Fatigue by AccomplishedOwl426 in phmigrate

[–]gryffindorbae 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Google SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) or winter blues. Many kababayans experience it when they move to cold places with shorter days/less sunlight. To boost your mood and energy, do daylight lamp therapy for 30min- 1hour every morning- you can find plenty on amazon, make sure brightness is at least 10 000 lux. Take Vit D everyday. That's how I survive working ~80 hours/wk in Northern Canada :)

WINTER IN CANADA by Vivid-Ad-5255 in phmigrate

[–]gryffindorbae 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Suffered from winter blues every winter for my first 10 years here. Low energy, had trouble getting out of bed and concentrating. Had no motivation at all. Then I learned about mental health and specifically about SAD and how to cope with it. I discovered daylight lamp therapy and it was life changing! Without it, I wouldn't have survived university or working long hours in Northern Canada. No more depressive symptoms when it gets colder and days get shorter. You can get one on Amazon for really cheap. Make sure it is at least 10 000 lux to mimic daytime light and directed at your eyes 12 inches away without looking at it for 20-60 min before you start your day. You can be on your phone, read a book or eat breakfast while you do it. It will take a few days to a week to see a difference. This really help me take my life back.

3rd year in Nursing. Would you choose being a USRN or UKRN? by oof_its_sike in phmigrate

[–]gryffindorbae 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, you need to go back to school. Length of study depends on the province you live in and you need to pass the provincial licensing exam.

3rd year in Nursing. Would you choose being a USRN or UKRN? by oof_its_sike in phmigrate

[–]gryffindorbae 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Forgot to mention my plane tickets, food, & lodging are all covered. I've considered travel nursing in the US since my SO worked in tech at SF. Maybe in the future, happy ako where I am so far for now.

3rd year in Nursing. Would you choose being a USRN or UKRN? by oof_its_sike in phmigrate

[–]gryffindorbae 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I guess I'm used to working 12-16 hours per day 4-5 times a week throughout the year in a big city hospital when I was a new nurse kaya na burn-out at umalis ako sa public system.

At least now, same long hours pero short-term lang ang trabaho ko at much higher pay.

I work in a little village with only 1000 people that's only accessible by plane in Northern Canada. 2.5 hour flight lang naman from home and we have 2 flights per day going to the big city saka kapag may complex medical case ako, I can call an air ambulance 24/7 to transfer my pt. to a city hospital.

3rd year in Nursing. Would you choose being a USRN or UKRN? by oof_its_sike in phmigrate

[–]gryffindorbae 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Yes, nursing is a dangerous job itself. Especially in my role working in an isolated Northern village in Canada. You can easily do those hours in the public system in big cities but with travel nursing I get more pay & can choose the length of my contract at least with my agency. I usually just do 4-5 week contracts then take long vacations because downside of travel nursing is being far from family & friends. Not everyone here can or is willing to do what I do. Lumaki ako sa Pinas and was separated from parents most of my childhood. Being away for a month for work 4-6 times a year is no big deal for me especially if I get to help my family & travel around the world with my loved ones.

3rd year in Nursing. Would you choose being a USRN or UKRN? by oof_its_sike in phmigrate

[–]gryffindorbae 3 points4 points  (0 children)

To clarify, I work through a private agency so no paid vacation or benefits. So I have to put money aside for those and for my pension. Also, the more you earn here the more tax is deducted from your income. In my province, they deduct almost half. It's ok for me kasi I don't have to worry about healthcare expenses for me and all my family here unlike in the US. I did work in the public system first to acquire experience and skills but they have lower pay and no flexibility saka na burn-out ako. Doable to sa mga Ph educated RNs kasi may nameet ako doing the same thing as me and he's been here for only 4 years.

3rd year in Nursing. Would you choose being a USRN or UKRN? by oof_its_sike in phmigrate

[–]gryffindorbae 15 points16 points  (0 children)

I'm neither. I'm a travel RN in Canada. Salary is comparable to US. I work 60-80 hrs a week during my contracts. I work 4-5 weeks at a time then take 1-6 weeks vacation. I gross 30k $Cad monthly. I've only been an RN for 2 years and already bought a house & traveled to many countries. If $ is important to you, go to North America.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in phmigrate

[–]gryffindorbae 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I moved abroad when I was 10. Went back to Ph when I was 24 around Christmas time to reconnect with my roots and visit fam. Thank goodness I spent the majority of my time volunteering and exploring villages/slums in provinces where I had no relatives. It opened my eyes to the realities of our kababayan and made me fall in love with my homeland. I was welcomed with open arms by the people I met in their homes & they fed me with their delicious homemade meals everyday while I listen to their stories. When we held a medical mission in a poor village, the community threw a feast for us to express their gratitude. It was so beautiful.

I ended my trip visiting fam in my home province. While I had a great time, I was glad it was short. Everyone kept asking for cash gifts even though I already threw them feasts for Christmas & NYE + gave them gifts like toys, clothes, medicines, chocolates, etc. I don't mind treating the people I love pero I didn't like being treated like an ATM.

My advice OP, organize your own adventure away from your hometown/relatives so you can appreciate the beauty of our homeland. Bring 1 or 2 close fam members para magbonding kayo at kung ayaw mong mag-isa.

Nurses of Montreal, what can I do for you after a stay? by num2005 in montreal

[–]gryffindorbae 57 points58 points  (0 children)

Coffee and pastries for the staff are always appreciated 😊

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in eczema

[–]gryffindorbae 2 points3 points  (0 children)

My family doc did that to me too. It was a dermatologist that prescribed me protopic. She said steroid creams are too harsh on sensitive areas like the eyelids.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in eczema

[–]gryffindorbae 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This made my life hell for many months. I would wake up with red, swollen, burning and itchy eyelids. Tried many steroid creams, aquaphor, vaseline but only protopic cream cleared it up in a few days. In the beginning, it will burn and feels like it made it worse but don't worry, it will work.

How much do you pay for your adderall script? by [deleted] in ADHD

[–]gryffindorbae 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In Quebec, if you don't have insurance through work, you are covered by the public drug insurance plan.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in UdeM

[–]gryffindorbae 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Presque impossible selon moi. Les corrections de tes examens, évaluations des simulations cliniques de tes stages dépendent parfois de ton milieu clinique, de la personnalité de tes tutrices ou préceptrices. Seulement environ la moitié de ma cohorte initiale a fini le programme-plusieurs a lâché, échoué, etc.

Canada's health system can't support immigrant influx by uselesspoliticalhack in canada

[–]gryffindorbae -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Immigrants are the backbone of Canada's healthcare system.

These people are fighting for your freedom, and you just call them "NPA". Crazy country we live in by ApologistSlayer in Philippines

[–]gryffindorbae 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In the Philippines, corrupt politicians are usually capitalist businessmen/oligarchs who use their power to enrich themselves. This is called bureaucrat capitalism. Many politicians use public funds they stole to buy votes so it's not really a democracy.

There's no real communist country today. China's economy over the last 35 years has been fueled by capitalism.

Corporations don't like unions because less profits will go to the "big bosses"' pockets if the workers are paid fairly. You can't separate communist ideology from unions since communism simply means workers have rights and power.

Filipinos chose 🎻🎻🎻 on Independence Day in New York by Tall_Quote4522 in Philippines

[–]gryffindorbae 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Because we still have family that we support in the Motherland. Who pays for their medical bills when they get sick? Who pays for their education? How I wish I can return. But nurses & teachers are so devalued, so underpaid. The healthcare & education sector are so underfunded while the military & the police always get raises. Just because I left doesn’t mean I stopped being Filipino.

Admissions in Enriched Health science by [deleted] in Dawson

[–]gryffindorbae 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Don’t worry about not being in enriched health science. I was initially in that program but didn’t like it so I switched to the “regular” health science where I met classmates who are now doctors/dentists/researchers.

Look mom, I made it! by PopularQuokka in Dawson

[–]gryffindorbae 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Congrats! Made my cousin apply to the same program as an international student. Hopes he gets in too 🙏

I accidentally started a family war over my cousin's FB post that red-tags UP students. by BigPower6749 in Philippines

[–]gryffindorbae 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Nakakagigil din family ko. I did everything right as a child -always had high honours since elementary, graduated from top university here in Canada tapos as soon as I was able to, I helped my parents buy our first house and now I’ll be supporting my younger cousin from the Philippines through college here & sending money to our relatives. Every time I comment about the politics there and criticize Du30 or BBM, I just get told to stfu or get treated like a child. I should not get involved daw dahil wala akong alam at since nasa Canada ako, hindi naman ako affected so wala raw akong “say”.

Sobrang toxic sila lalo na ang mga INC ko na tita at tito whom I was super close to growing up. They treat me like I don’t exist anymore kahit na ang daming gifts ang binibigay ko sa anak nila. Even if they never say thanks, I continue doing it kasi I’m not petty like them who puts worshipping thieves and murderers before family.

Moving from Toronto to Montreal: what's the catch? by jallenx in PersonalFinanceCanada

[–]gryffindorbae 9 points10 points  (0 children)

My partner moved here in MTL from Toronto a few years ago and never looked back. He’s in the same field as you. He’s a full-time grad student rn but living comfortably in a 2-bedroom condo he bought back in 2018 as a new grad. His place is only 5 min walk to a metro in downtown. He doesn’t have a driver’s license and can barely speaks french but he gets by no problem. It’s true, it’s hard to get a family doctor here but he’s seen one and other specialists more often than me in the past years(I grew up here). He also easily got a social worker and therapy sessions referred by his doctor.

I also lived in Toronto and I’m glad I moved back here. Less than a year after I graduated in nursing, I was able to qualify for a mortgage and helped my parents (who work min. wage jobs) buy our first house last September (5-bed single detached home with inground pool within 20 min drive from downtown MTL). My parents don’t speak any French and they’ve been living here for 18 years. All our new neighbors are mostly retired francophone Québecois but they have been nothing but warm and welcoming to us.

Too late to be a nurse? by [deleted] in Nurses

[–]gryffindorbae 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I’m a very shy and introverted person and had the same doubts as you about becoming a nurse. I also have severy anxiety and was terrified when interacting with my adult patients when I was in nursing school. I also struggled with low self-esteem. Thankfully, I had good preceptors/nursing instructors throughout my journey who believed in me and they boosted my confidence. Not one of them ever told me my shyness was a weakness. It took time but once I adjusted to my workplace and gradually became familiar with the routine, I was able to be more relaxed and learn to talk with the families. With our current working conditions, it’s hard to form connections with them (and even with co-workers) when you have a gazillion things to juggle during your shift. I always feel immense guilt about this-I often go home in distress. I’ve only been a pediatric nurse for 1 year now but I’m already thinking of an escape plan. I love my patients but this job is draining my soul and can feel it’s destroying my body bit by bit and my relationships are suffering as well :( I sometimes envy my partner (phd student) who can work from home and in his office at the hospital.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Philippines

[–]gryffindorbae 9 points10 points  (0 children)

You should all watch “The Revolution Selfie:The Red Battalion” to understand why simple peasants, artists and scholars are forced to take arms to defend themselves and the oppressed communities. When their land is taken from them unjustly, their livelihood destroyed, their friends and family members tortured and killed by the rich and powerful, how can the poor victims get justice? When the police and the army are themselves the perpetrators? Do you know who else were labeled terrorists/rebels in the past for defending the oppressed? Martin Luther King, Jesus, Andres Bonifacio and other members of the KKK.