HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS MOVING FORWARD FOR CHRIST
To all our dear graduates, students, faculty and administrators, friends and families, ladies and gentlemen, a pleasant day to everyone!
We are all joined together in this special occasion to celebrate a memorable day, which is the day of graduation for the nursing assistant students. To some students who are second coursers, this graduation may be the second time, but as they say, “Second time is far sweeter than the first time around.”
It is my great privilege to be chosen as the inspirational speaker, and as a professional and a previous student of San Pedro College I will share some vital points in terms of being firm in your commitment in your chosen careers and to help you surpass future challenges that you will face as you begin to enter the real word of health care.
Let me first define what commitment is. Commitment is being sold out for a cause. It is all about giving of oneself unconditionally to the calling that he or she had received without doubt. Being committed requires that a person knows the purpose of his/her life. Let me ask then a question my dear graduates, and I do hope you will find time to answer these questions. Have you found yourself willing to give yourself in becoming a nursing assistant? Have you ever really loved or learned to love the path you have taken as a health care professional? The moment that you graduate, you must be 100% sure that you are ready to take care of the sick and give yourself for other people; otherwise, you can choose to compromise and endanger the lives of your patients. Moreover, the calling to be a nurse assistant will only be truly appealing to those who find themselves meaningful in living a life of a nursing aide.
Like nurses, being a nursing assistant is special and wonderful because of all jobs in the world we share the privilege to experience almost every phase of human life; that we are there from the time of birth in the delivery room to the last breath of a dying person in the ICU (Intensive Care Unit). We are there to provide holistic care, prolong life and maintain the dignity of the client even in the face of death. No other professions, not even doctors, have this very close contact with human lives. Taking vital signs for instance is an opportunity to develop a therapeutic intimacy between the health care provider and our clients. It is our chance to show that we care. Our approach is more than medical, it’s holistic - it is all encompassing, from flesh to bones down to the deepest soul of every person.
When I was a student like you, my clinical instructor in the name of Maam Jenny Guanzon once quoted, “kaya nga ang mga nurses may kasabihan, tayo ay nandyan - from womb to tomb”. And I think this also applies to nursing aids. To rephrase, “kaya nga ang mga nursing aid, katulad ng nurses, may kasabihan, tayo ay nandyan, sa simula at katapusan ng buhay.” Kahit sa paghatid na lang ng bangkay sa morgue sa atin mga kamay nakasalalay. Tama ba?
With this let me say that our work is a privilege, not a mere passport to US or other countries. We deal with lives, not only with papers in the chart. Best care must be given. A life lost is a life gone forever, and we never turn back time. As nursing aids we are held accountable not only to people, but most importantly to God. Time will come that when we die God will question us, how well did you take care of my beloved sick children in your lifetime? I do hope that when you answer God, He can say “Very well done my faithful servant, your prize in heaven awaits you!” It is my dream that someday these very words I am saying will become a reality to the nursing aids coming from San Pedro College.
Commitment to our jobs is directly proportional to quality health care. If we are committed to our work, we will always do our best. Moreover, if we commit ourselves to God, we will even receive more than what we can do, just like Florence Nightingale who happens to be the founder of Nursing. In fact, if we are commited to God, we will receive the Spirit of Excellence from God in ALL that we do, not just in nursing the sick.
Florence Nightingale founded nursing, and I believe that without her the profession of nursing aides will be nonexistent. For those who do not know, one of the key person who influenced Florence Nightingale is John Wesley, one of the greatest Christian evangelist of the past. Florence Nightingale, being a Christian, was inspired by the lives of many saints, but most importantly, Jesus Christ who modelled how to be a perfect healer and servant leader, which in turn gave her compassion for the sick and for the lost, just like what is stated in the vision and mission of San Pedro College. Florence Nightingale found her identity in Christ, and by that has found her purpose in her calling to be the first nurse. Her undying commitment to serve people rooted from her complete submission to her calling from God. Therefore, quality health care and services is just by all means a natural by-product of a person whose commitment is full to his/her calling.
How about us? How about the modern generation of nursing aides? Have we maintained the zeal and passion of taking care for the sick, for the lost, and for the improvement of humanity? Have we really viewed our patients as men with feelings, with real fears of dying, with worries for their families, with shaking faiths that needs assurance in their salvations? Even though we also have our own problems, but I say let God problem our problems, and let us problem our patient’s problems. I believe that this speech may sound challenging, a bite from reality, but let us move forward by making even better commitments than our forefathers and mothers in the field of caring for the sick. If we do not do these, quality health care will be endangered. Let me say that it’s time to rise up above normal service. Let us move forward with the spirit of excellence for the sake of the future generations to come. Who knows, the beneficiaries in the end might be our own selves and our own families.
Finally, I urge you that if you haven’t committed yourselves yet to this calling, or most importantly if you haven’t committed yourselves to God through Jesus Christ, then this is the time. It has been said in the Bible, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and everything shall be added unto you” Mathew 6:33. Learn to prioritize God. Those who seek first the kingdom of God and become His delight has a promise that He will give more than the desires of your hearts, may it be love life, wealth, or any ambitions that is in line with His will.
To end, let me say that if we want to do better, we must start changing ourselves first. Say this with me, “If I change, everything changes.” “Ako ang simula”.
Going straight. Living clean. Leading now. To God be the glory. In Jesus name. Amen!
A pleasant day to everyone! More power and God bless!
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