COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES – “We [Filipino nurses] are more caring, which is an innate trait in us. That is why we are more sought after in the [United] States.”

This statement came from Mr. Thomas R. Ruiz, a critical care nurse (CCN) at the San Joaquin Community Hospital in Bakersfield, California, USA who spoke on critical care nursing on July 6 at the University Training Center. This was part of the Balik Alumnus Program of the CHS Alumni Association (CHSAA) and the MMSU Federated Alumni Association, Inc. (MMSUFAAI).

Ruiz obtained his BS Nursing from MMSU in 1991, graduating cum laude. He passed Nurse Licensure Examination in the same year landing on the 18th spot. He had a short stint as instructor at the then College of Nursing from June 1992 to May 1994. He has since occupied various nursing positions in different hospitals in the US since he migrated there in 1994. He has also upgraded his expertise in the field of critical care nursing. At present, he is an active member of the American Association of Critical Care Nurses.

He shared to BSN Level IV students and teachers his experiences in his 13 years as CCN in the intensive care units. He pondered on the four basic roles of a CCN: 1) to frequently assess the patient’s condition; 2) to provide intensive therapy and interventions; 3) to advocate for the welfare of the patient; and 4) to operate life support systems. He said that it needs a lot of brain and brawn to be in this area of nursing care, especially since it deals with human responses to life-threatening conditions. “In critical care nursing, you deal with life and death every day,” he said.

After the lecture, a lively open forum followed where he intelligently and gamely answered questions ranging from how he copes with stress to how much he is earning. In the end, he expressed his gratitude to the students and organizers of the affair and encouraged them to make further interest in critical care nursing.

The Balik Alumnus Program is a pet project of the MSUFAAI. The CHSAA has sponsored four events of this nature since its inception.