THE PITT- A REVIEW FROM AN “OG” ER NURSE

                                                                             

The HBO-Max TV show is set in a fictional institution called the "Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center, affectionally nicknamed The Pitt. We referred to my former hospital as The Hurst. Even with a brand-name change, the nurses at another hospital kept the nostalgic name San Lucas.

Season 1 had 15 episodes, smartly presented as one-hour shifts for this team of healthcare team. The usual 12-hour shift was extended to 15, after a mass shooting disrupted an already-crowded ER. Season 2 is also scheduled for 15 episodes. This time, the ER is bursting at the seams on the Fourth of July weekend with patients diverted from another hospital. For certain, there will be fireworks injuries, maybe traumatic amputations?

 

Authentic, real, and intense

In just a few minutes, at the start of the TV show The Pitt, I knew that this was as raw and authentic as any show about an inner-city ER will ever be. Dr. Robby walked through a crowded waiting room, was met by Filipino nurses, and had to talk a fellow doctor out of suicide.

With 35 years in ED nursing (newly retired), I consider myself an OG. Some say OG means “old generals or older generation”; I strongly approve of being called Old Gangster. With just five of my fellow Baby Boomer ER nurses, we can probably account for 90% of the cases shown so far. And we approve this show as the best, most well-written, and most authentic medical show ever.

This show is highly realistic in its portrayal of the chaotic, intense ER setting; most hardened ER nurses would suggest there is organization amid the chaos that would have driven off a less courageous nurse on their first day. Yes, we have seen maggots, lice, bedbugs, and other crawling insects (fortunately not rats). We have seen many foreign bodies from all orifices. One time, a patient presented to Triage with a live vibrator inside her vagina that kept buzzing, and she had to stop her narrative because of orgasmic bursts (Psst, Pitt writers, maybe you can use this). There is mayhem and gore, but this is what makes the ER exciting for the adrenaline junkies that we are.

The ER producers hired real doctors and nurses to serve as consultants in the show. Some even act as nurses in the different episodes. To master the emergency skills, the cast underwent a 2-week bootcamp where they were taught the steps to intubate, put a chest tube, perform CPR, suture wounds, perform pericardiocentesis, and other procedures. They were also taught to confidently speak medical tongue-twister terms such as cauda equina, Sengstaken-Blakemore tube, Phytophotodermatitis, and methemoglobinemia.

The cacophony of sounds is not masked by background music. As in a real setting, we hear cardiac monitors, ventilator alarms, ambulance sirens, unit announcements, ringing phones, vomit sounds, the conversations between the healthcare team, and the groans and curses of the impatient patients and the short-staffed medical staff alike.

Like in all ERs (and other units), there is constant talk about staffing shortage, work stress, PTSD, diversions, overcrowding, burnout, mental health, substance abuse, insurance costs, and even patient satisfaction scores. What impresses me is that the ER staff came together in solidarity to save and care for their patients; the camaraderie was borne out of their shared experiences. The debrief after the mass shooting included everyone, including the ancillary staff, housekeepers, clerks, and Security.

When I wondered where the nursing leaders (Chief nursing officer, director, manager, supervisor) and other healthcare members were, my son explained that in a TV show, it may not be efficient to include so many characters. That will require more story lines, more characters to write for. So, it is artistic license, I realize. I am happy enough that I see Filipino nurses, at least.

                                                        

The Cast

The cast is top-notch. Dr. Robby is played by Noah Wyle, formerly Dr. Carter from my other favorite show, “ER”. He expertly led the ER team in Season 1 to navigate an active-shooter disaster scenario. In Season 1, he welcomed new residents (of varying confidence and one with a predilection for bodily fluids splashing on his person) and a medical student (who fainted at the sight of a degloved foot). Throughout the show, he struggled with the traumatic memories of the COVID-19 nightmare when his mentor died. In Season 2, he is supposed to go on a 3-month Sabbatical after this last shift, like riding into the sunset, purportedly without a helmet (smh, as the Gen Z’s lingo). The team of doctors from both seasons includes Al-Hashimi, Abbott, Shen, Ellis, Langdon, Collins, Mohan, McKay, Santos, Whitaker, Mel King, and med students Javadi, Joy, and Ogilvie.

Dana, played by Katherine LaNasa, is the ringleader who keeps the combustible atmosphere from exploding into a sloppy mess. She reads the room, controls the patient board, and juggles patient rooms to accommodate new arrivals; most importantly, she knows who needs help at any given time. Situational awareness and mutual support make her the quintessential charge nurse. She organized the team to restrain a violent patient who needed to be sedated. She directed the new grad nurse to assist in showering/decontaminating an unhoused patient. She noticed the nurse, Perlah, fighting to control her emotions, so she took over in the post-mortem care of a patient. Her team of nurses includes Lena, Perlah, Princess, Donnie, Jesse, Kim, Mateo, Sophie, and Emma.

https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/arts-and-culture/a64355242/the-pitt-cast-characters-guide/

The show won many Primetime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Drama Series, Lead Actor (Wyle), Supporting Actress (LaNasa), and Guest Actor (Shawn Hatosy, who played Dr. Abbott). At the end of Season 1, we learn that Dr. Abbott, a military veteran, is a single-leg amputee who walks around with a prosthesis.

 

 

 A Patient’s Death

After episode 6 of Season 2, I bawled my eyes out, not only for Louie, but for all those frequent flyers I lost over the years, for those who we tried to help but couldn’t. Death is a constant in an ER, but there are some cases that hit us harder.

Louie (played by Ernest Harden, Jr) was a frequent flyer, a chronic alcoholic patient who appeared in Season 1. He was well-liked by the staff because he was well-mannered and always smiling, even with a blood alcohol level of 400. This time, it was the end of the road for him. Despite the paracentesis to relieve his ascites, he went into cardiac arrest. After the intubation, blood gushed out of the ET tube: pulmonary hemorrhage caused by liver failure. Even with the staff’s heroic efforts, Louie remained in asystole. Dr. Robby finally ended the resuscitation and pronounced him dead.

The debrief was heart-rending. For most ER staff who knew Louie, it was a surprise to learn the patient’s backstory. Dr. Robby relayed that Louie confided that he lost his wife and unborn child in a road accident, which catapulted him into a life of despair and led him to alcoholism. 

The patient’s death, although not surprising given his worsening liver failure, was a shock to the staff who had cared for him in his frequent admissions to the ER. The staff paid their respects to a patient who had somehow been part of the ER family. A moment of silence; a gesture of humanity. Dignity even in death. Robby offered a Jewish mourning phrase to remember Louie: “May his memory be a blessing.”

There are so many stories behind the misfortune of our patients, if we only listen. Years ago, when I was a bedside ER nurse, I cried with the nursing staff when one of our favorite “regular’ drunks died from hypothermia when he collapsed in the street. He was quiet, never violent, never cursed us, never hit us, just smiled through our lectures. Before his alcohol addiction rendered him homeless (now called un-housed), he had a good job and a loving family. We used to bring a hot meal for “Mr. G”; there was no price tag on hunger, no restriction on being kind to vulnerable patients battling their own demons.

 

Workplace Violence

It is an unfortunate reality, but the world is not a safe place. In an overcrowded environment, emotions run high among some patients, who feel they deserve to be seen first. Dana was sucker-punched by one of those disgruntled patients (in Season 1). The whole staff was shaken by the assault on one of their own.

Instead of going home, Dana chose to finish her shift, to power through when a mass shooting called for a hands-on-deck response from the ER staff. The SWAT team showed up in the ER, just in case the shooter came in to finish his evil mission. It was scary. There was even a question if Dana was coming back to work.

According to the New York State Penal Code, “Assault in the Second Degree in New York allows felony charges, instead of misdemeanor charges, to be brought against someone who acts, “with intent to cause physical injury to a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse…while such employee is performing an assigned duty.”

In episode 6 of Season 2, we learned that the person who assaulted Dana was apprehended, but she refused to press charges. In real life, I have always persuaded the nurses to demand felony charges. It looked like Dana was still struggling with her decision to let go and may not have come to terms with the trauma to herself.  She didn’t even answer the student nurse's question about why she stayed.

 

Humor in the ER

To survive in the ER, the healthcare team often shares jokes with each other, reports on what new foreign object the patient ingested or inserted. Tongue-in-cheek humor; anything to brighten the day and to lighten the load. A chuckle a day keeps us sane.

Ruined Scrubs: In Season 1, Whitaker made several trips to the scrub vending machine due to several accidents from bodily fluids (blood, urine, vomit, and spilled liquid medication). In Season 2, Ogilvie had the dubious honor of poop exploding on him after a fecal disimpaction. A "poop cannon" or "assplosion" is a great rite of passage for an obnoxious medical student.

Dr. Shen held on to his Dunkin' iced coffee, even while acting as a Triage officer during the disaster. I think it is a “bird flip” to the Infection Control team.

A journalist faked an injury to slip into the ER, then slipped on a wet floor after being discovered. Santos then discarded his phone in a bucket of bloody water. Ooops, karma indeed.

Santos is someone who you would either hate or love. I think there is a soft, sad side to her that she tried to hide behind her snarky remarks and nicknames for her colleagues (Crash and Huckleberry). When a nun’s conjunctivitis culture came out positive for gonorrhea, Santos quipped, “Immaculate infection.” Perlah and Princess were gossiping, then Santos interjected in Tagalog. Santos also sang a Tagalog lullaby to calm a patient; in real life, Isa Briones is a Broadway actress.

Rats!!!! Four rats scampered out from an unhoused patient’s clothes. The staff was so grossed out, and Dr. Collins jumped on the stretcher, wielding an IV pole. In a dramatic moment, Whitaker captured one of the rats, covered it with bed linen, and effectively broke its neck, just like an efficient former farm boy would. The staff broke into applause.                                                                      

Dr. Mehta, the resident stroke neurologist, delivers dumb dad jokes. The staff just rolls their eyes behind his back.

The patient, Earl, witnessed Javadi flirting with nurse Mateo. With a raised eyebrow, he asked,  “Am I at a hospital or in a romcom?”

Myrna was a gutter-mouth patient who wheeled herself around the ER, poking fun at anyone she encountered with her sexual innuendos, even calling Robby “fruitcake”.

Mel is neurodivergent and socially awkward. Her enthusiasm manifested in her inappropriate “high fives” and fist bumps after an exciting case.

Joy, the new medical student, is funny and sassy with her one-liners. After Ogilvie bragged about learning Farsi from his friends, Joy deadpanned, “I’m surprised he has friends.” As she was picking out glass shards from a bloody leg, Joy nonchalantly remarked, “Thrilling - totally worth $200,000 in student loans”.

A patient who used Super-glue on her fake eyelash dismissed Dr. Langdon (the actress’s real-life boyfriend) and asked to be treated by the super-popular medical influencer on TikTok, Dr. J, who was revealed to be the medical student Javadi.

At last, Pinoy Nurses in an ER medical drama

“The Pitt” features two Filipino nurses, Perlah (Amielynn Abellera) and Princess (Kristin Villanueva), as part of their ER team. Not just background players, but crucial to the emergency department team and highly respected for their expertise in the crazy, hectic world of emergency medicine. They provide comic relief when they speak Tagalog to each other, perhaps a coping mechanism to the work stressors. There is something therapeutic about bantering in your language, and sometimes communicating just with your eyes (and pointing with your lips).

The duo seemed to be planning a surprise 21st-birthday party for the med student Javadi. I hope that they will order the famous Filipino party food, lumpia and pancit. I am sure the ER staff would prefer these to pizza and donuts. If there were a betting pool like the one the security officer, Ahmad, ran, I would bet there would be lumpia and pancit at the party. After all, we don’t need any excuse to throw a party in the ER. I will be amazed and impressed if that happens.

After 15 seasons of “ER” without Filipino nurses, we see these bad-ass nurses and work besties claim their rightful place as part of the PITT team. As an ER nurse for 35 years, I felt represented. Finally.

 

Episode 6 “12:00 PM”, Season 2- a homage to nurses

This episode was directed by Noah Wyle and written by Valerie Chu. Thank you for showing what the nurses do best- caring and being excellent.

Kudos to Dana, Perlah, Princess, Donnie, Lena, Jesse, Kim, Mateo, Sophie, and Emma.

Whitaker echoed what Robby told him before: “Always listen to the nurses. They run the ER; we just try and stay out of their way.” I am glad to say that real-life doctors have said the same thing to their new interns and residents every time they start their ER rotation, usually in July. A doctor I worked with advised his residents: “If the nurses like you because you gave them the respect they deserve, they will have your back.”

Dana is a queen, part-Mama Bear and part Incredible Hulk. Lena, the night charge nurse/ part-time death doula, is a great partner to Dana.

It is true that many nurses have saved lives by suggesting alternative interventions, as when multilingual Princess suggested an EKG for an abdominal patient. Perlah took over Charge when Dana was hurt. Donnie was ready for his new role as a nurse practitioner and impressed the new interns with his suturing skills. Mateo’s triage skills were on point; he’s someone you would want with you when the going gets tough. Kim and Jessie not only play nurses on TV, but they are real-life ER nurses. Kim expertly recited the steps for a Fluorescein injection. Silver-haired Jesse (also a drummer) knew what he was doing, an expert among other actors. Sophie is actually a physician assistant who also taught in the cast bootcamp.

I see myself and my friends in all these nurses. We were like Emma once, naïve, unsure if the ER was right for her. When she reached for Louis’s hand during the debrief, I knew she would make a great ER nurse.

Triage Stories: Believe It or Not

HAPPY EMERGENCY NURSES WEEK

OCT. 5-11, 2025

Some Emergency Department nurses hate being assigned to Triage. This patient encounter may mean the difference between whether the patient enters the Main treatment area or has to wait in the crowded waiting room. A difference between life and death. It is a stressful assignment.

A triage nurse is at the front lines, in the front-line department of the hospital. The word “triage” came from the French word “trier,” which means sorting out. In a big, urban community hospital, the Triage area is like a marketplace, where everyone clamors for the Triage nurse’s attention. With a long list of walk-in patients waiting to be seen and a long line of EMS stretchers, the nurse sorts the patients according to their level of acuity. It is neither an assembly line nor a first-come, first-served process.

A Triage nurse cannot be easily frazzled. She needs to be the most level-headed and calm person in a sea of disjointed conversations and screams that beg for attention. In an environment fraught with tension, worried relatives, pushy EMS personnel, and harried and overworked staff (doctors, nurses, technicians, and registrars), patients demand to see the doctor ASAP. Actually, it is those non-verbal patients who are the sickest, not like those asthma patients who state “I cannot breathe” while speaking in complete sentences and carrying on a loud conversation on their phone.

 A new grad should not, must not be assigned to triage. It is a disservice to them and to their patients. Distinguishing between Level 1 (likely to die) and Level 2 (high-risk) patients from Level 3 will require the clinical expertise and knowledge that an experienced nurse, with their “gut instinct,” can easily provide. Some doctors even question the nurse’s decision, despite not being trained that a Level 5 does not require any resources and a Level 4 needs only one resource. No, oral antibiotics and tetanus injection are not a Resource. It would be beneficial to post the Emergency Severity Index (ESI) triage algorithm and the Resource table in both the Triage room and the doctor’s lounge to prevent such microaggressions as questioning the acuity level.

Emergency Severity Index (ESI) Triage: Prioritization

Despite the stress, I actually enjoyed my stint as a Triage nurse. It was fun sometimes. Indeed, full of surprises, interesting, and weird stories for the lunch discussion in the nursing lounge.

ER nurses are superstitious

Beware: Never say the word “Quiet” in the middle of the ER, unless you are ready to incur the wrath of every single ER personnel who finally had that precious time to take their bathroom break, or even to take a breather. That "Q" word is a jinx and will bring in a swarm of locusts, or worse, a busload of patients. 

Mass Casualty events are not fun, unless you’re doing just a drill, complete with moulage and badly-trained actors and a roomful of C-suite VIPs who get in the way.

Foreign Bodies

ER nurses live for the simple pleasures.  We keep a running tab on what’s the weirdest thing we found in any body cavity. With every Triage class I teach, I poll the nurses on what foreign objects were found in all orifices (oral, ear, vagina, rectal, and penis). 

The inquisitive kids put anything and everything in their mouths and ears, including lithium batteries (medical emergencies that can cause life-threatening internal chemical burns). But adults are more inventive, and sometimes, scandalous.

 As experienced as I am, I am still amazed by what others have discovered. It has almost become a contest on who can come up with the weirdest thing that “accidentally” went in “there (front or back)”. Sometimes, patients say, "I just slipped and fell, and that thing got pushed up into my rectum."

The trusty Wikipedia (smirk) wrote: "Polyembolokoilamania is the act of inserting foreign bodies into orifices such as the rectum, urethra, and vagina. It is often exhibited by patients with Smith–Magenis syndrome. When motivated by a desire for sexual gratification, it can be considered a paraphilia.”

Here’s a more reliable article from the National Library of Medicine: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3357565/

Foreign bodies found were “eg, beans, dried peas, popcorn kernels, hearing-aid batteries, raisins, beads, coins, chicken bones, fish bones, pebbles, plastic toys, pins, keys, buckshot, round stones, marbles, nails, rings, batteries, ball bearings, screws, staples, washers, pendants, springs, crayons, toothbrushes, vases, razor blades, soda cans and bottles, silverware, hinges, telephone cable, and guitar picks.”

More sensational pieces were re-purposed for sexual gratification, including a live vibrator that kept buzzing, and the patient had to stop her narrative because of orgasmic bursts. Now that all these points have been discussed, it is not to make fun of the patients, but rather for the purpose of nursing education. No HIPAA violation, no patient identification disclosure, I promise.

Truth is stranger than fiction, and it has never become truer than in the ED. 

Virgin births and surprise pregnancies

Case #1:

“Are you pregnant?"  the triage nurse asked the female patient who rushed into the room. The patient was puffing hard and writhing in pain.

"No way! I'm just fat. I take birth control pills."

Minutes later, the patient's spandex began to sag at the crotch. The nurse barely had time to catch the baby.

Case #2:

Patient: "I swear I'm not pregnant. Shouldn't be. I’m not sexually active. But my belly hurts soooooo much!"

Parent: “She’s only sixteen. She’s a virgin.”

Nurse: "Let me just put you on the stretcher."

Minutes later, the patient screams, the nurse lifts up the sheet, and finds a baby on the stretcher.

Patient Teachings

There are always opportunities to teach patients about misconceptions and harmful practices, such as polypharmacy and overreliance on herbal medications that can interact with their drugs.

Workplace Violence- Felony Assault Law

Zero tolerance for workplace violence. According to the New York State Penal Code, “Assault in the Second Degree in New York allows felony charges, instead of misdemeanor charges, to be brought against someone  who acts, “with intent to cause physical injury to a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse…while such employee is performing an assigned duty.”

EMTALA

In 1986, Congress enacted the Emergency Medical Treatment & Labor Act (EMTALA) to ensure public access to emergency services regardless of ability to pay. As a Christian and as a nurse, I stand in support of this- hospitals should provide a medical screening examination to anyone seeking emergency care, regardless of their ability to pay, insurance status, or citizenship. I would have never allowed a dying patient to wait for services to check their immigration status. It is inhumane, immoral, and un-Christian behavior. 

 

Counting my Blessings

Being a Triage nurse changed my perspective. I knew how crucial it was to get the patient to the right place with the right resources for treatment at the right time. I also felt blessed to be in a position to assist the patient in the best way possible. 

I counted my blessings every day, because whatever inconveniences and worries I had at that moment, nothing could compare with the sufferings out there. I have seen many moments that broke my heart, and some moments tugged at my heartstrings.

Dear Classmates, 45 Years Later

Dear classmates,

Thank you for a wonderful reunion experience in Europe. Our class reunion was a hoot! Sixteen classmates from the Arellano University BSN Class of 1980, along with their spouses and sisters, gathered for the 45th anniversary reunion in Norway, then went on a cruise along the European coast via MSC Poesia Cruises.

Not everyone gets a chance to reunite with those they started the journey with. Not everyone has the opportunity to reconnect and restore the camaraderie borne by the blood, sweat, and tears of nursing school. After our graduation ceremony in the Philippines, we went our separate ways to navigate the challenges of our personal and professional lives.

Somehow, our class managed to come together again. In October 2011, the 1st Global Reunion of the Arellano University College of Nursing was held in Las Vegas, with nine classmates from Section 2 in attendance. That was thirty-one years after our class graduation in 1980. We screamed, hugged, chatted away, and laughed at each other’s jokes and remembrances, as we tried to make up for the long years in between. We resolved to reunite at least every two years.

Nursing Student Years- 1975-1980

Those years in class and in clinicals —ranging from V. Luna Medical Center, Quezon Institute, Mental Hospital to the community centers —provided us with invaluable hands-on experiences that prepared us for the challenges of “real life”. We wore striped blue seer-sucker uniforms with stiff starched white aprons and large nursing caps perched on our heads—the good old days. 

Manila Sound birthed the Original Pilipino Music era. The musical tapestry of our lives featured songs from Hotdog, Cinderella, Freddie Aguilar, Apo Hiking Society, and, as sung by Rico J, “namamasyal pa sa Luneta.”

We overcame “terror” instructors, struggled through our thesis projects, and played skits for our patients on our last days of clinical rotations. We graduated despite the butt-numbing traffic and waded through floods (flood control is an ongoing problem in the Philippines, but we digress).

Forty-five years later, most of the OGs have retired. We are the Baby Boomers, what some people call “Old Guards”, although I prefer “Original Gangsters”, because you know, we were badass nurses.

On August 29, 2025, we descended into Oslo, Norway, and were welcomed by our gracious hosts Alma and Homer.  Our program began with a Welcome address by Alma, a Celebratory remark by Shirley, a birthday celebration for our four classmates (Amie, Louie, Cely, and Janet), and a closing remark by Ces.

 

How can I describe the party? BELLY LAUGHS! 

Not just a mild or polite chuckle, but that deep, loud, and hearty laugh from the games: Grouping ourselves, Charades, and Hephep Hurray. Just a good thing that none of us needed Depends yet. We let go of our inhibitions, being carefree to be young and play as if we were kids again, and grateful for the camaraderie and that we can enjoy each other again. There is unabashed joy in just being silly together. Priceless.

Our class reunion was like this. Hatakan, hampasan, takbuhan, naiihi, mahina, sigawan. The floodgates opened up, and we shared our memories of our student years. The chatter crescendoed to a point that the spouses were wondering what banshees we are. You can now check off this on your list: no Alzheimer’s memory loss yet, because those moments were captured in our hearts.

SALAMAT PO, MGA KAMAG-ARAL

Alma and Homer, thank you for putting up with this group of gaggling hens and their supportive spouses. You were like shepherds trying to control the errant flock. That was a colossal effort to plan the itinerary, which included the bus ride to Vigeland Park to see the sculptures (especially the imposing Monolith), the Holmenkollen Skating Arena, the Evening fjord boat ride, and the reunion party held in Stortua. Cheers for your patience and fortitude. Homer, you’re a stand-up comedian; your low-key comedic liners are hilarious.

Cely, thank you for your generosity through all these reunions. You have sponsored the reunion t-shirts and the tarpaulin. You are so giving, that’s why you are so blessed. The green t-shirts are my favorite; the color is so vibrant and hopeful. In truth, the bright green color served as a beacon, or to put it more bluntly, like an invisible rope to get us all tethered to the large group.

Ampy, thank you for starting all of this when you and Althea searched for our classmates on the internet. You were like our mother hen/detective in coaxing us out of hiding, even opening your gorgeous house in New Jersey. I would definitely drive 2+ hours to your Robbinsville house to savor your delicious food spread. And thank you for sharing your health challenges with us; you are a survivor.

Salha, thank you for your persistence and ingenuity with Chat-GPT to provide travel tips to us, especially for those who are newbies with cruise etiquette. You are so level-headed, even redirecting us when some of us are impatient (maybe we have ADHD). You're like an encyclopedia with your travel experience. I nominate you to be the Secretary for this group.

Luz, thank you for commiserating with me when my hip pain sidelined me due to my over-confident walking. My fellow PWD, lol. Yet, you're still poised and fashionable. I do think you're a great Zumba instructor.

Shirley, thank you for your invigorating celebratory remarks. I appreciated how you engaged the group with your words of wisdom and encouragement, spoken like a great nurse educator that you are—hats off to our Magna cum laude. I would have loved to be in your class.

Yoly, thank you for joining us and sharing your effervescent and bubbly personality. Thank you for your financial tips. When we visit Ampy again, I look forward to all the corn cobs you can bring.

Neth, thank you for surprising us with your “pregnancy news”, lol. I still remember how you surprised us as Speedy Gonzales at our Florida reunion. I hope that your son Michael was not traumatized or exhausted by our group's shenanigans.

Lita, thank you for being such a bundle of energy, fellow ER nurse. I love your stories about your grandkids. We will not tell anyone who your favorite is. Congratulations on being a survivor, too.

Amie, thank you for being the “selfie queen”. You made sure that we posed for the pictures, but sorry, we are just bad at following directions. Asoo!

Janet, thank you for opening your heart and sharing your memories of your dog “Pogi” with us. I can relate, because we lost Boomer at around the same time. Time heals.

Mate, thanks for inspiring me to get more physically fit. We didn’t know about your accident, but you persevered. You’re a Superwoman.

Ces, thank you for being you: honest, joyful, funny, and pragmatic. You were quiet during our nursing days, but now you have a lot of stories to tell. Who can forget how you went over the fence that got you expelled from your dormitory? You're the quintessential Treasurer of our group.

Louie, thank you for sharing your wife, Yo, with us; she is delightful. Thank you for the scarves and the lunch treat. You have always been generous; remember that you paid for the half-page ad for our class section at the Las Vegas reunion.

Dori, thank you for joining our section. You blended in very well. Please join us at our next reunion.

Sisterets, thank you for the three sisters who patiently tolerated their "Ates": Bheng, Poleng, and Lucy. We enjoyed your company.

Spouses (Homer, Ed, John, Arnold, Mel, Gerry, Gary, Manny, Ofre), thank you for the support of your respective wives. You are very much a part of this experience. As eager as you were to pose for the pictures (this was your reunion, too), you certainly did better than the ladies in following directions. It was a joy to see you enjoying the games, as well.

 

Dear classmates, take a bow. We have achieved greatness beyond our own expectations. We traveled different paths, but we made it through these days. We define our own success, inspiring others in our own unique ways, and for that, as Shirley said, “Pat yourselves on your back. Let us celebrate ourselves.”

We’ve come a long way from the naïve and bright-eyed nursing graduates in 1980. Forty-five years never looked so good. 

I am happy that we continue to grow as a “family”. We first sang “That’s What Friends Are For” in Vienna in 2018. Just promise me, please, next time, you'll know the lyrics by heart.

Let's take care of ourselves, and we'll see each other in January 2027. 

 

I. Am. Retired.

This is it. End of shift last July 23, 2025. I. Am. Retired.

I waited one month to write this post. I took the time to reflect on this moment, which I have been waiting for since I stepped on American soil 42 years ago. I needed to savor the significance of this career milestone: being suddenly freed from the rigors of waking up early, sitting in traffic, driving through icy roads, and having to hold my tongue to maintain peace. I wanted to sit in the space of reflection, to marinate the concept of retirement in my mind, and to drink in the wonderment that finally the time has come to hang up my lab coat.

Two years ago, my friends opted for early retirement, often enticing me with pictures of their travels, but I was not ready to let go. My work gave me a sense of purpose (aside from my family). My work friends filled my head with compliments about my guidance and mentorship, and my students’ feedback was both satisfying and encouraging; they even urged me to post on TikTok, especially when I used the analogy of dysfunctional romantic relationships to teach heart blocks.

Frankly, the thought of retirement scared me. “How will I spend my day? Would I lose my mind with boredom? Would my muscles weaken from non-activity? Would my brain cells shrivel up for lack of mental stimulation?”

The epiphany that it was time for retirement sneaked up on me. I was feeling energized after a vacation in the Philippines, and I realized that I wanted to travel the world more than I ever did. My college classmates, most of them retired, regaled me with their travel stories. For our 45^th anniversary since graduation in 1980, the BSN class of Arellano University College of Nursing was preparing to have our reunion in Norway.

I was also mesmerized by some painting vlogs on Instagram. My Facebook algorithms shifted to drawings and instructions on acrylics, watercolor, and gouache mediums. I realized that I wanted to pursue my long-dormant artistic side. My Renaissance area beckons me.

Retirement is a milestone, a gift, a blessing that is often denied to others. It is taking control of my narrative and choosing how to live my life, when, what, and how at my leisure. 

 

Bookends of my professional life

In January 1983, I was young, naïve, and eager. Fresh from my stint with the Philippine National Red Cross, I embarked on my nursing career in New York City with stars in my eyes and dreams in my heart. I was ready to conquer the nursing world.

I made a meme of my younger self as I stood on the grounds of Roosevelt Island looking toward Manhattan, “Someday, you will retire. And you will know that you were a bad-ass nurse who cared for her patients and her colleagues.”

After working at Coler Memorial Hospital, I began my career in Emergency Nursing at Elmhurst Hospital Center, Maimonides Medical Center, Mount Sinai Morningside, and then St. John’s Hospital. I must be a glutton for punishment, or maybe an adrenaline-junkie. Perhaps I needed to channel my nervous energy into the high-stakes patient care. Life was never dull, never placid, never predictable. The word “Quiet” jinxes everything, and whoever uttered that word would be ostracized for the rest of the shift.

I have many stories to share, some of which were featured in two memoirs that I published. What a journey it has been. I am humbled by the opportunity to care for all the patients that I met and to work with strong, gracious, and compassionate colleagues along the way.

Before I officially retired, the staff at St. John’s Episcopal Hospital threw me a surprise party. The Nursing Professional Development educators organized a celebration attended by nursing leadership and staff from various units. It was my special "Lollipop moment". A “lollipop moment” is when someone said something or did something that fundamentally made your life better.

As I walked down the colorful path, each person handed me a lollipop. In my classes, I have encouraged my students to remember the impact they have on their patients and coworkers. I also encouraged them to reach out to those special people who have made an impact on their lives, as introduced by Drew Dudley in his TED Talk, by giving them lollipops.

Imagine getting my lollipops and receiving notes of thanks from everyone. I love, love, love the Lollipop moment notes and the touching words from everyone. Priceless!

https://www.facebook.com/100000202167830/videos/pcb.25096204806636245/1276051227389132

 

Thank you for the memories

I am grateful for the experiences that have shaped me into the nurse I am today. I stumbled along the way, but through it all, I rose even stronger. No longer a fumbling neophyte, I am a confident nurse who knows I have succeeded on my terms. I don't define my success by other people's definitions. I am proud of how I have metamorphosed from a novice to an expert, mainly due to the lessons I have learned along the way.

As I rose from the ranks into leadership and educator positions, I stood on the shoulders of those who came before me, and in turn, I extended my support to those who came after me. As an ER nurse, I navigated the psychological landmines by focusing on the emotional rewards, which strengthened me, even through the pandemic's challenges.  I found my joy in nursing by being mindful and intentional in seeking those serotonin boosters and mood lifters. I fought burnout by acknowledging the impact and influence of nurses in the lives of our patients, even though we sometimes may not get the instant gratification and appreciation from them.

I am an unapologetically sentimental person, which I inherited from my father and passed on to my son. I treasure the memories and appreciate the messages and remembrances from my colleagues and the other staff nurses. Over the years, I have collected messages and emails from those who acknowledged my contributions. In moments of self-doubt, they reinforced my “Why”. 

Please indulge me when I include some of these kind words:

“As a novice educator, you took me under your wings and provided guidance, mentorship, and encouragement that I am so appreciative of.  Thank you for always providing a listening ear and giving constructive feedback that continues to guide my career.”

“I have been holding on to you tightly since I joined EHS, and you have welcomed me with open arms. I am honored to say that I have received guidance and support from THE Jocelyn Sese.”

“Your dedication to EHS has been instrumental in elevating our nursing care and fostering a positive shift in our culture. You've set a remarkable example for all nurse leaders to aspire to. Personally, your guidance has been a great source of validation for me, ensuring I'm on the right path.”

“I want you to know that I truly couldn’t have reached this milestone without the solid foundation I gained during our two weeks of didactic training with you. Today, I’m able to confidently speak the language of critical care, relying less on my usual hand gestures and more on solid clinical communication. I am living proof of the impact you’ve made on the next generation of nurses.”

Post-retirement Life

When someone asked me what the first thing I would do when I retire, I answered without hesitation that I would attend the solo concert of Jin of BTS in New Jersey. The Jin concert at the Prudential Center in New Jersey on July 31 is my gift to myself for retirement. Jin was excellent; he did not phone in his performance, but gave it his all, with bulging neck veins and exposed deltoids, too. Mr. WorldWide Handsome winked, smirked sexily, and blew us his trademark kiss. I am eagerly awaiting the reunion of the 7-member supergroup BTS for a concert next year.

Retirement checklist:

•    Attend our 45^th class reunion with my BSN group in Norway and a cruise (from August 24 through September 6)
•    Complete the “Art with Suzanne” online course, start painting, and explore the creative process
•    Travel more and write more travelogues.
•    Attend more music concerts and Broadway shows.
•    Swimming lessons so that I can snorkel and dive on my next vacation
•    Finish my BTS Lego set, continue crossword and jigsaw puzzles for my mental exercise
•    Write my third book
•    Write, write, write
•     Read, read, read
•    Consider other Social Media platforms and learn more about Artificial Intelligence tools.

 (Psst: I do have some teaching gigs waiting for me after my Norway vacation. Cannot just go cold turkey. Need to wean myself.)

 The Final Curtain

The final curtain has closed. As Frank Sinatra sang, “Regrets, I've had a few. But then again, too few to mention. I did what I had to do and saw it through without exception. I planned each charted course, each careful step along the byway. And more, much more than this, I did it my way”.

What a journey it has been. I am proud to be a bad-ass nurse.

I am ready to live my best encore. Bring it on.

 

 

 

The Power of Nurses... and the Countdown to my Retirement

 

This week, from May 6 through May 12, we celebrate National Nurses Week, starting with Florence Nightingale's birthday.

The American Nurses Enterprise chose the theme “Power of the Nurses” to shine a much-deserved spotlight on nurses' impact and influence on healthcare, from the bedside to the boardroom, from novices to experts.

At the Blessing of the Hands ceremony, the nurses recited, “May our hands always bring healing. May they always be gentle. And may they always remember the power they hold—the power of a nurse.”

The hospital held a Super-Nurse Cape Competition as a fun activity. The cape is an iconic image symbolizing the compassion and caring of the nurses who served under rigorous conditions. It is a poignant reminder of our “super-hero” status during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, but our powers never left. 

The power of our minds as we embrace new technologies, research, and evidence-based care.

The power of our vision as we promote professional growth, participate in the hospital’s strategic initiatives, and continue to make Nursing a loud and credible voice in healthcare programs.

The power of our hearts as we navigate nursing challenges through staffing issues and workplace violence, the power of our hearts to find our joy in the workplace, and the power of our hearts to put caring for our patients as our “why.”

The power of our hands as we healed and cared.

Our group of nursing educators from the Nursing Professional Development visited the different patient units with our Wellness cart filled with goodies (a variety of teas, granola bars, lip balms, pens, hand lotions, stress balls, lollipops, lavender sachets, and Skyflakes chocolate biscuits). A simple Thank You for a job well done. The smiles from the nurses, as they paused from their busy work, to engage with the educators: Priceless.

This Nursing Week is a turning point for me. A milestone of all milestones. It will be my last Nurses Week as an active-duty nurse. I have reduced my work hours for the past year and slowly inched forward to retirement. After 42 years as a nurse in the United States, I will retire this year at the end of July. Yes, 2025 will be, not next year. This is it.

It will be a great honor to join the ranks of those who retired to enjoy the fruits of their labor. I reflect on the great work of those who led the way, whose profound influence left an indelible mark on those they worked alongside. They touched many lives, dried many patients' tears (and their own), uplifted many hearts, celebrated their peers, endured the long hours, and overcame many challenges. They were powerful nurses; on their shoulders we stood and learned. 

A life spent in service is well-lived and blessed with immeasurable emotional rewards. Thank you to Paula, Cecil, Rosemary, Trish, and Avis for allowing me to use your pictures. They have many stories to share and precious memories to inspire. These ladies are legends in their own right, leaving a legacy of excellence through the years. 

Many more retired before me, and sadly, some who did not make it to retirement. I am humbled to have worked with them, from Coler Memorial Hospital, Elmhurst Hospital Center, Maimonides Medical Center, Mount Sinai Morningside, and St. John’s Hospital. 

It has been a wild ride. Promise, I will post more photos on my Retirement blog. What a journey it has been. My countdown begins.