MakatiMed Nurses Celebrate 59th National Nurses’ Week

MakatiMed nurses celebrated the 59th National Nurses Week, with the theme “Health Care Systems’ Resilience: A Continuing Challenge for Nurses”, from October 25 to 28, 2016.

The four-day celebration began with a Eucharistic Celebration officiated by Rev. Fr. Mark Ulyssis Castro of MMC Chaplaincy. Alexander Gervacio M. Sangoyo, RN, MAN, Medical and Surgical Intensive Care Clinical Department Manager, formally opened the celebration on behalf of Christine A. Donnelly, RN, MSN, MA, Division Head, Nursing & Patient Care Services.

The program included the presentation of the top 10 research papers from the first batch of MakatiMed’s Master’s program graduates in partnership with University of Makati (UMAK). 

The Adult Critical Care Nursing Grand rounds entitled “The Clot Colloquium” was held in the afternoon, featuring three physicians from different subspecialties namely Paul C. Quetua, MD (Consultant-Department of Medicine/Cardiology), Ronald C. Ramos, MD (Chief Resident, Department of Neurological Sciences/Neurology) and Victor Erwin D. Jocson, MD (Consultant-Department of Radiology/Interventional Radiology).

The physician speakers discussed and shared their expertise on the formation of blood clots, the role of rTPA or recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (a protein involved in the breakdown of blood clots) in the management of stroke patients, and thrombectomy.

Registered Nurses (RNs) from the Adult Critical Care Departments discussed the nursing management of patients with clots. Aldrin Cheng, RN, a charge nurse from the Department of Neurological Sciences and Cardiovascular Intensive Care Units (ICU), presented the nursing management of a patient undergoing rTPA therapy. An in-depth discussion on the Standards of Care in the prevention of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) was delivered by Ellaine Maye L. Austria, RN from the Medical-Surgical ICU. Eunice M. Pakingan, RN from Cardiothoracic and Vascular Recovery and Telemetry Unit talked about Atrial Fibrillation. Over a 100 participants attended the program, with guests from the Private Duty Nurses’ Association, faculty members from several nursing schools, CARE nurse trainees, and residents.

On October 26, the second batch of the Master’s Program of the MakatiMed-UMAK Partnership attended the Good Clinical Practice Workshop. The resource speaker was Rodmar Pulido, Department Manager of MakatiMed’s Clinical Research Center, and Vice President of Philippine Clinical Research. The workshop was organized to prepare the candidates for the masteral program for their Thesis Writing course and Oral Defense in January 2017.

On the third day, the Nursing and Patient Care Services Division, in partnership with the Human Resources Management and Development Division– Manpower and Recruitment Management Services, opened MakatiMed’s doors to aspiring applicants for the Registered Nurse position. The event was the first RN “Open House” in MakatiMed history. The Clinical Department Managers and Nurse Managers conducted the interview of the applicants. A total of 109 applicants came and went through the one-day open hiring activity. Successful applicants were immediately directed to accomplish their physical examination to complete the recruitment process.

The Nurses’ Bazaar, an activity which became a tradition held during Nurses’ Week, was held on the third and fourth days.. The bazaar featured financial assistance desks and stalls selling food, healthy lifestyle products, pharmaceutical products,and beauty and clothing productsEmployees from various departments supported the activity. As part of appreciating the nurses for their hard work, the nursing leadership made the rounds and delivered free taho and dimsums to all nursing units.

The culminating activity of the Nurses’ Week celebration was the 10th Nursing Lecture Series. Brig. Gen. (ret) Paulita Cruz, Philippine Nurses’ Association (PNA) National President, discussed updates and key activities currently being lobbied by the PNA and Ang NARS Partylist (the political arm of the PNA) towards enhancement and advancement of the nursing practice in the country.

Joshua Jaime P. Nario, RN, Nursing Quality Program Manager, and Ma. Cecilia P. Paje, RN, MAN, Cancer Center Clinical Department Manager, echoed the oncological updates from the 2015 Asian Oncology Nurses’ Association Conference held in South Korea. Roselyn L. Maliwat, RN, MAN, Nurse Manager of Emergency-Critical Unit, shared updates from their clinical observership and immersion at Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore last September 23 to 25, 2016.

Daryl Jeremiah R. Gaba, RN, MAN, Cardiac and Neuro Services Clinical Department Manager, delivered the closing remarks for the nursing lecture series, on behalf of Ms. Donnelly. “As we imbibe and strengthen the Transformational Professional Practice Model on collaboration, communication and consistency, the 2016 Nurses’ Week is just a commencement of the continuous appreciation and celebration of the work that our nurses put in every day,” Mr. Gaba said.

Ending the celebration, Ms. Donnelly made the rounds to all nursing units and distributed treats (chocolates and candies) and flashlight key chains as tokens. She spent time talking to the staff to appreciate, and recognize their commitment to quality care and exceptional patient experience.

The event was attended and supported by MakatiMed executives, including Johnny B. Sinon, MD, Medical Director; Janine Agatha F. Lota, Division Head, Human Resources Management and Development; Arlyn L. Songco, Division Head, Marketing & Sales Services; Joy Vincent Oconer, Head, Credit, Billing, and Collection; Arnold F. Ocampo, Chief Finance Office and Division Head, Finance; Marielle Mendoza-Rubio, Division Head, Service Operations; and Pilar Baltasar, Division Head, Quality Management Division.