Yesterday I saw a familiar face on the ground floor of the hospital where I work. She was a former head nurse of the ICU where I was assigned way back in 1995 or 1996. She did not see me so I rushed to her and after some exchange of pleasantries, she mentioned that she is now based in the province working also as a hospital nurse.

In our conversation, she commented about the pharmacists in their hospital. "Iba talaga," she told me. "Here we can easily ask you anything about drugs, like incompatibilities, and get answers. Doon wala...wala talaga silang pakialam. Probinsya kasi."

She is presently in Manila to train in the toxicology unit of our hospital along with other nurses from the Visayas and Mindanao areas. So I told her that they may have to train here also. It was nearly her time to report for the training so I bid her goodbye hoping that I will meet her again before she return to the province.

Later, I shared this encounter with my colleagues and although they were quiet amused by the way I mimic her remarks (with matching provincial accent), at the back of my mind I knew I felt uncomfortable about what she said.

As I travel to get home that night (I was in the bus), I reached for my pen and notebook, gathered my thoughts and record this experience. I hope that by writing this and posting it in my blog I can leave to the readers something to think about.

Nevertheless, it's really a great feeling to realize that we were able to gain the trust and confidence of the nurse we have worked with in the past. What's more about it is the recognition that we were their partners in caring for their patients in the ICU. They did not forget...Neither will I.