there were numerous patients at the ER for initial assessment, early diagnosis and prompt intervention. Obviously, most of which are patients with kidney disorders (ESRD, AGN, CGN, etc) or a sequale of Hypertension and/or Diabetes. One of my patients, 1A, was nice enough to answer some of my questions. 1A said that the reason why he/she was brought to the ER is because he/she missed his/her dialysis last week. Wow, talk about poverty and neglecting one's health. Sheesh.

After about an hour or so, 1A went into Ventricular Tachycardia. Prepared E-kit. Emergency Intubation. Ambu. bag hooked to Oxygen (I personally did this one). Called for a Respirator. Gave 6 rounds of Epinephrine. Delivered 3 shocks of 200 Joules from a Defibrilator (CLEAR!). Relentless cardiac compressions from the Nurse-Aide. After 18 minutes, 1A died. :(

In other news, I was able to finish 2 IV medication administrations and 2 Blood transfusions. Nice. I'll be on my own the following day since the perky ladies have completed their cases. Nice again. Moreover, I was able to help out with the nursing and medical staff (Dr. Jose E.Y. Montoya was UBER NICE!) and generally refresh my stagnant nursing knowledge and awaken my sluggish nursing skills. I seriously can't wait to practice my beloved profession in this sort of setting. Yipee! :D

Overall, I had a fruitful and awakening day. I definitely and seriously need to reread my books AGAIN STAT in order to rejuvenate my awareness and understanding of my chosen field. Whatever it takes! Grrr.

Coffee, Dr. Montoya? Haha. :D

IVT Completion at the NKTI

It has been A WEEK. Haaay. As you all may have noticed, I haven't posted anything in ages to the point that my blog actually became a home for house flies. This incident led to the sudden drop in my blog stats (as if it mattered) and my blog ranking (as if it mattered, too). Haaay.

Explanation? Well, as you all know, I took my IV Training Seminar at the Philippine Heart Center (PHC) last month and the Association of Nursing Service Administrators of the Philippines (ANSAP ) required every participant to complete a certain number of cases (6-IV insertions, 6-IV medication administrations and 2-Blood Transfusions) in order to become a certified IV nurse. That led me to my IVT completion at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute. :)

Here are some of the details necessary for the IVT Completion at the NKTI:

1. Submit a letter of intent to the NKTI office for the IVT completion. I forgot to whom it should be addressed. I just wrote "To whom it may concern:". Haha. :)


2. A photocopy of your PRC License.


3. A photocopy of your Certificate of Attendance for an IVT Training. Do call the ANSAP office for the accredited hospitals offering IVT Training (7131063).


4. Pay Php. 700 to the cashier.

Submit all the aforementioned articles to the Institute of Advanced Nursing and Allied Health Professionals Office located at the ground floor of the annex building. After that, you will be scheduled for a 5-day IVT completion at the NKTI from 8am to 5pm. You will then be assigned to different areas around the institution, such as 2B, 2E, 2D, or the ER. Also, you may need to bring the following articles on your first day:

• Be in an all white uniform(for obvious reasons)


• Torniquet


• Bandage Scissor


• ANSAP Handbook


• PRC License


• Official Receipt


• 1x1 ID picture


• ID Case and ID lace

I'll post all the juicy and fruitful details about my own IVT Completion experience in the following days. I have tons of stories to share. Haha. Fun. Fun. Fun. :)

Coffee, anyone?