YOUNG VOICE
White Cap
Teachers, professors and instructors, they all are given high prestige for passing their tedious bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degrees. That is why my blood pressure shoots up every time I hear stories, or worse, be under educators who give their students a rough time
My clinical duty bag isn’t far from being called a mobile clinic. Inside are syringes with needles of different gauges, cotton balls and gauzes for wound dressing, the inseparable sphygmomanometer and stethoscope, several pairs of clean and sterile gloves and three kinds of thermometers. I enjoy carrying this load of clinical apparatus; it helps with the entire cool get-up of being a student nurse.
Not everyone can use a stethoscope to listen for 60 seconds above the heart’s apex, and then know if the person is in distress. I consider it a tickle to my self-esteem when people would stare; their eyes widened at the sight of my huge and thick textbooks, even to the very details of my nine-button white uniform.
For the past two years, my future profession was primarily just for status. A few days ago, I was capped and right then entered the field of clinical nursing. In short, more duties and more lectures. I thought pride would be the primary emotion that would dwell once the cap is placed on my head. But it was humility.
Now that more distinction is given, now that I’m just two years away from the actualization of my career plans, much is required. With great power, comes great responsibility. I never get tired of quoting Ben Parker, what he said will remain true.
Now that I’m in third year and wearing the white cap, I get respected by the lower years and trusted more by my instructors. With the deeper respect I get, comes the more respectable image I will portray as their role model. With the bigger trust I receive, comes the heavier pressure of constantly doing satisfactorily to culture that trust. My clients, my patients, they probably will expect a more efficient me, someone who embodies their ideals, who truly cares amid external factors of anxiety and grade consciousness, someone who sees the profession more than just a status.
Aside from myself, aside from the noble art and science of nursing are other professions, careers, vocations and vows, each of them with their own taste of distinction. Teachers, professors and instructors, they all are given high prestige for passing their tedious bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degrees. That is why my blood pressure shoots up every time I hear stories, or worse, be under educators who give their students a rough time. Yes, at times it is the student’s fault for not paying attention during lectures or ignoring to review at home. But, there are educators who are inconsiderate with their impassable exams, more than often absences and tardiness, and unfriendly aura. Aren’t educators supposed to be pro-students since they were themselves students for that matter? With the high respect given, they should repay their class with a manner of teaching that makes lessons easier to comprehend.
Law enforcers and authorities are given ample respect for living through intense trainings and facing the everyday risk of injury. That is why it would get on my nerves the moment I see policemen and traffic officers on the sidewalks with possibly gurgling stomachs for merienda thus result in doing monkey business. Aren’t they supposed to protect the welfare of all citizens equally? Politicians and government office employees, they all are voted, appointed and supported with the taxes of the Filipino people. That is why every time I see today’s headlines with yet another graft accusation to a certain leader, my underarms would sweat big-time. Aren’t they supposed to always remember that they were in those positions to serve the people and not only themselves?
The authority of the cap, the chalk, the guns, the position, the power, this authority isn’t given only for pride. This authority reminds the wearer, the bearer and the leader that at some point, he or she has to give back the worth of distinction through the dedicated and responsible practice of his or her profession or career. Like with priests and nuns, they are certainly revered and classified amongst the high pillars of society through their years of study and training. But, they have their vows, like service, poverty, and chastity, and all of these are directed to the people that revere them.
When we were young, especially as an older sibling, we are seen superior than the younger ones. We are, at the same time, tasked by our parents to be caretakers of the younger ones. That for whatever happens to them while mom and dad are gone, we are responsible. The process goes on until adulthood, until we become parents and by then have greater responsibilities than just the duty of an ate or a kuya.
Sometime soon, I’ll be having my duties in the hospital again. Although I already did semesters ago, this time it will be different. I have a white cap on my head and a heart that is more humble. Sometime in the coming years, I’ll be hopefully writing my name with an R.N. to garnish. But, the two letters bring more than just title.
Ben Parker is right.
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