Republic of the Philippines

Cebu Normal University

Osmeña Blvd. Cebu City, 6000 Philippines

College of Nursing
Center of Excellence (COE) | Level IV Re-Accredited (AACCUP)
Telephone No.: (+63 32) 254 4837
Email: cn@cnu.edu.ph; secretary@cnunursing.org
Website: www.cnu.edu.ph

NCM 103: Fundamentals in Nursing Practice

Second Semester A.Y. 2020 – 2021

ACTIVITY 2
An Encounter with a Professional Nurse

As a nursing student, you are on the road of building yourself a foundation that will support you in this
journey to nursing. As you go along the way, you will meet people and situations that will serve as
valuable and meaningful experiences in framing your own outlook. Looking into experiences, it is a good
way of understanding nursing from the perspectives of those who have already paved their way in this
profession; those who have earned the degree and made a significant difference to nursing.

Learning task:
1. Interview a Filipino registered nurse on their perspective of nursing as a profession.
2. Please use the interview guide that will be provided.

Interview Guide

Name: _Mitchell Nino M. Cortez RN____________________ Age: _33 yrs. old ____ Sex: _Male___
School Graduated: San Lorenzo Ruiz College of Ormoc______________________________
Year Graduated: __________ Present work: Staff nurse of Clinica Gatchalian-Mount Grace hospital___

1. What is your perception of Nursing in the past?

According to my interviewee’s past perception in regards of nursing, it was about taking care of a patient
similar to how a mother takes care of her child. He thought that being a nurse was similar to a caregiver
where you clean the patient, feed them, change their beddings and clothes and as such. In addition, my
interviewee thought that nurses were assistants to doctors in where they would have to follow around the
orders from the doctor during and after treating the illness of the patient and as well as following the
doctor’s prescriptions on the medications of a patient.

2. What is your perception of Nursing in the present?

My interviewee’s perception changed. He said that he learned that nurses are different from caregivers in a
way that nurses not only deliver care to the patients but also medical care which is lacking of a caregiver.
He also stated on how nurses are not a doctor’s assistant as nurses also have a sense of autonomy and
they don’t simply follow orders from the doctor but rather they collaborate with them. He also said that he
perceived nurses as important as any other healthcare professionals on the field as nurses have the job
see if the medicine or intervention is working on the patient or if there are any irregularities experienced. In
addition, nurses must also form an emotional bond with their patients in order to guarantee the successful
promotion of health.

3. What is your perception of Nursing in the future?

Registration No. 52Q18778

Certification Date: 6 August 2018
Recertification due date: 24 January 2021
For verification of the certificate please access
(Certification check and type the registration
number)
 Republic of the Philippines
Cebu Normal University
Osmeña Blvd. Cebu City, 6000 Philippines

College of Nursing
Center of Excellence (COE) | Level IV Re-Accredited (AACCUP)
Telephone No.: (+63 32) 254 4837
Email: cn@cnu.edu.ph; secretary@cnunursing.org
Website: www.cnu.edu.ph

My interviewee perceived that nursing in the future will finally receive their recognition and credit where the
public will no longer see nurses as just an assistant to doctors. In addition, as the nursing profession
continues to advance the responsibilities for nurses will be much heavier compared to now in exchange
that nurses can be able to practice across any nations. Also, in assessing the patient, the mental well-
being would be given equal importance to the physical assessment now that the public is aware of such
mental problems or illness.

4. How was your overall experience / journey in Nursing?

According to my interviewee, his nursing journey wasn’t really easy as it was filled with obstacles. There
are times that he wanted to give up on this profession since he felt like his job as a nurse wasn’t given
much importance and people look at him as just the doctor’s assistant and nothing more. The reason why
he didn’t give up on his profession is because of his passion and dedication to be able to give care and
comfort to people who are in need as he wants to have a positive impact to people’s lives.

5. What is your advice / message to students who are currently taking up nursing and who will be
taking nursing as a course?
The advice given to my interviewee to aspiring nurses is that becoming a nurse is never easy as it is a
very challenging profession but if you have the passion and dedication to give care and comfort to the
people in times of need then pursue it and don’t ever give up when faced with challenges, instead
learn on how to overcome those challenges and always do the best that you can do since a nurse’s job
plays an important role in the life of a patient.

_______________________________________
Signature over printed name of Registered Nurse

Reflection:

Registration No. 52Q18778

Certification Date: 6 August 2018
Recertification due date: 24 January 2021
For verification of the certificate please access
(Certification check and type the registration
number)
 Republic of the Philippines
Cebu Normal University
Osmeña Blvd. Cebu City, 6000 Philippines

College of Nursing
Center of Excellence (COE) | Level IV Re-Accredited (AACCUP)
Telephone No.: (+63 32) 254 4837
Email: cn@cnu.edu.ph; secretary@cnunursing.org
Website: www.cnu.edu.ph

Based on my interview, I learned that the first thing that comes to mind to a person
when asked on what is nursing is on how nurses are assistants to doctors. Most of
the times nurses aren’t viewed as someone who are capable of making decisions
without the presence of the doctors. It is a misconception that is sadly prevalent in
the minds of the public that nurses are viewed as caregivers who follows doctor’s
orders. This is sadly why my interviewee wanted to quit his job since he wasn’t
valued enough as a nurse but then he remembered the reason why he took up
nursing: his burning passion. My interviewee has a burning passion to serve
people who are in need and to give them comfort and care especially on their
vulnerable state. His passion stems out from his want to have a positive impact on
people’s lives as it is a price that cannot be paid or bought. In regards to the
second question, I learned from my interviewee’s answer on how nurses play an
important role in healing the patient and on how nurses are different from
caregivers. The difference is that nurses provide medical care to patients as they
have the knowledge base and skills in doing so which is lacking in caregivers. The
knowledge and skills that nurses possess enables them to formulate and administer
the right intervention fit for the patient’s needs as to improve their health. Not only
do nurses deliver medical care to the patient but they also form an emotional bond
with the patient. In doing so, the patients will trust them even more and are willing
to participate in the health care plan which will help in improving their health.
Through trust, the participation of the patient to the healthcare plans and
treatments is guaranteed since patients will not cooperate if they don’t trust the
procedure that are need to be done for them to improve their health nor if they
don’t trust the people who will deliver the procedures. One of my concerns in
nursing is that nurses usually don’t get the recognition that they deserve as they
are overshadowed by other healthcare professionals such as the doctors. With my
interviewee’s answers on his future perception of nursing, it opened my mind that
there is a chance that nurses will receive their deserve credit and recognition as the
profession continues to advance. As the profession continues to advance, I agree
with my interviewee’s statement that the duties of the nurses will also increase so
there must be a successfully advocation for improved working conditions is such
thing would happen. One of my fear in taking up nursing is if I get a burnout from
my job especially that nurses are treated poorly in the Philippines and my
interviewee’s advice made me realize the solution to my problem. Whenever I feel
like quitting or burned out like him, I will always remember his advice which is to
always keep in mind the reason why I got into nursing which is to touch the lives
of the people especially to those on the brink of giving up. I want to help people
who are suffering either from a physical or mental health condition and to assure

Registration No. 52Q18778

Certification Date: 6 August 2018
Recertification due date: 24 January 2021
For verification of the certificate please access
(Certification check and type the registration
number)
 Republic of the Philippines
Cebu Normal University
Osmeña Blvd. Cebu City, 6000 Philippines

College of Nursing
Center of Excellence (COE) | Level IV Re-Accredited (AACCUP)
Telephone No.: (+63 32) 254 4837
Email: cn@cnu.edu.ph; secretary@cnunursing.org
Website: www.cnu.edu.ph

them that they are not alone in their journey to recovery. I also want to welcome
and meet new people from different walks of life as to expand my horizon on the
different cultures and traditions that they have since although complex, there is till
beauty lying underneath every culture and tradition. Keeping my goals in mind
and my interviewee’s advices in heart, I will bring it all throughout my journey to
becoming a successful registered nurse.

Registration No. 52Q18778

Certification Date: 6 August 2018
Recertification due date: 24 January 2021
For verification of the certificate please access
(Certification check and type the registration
number)