Modern Nightingales

“This is our dream… to nurse foreigners” uttered comically by a clinical instructor in our RLE laboratory while showing picture slides of a nurse with a white patient.

I was struck on my seat while I ponder on the thought of her saying that. She was right thinking that majority of our nursing professionals are going abroad for what they say a greener pasture and perhaps many of us in the room will also agree.

I will be a hypocrite if I try to argue with her on that matter because I also have a dream of improving the quality of living of my family like everybody else and the easiest way of doing such is taking up nursing as a stepping stone for a greater chance of going abroad. Perhaps I am a lost for the country in the making, born and raised here but will soon leave like the millions who are now in different corners of the world.

Since I was in elementary, I am teased with questions of what will I be when I grow up. Looking certainly, I would then answer “I will be a lawyer to help the poor find justice” and sometimes “a doctor to help the sick become well”, such an innocent mind of the world that is waiting for him; still full of compassion for his countrymen who are in need without second thoughts.

But as I grow old, I came to realize that it is more important to survive the world first before enjoying life. Nothing is free now and the vitality of money is becoming more evident in our everyday living. Inflation has been setting its highest records these past few months especially basic commodities like rice and oil.

Our economy, seconded by the government has indeed molded the young minds of the Filipinos, like once mine, to choose a career that would give a greater living. Sad to say, our graduates opts to work abroad where the demand is high and the salary is far better than what they receive here.

The motivation brought by money is epidemic nowadays. Even my nephew would not want to buy me a soft drink without me committing that he will take the change then a long negotiation follows. It just gets through my nerves that at a young age he now knows money talks.

            Today, many still take the nursing course for better job opportunities. But nurses will be taught of the teachings by one of its pillars.

Florence Nightingale once proved that the satisfaction from giving service to the

real people who needs help is far more satisfying than doing it for some other reasons. She is a good example who advocates for nursing patients not because for money but for her personal fulfillment.

            Who knows, modern Nightingales might be around. They must be still alive, just being judge  along with the others.