UpGrace

Lessons Learned from the EHR Upgrade

June 18, 2022 Grace Reyes

Ooops, I almost wrote Upgrace instead of Upgrade in the title. Pardon me. Hard habit to break, I guess, haha! Kidding aside, our team has been busier these few past weeks because of our scheduled electronic health record (EHR) system Summer Upgrade. Clinical informaticists from all of our sites have been working collaboratively with so many stakeholders to bring about this change. Analysts, principal trainers, information technology (IT) folks, hospital and system leaders, and vendor representatives are some of our…

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Four Types of Coping Mechanisms For Nursing Students

June 11, 2022 Grace Reyes

It is a known fact that nursing is a difficult course to pursue in college. As a nursing student, you have to deal with your academic subjects. Aside from that, you still have to learn and enhance the necessary skills to take care of the sick and well clients. It goes without saying therefore that you face many challenges, even struggles, throughout your college years. You have to develop coping mechanisms that you will utilize not only in school but…

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No Strange Things in Nursing Informatics

May 28, 2022 Grace Reyes

The American Nurses Association (ANA) has recognized nursing informatics as a specialty since 1992. Healthcare systems in first-world countries utilize informatics practitioners as part of daily practice. However, fellow nurses in developing countries may still not fully understand what nursing informatics truly is. For this reason, the graduate students of Central Philippine University conducted a webinar. They collaborated with Qualimed Iloilo. Its purpose was to demystify in a way the application of nursing informatics in Medical-Surgical settings. Additionally, they offered…

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What is Type 1 Diabetes?

May 21, 2022 Grace Reyes

In the last couple of days, I have seen so many reactions to a mother’s viral post about her child’s untimely demise. Long story short, she has exhibited symptoms typical of diabetes mellitus (DM). Unfortunately, it remained undiagnosed. This was despite seeing the doctor. Also, they went to the emergency room (ER) several times a few days before she died. Due to the fact that she was a minor, I will refrain from naming her in my post. Let’s just…

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Nurse Convicted: Sentenced to Probation

May 15, 2022 Grace Reyes

RaDonda Vaught, the former Tennessee (TN) nurse, was sentenced to three-year probation yesterday. The jury of her peers found her guilty of two felonies related to a fatal medication error. Ms. Murphey died as a result of that error. Subsequently, the TN Board of Nursing revoked Vaught’s nursing license. Read more about the details of this case here, here, and here. Nurses who traveled to TN for this sentencing hailed the decision. Most of them claimed that she shouldn’t have…

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Nurses’ Week 2022 Edition

May 14, 2022 Grace Reyes

So another Nurses’ Week has come and gone! Congratulations to all of my nursing colleagues who work in the vast and varied fields of nursing practice. We have survived yet another challenging year in the constantly evolving healthcare milieu! All of us deserve a pat on the back. If you have not heard it this week, please allow me to be the cheerleader who will sing your praises to the high heavens! Each one of you has exemplified what it…

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Dear Philippine Youth Voter

May 10, 2022 Grace Reyes

Dear Philippine Youth Voter, Election dust is starting to settle. For those who voted for the winning side, you must still be celebrating with your fellow winners. For those who feel the agony of defeat, you should keep your heads held high. You fought valiantly until the end, and there is no shame in “coming up short!” So why I am writing about the Philippine elections in a nursing blog, you ask? Please read on! A Highly Spirited Election If…

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An Open Letter to my Nanay this Mothers’ Day

May 8, 2022 Grace Reyes

Dear Nanay, It’s the second Sunday of May once again. Another Mothers’ day without you. In fact, this is the 30th Mothers’ day without you around. Oh, what I would give up just to have you again! I missed those simple days when I would scrimp up my leftover allowance just so I can afford to buy you a card. Tatay always pointed out that it was also your money spent on that card. However, no matter how cheap it…

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Nursing through a Computer Screen

May 5, 2022 Grace Reyes

We have established in the previous post that it is indeed hard to be a nurse, yet be so far from our loved ones. This is more so true when those family members are in need of healthcare. Our nursing instincts kick in almost instantaneously and we want updates every step of the way. We feel that despite our absence, we still need to have our say. Thus, we turn to the computer screen to continue our life-saving crusade! The…

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A Nurse Yet Unable to Care for One’s Own Family

May 1, 2022 Grace Reyes

This story is not mainstream, yet common among nurses who left home and family to pursue opportunities abroad. Why did they leave their families, you ask? So that they can provide better futures for those very same loved ones. Sure, those nurses, myself included, are able to earn better wages and have better means to provide for those they have left behind. However, at what cost? Leaving the Family for Greener Pastures If you happen to be working with a…

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