Niño reports to the dreaded COVID Ward.

As a newly minted nurse, Niño Jan Miole began his medical career at the cusp of a global pandemic as one of the many healthcare workers who take care of critically ill COVID-19 patients. It was a life-changing way to begin a career.

The decision to work at the COVID Ward was his. A decision, he later shares, that was rather striking.

“I was one of the few who braved this pandemic-stricken year by deciding to work at a ward where the unperceivable enemy lurks in the crevices of the human body or the vicinity around – the infamous COVID Ward. My life radically turned 360 degrees and that’s when I experienced all sorts of paradoxes: In my hardships, wisdom was born. In my failings, I gained valiance. In my misery, there was a spark of joy. When the public hailed me as a hero, I embraced my humanity,” said Niño.

Work in a COVID Ward is far from easy. With the dangers of the virus, the work remains unnerving and grueling.

When Niño found himself first reporting to the COVID Ward, it was his first time to don a PPE suit. Wearing appropriate PPE is critical during these times, to avoid any transmissions.

“It was my first time to wear PPE and it has to be donned for the entire 12 hour shift or more,” shared Niño. He adds that getting hazy vision and struggling through his own asthma added to the challenge of wearing a PPE on days on end.

Despite the challenges, Niño walks the halls of the hospital in a full-on PPE suit making sure that patients under his care receive the critical care they need. His patients are often critically-ill patients: intubated, attached to mechanical ventilators and a cardiac monitor with numerous peripheral lines.

When a patient requires CPR, the task is a laborious process when done in a stuffy PPE suit. Niño and other nurses may find themselves performing CPR twice or thrice a day.

The work Niño and all other healthcare personnel do during these times are critical and oftentimes life-saving. Yet the demands of work are taxing.

“The physical demands of stress were surmountable, but the accompanying emotional and mental stresses were unrelenting,” shared Niño.

To ensure the safety of his family, Niño keeps a safe distance from people at home. It was all the more difficult when he couldn’t even embrace his newborn niece, in fear of unknowingly bringing the virus home. As reports on infected healthcare workers continued, the fear of potentially getting infected was gripping.

However, despite the worries and fears, his spirit remained strong. This, shared Niño, helps him and many other healthcare workers power through daily challenges and continue to serve.

“Fear was crippling but the tenacity of our spirit was greater than any adversaries. The healthcare professionals who were discharged returned back to work like nothing happened,” shared Niño.

What keeps Niño going is his family. While the fight against COVID-19 continues, Niño draws inspiration and strength from his family. “I couldn’t afford to lose my life and leave them behind. I was working for their sake and for the sake of my dreams, too,” said Niño.

To help him de-stress and relax, Niño reads novels, works on new art (he’s an excellent artist!), writes poetry, and continues learning by attending webinars and studying past lessons.

His experience at the RAFI Center for Leaders has also helped him get through the challenges he faces now. Having attended one of the camps in 2019, the experience has prepared him for what lies ahead.

“KAC taught me that pauses in life [are] crucial to making life-changing decisions. It [is] brave to think many times before you venture [on] your journey,” said Niño, who is better known through his camp name Cicatrix.

Niño, like many other healthcare workers, continues to serve in the frontlines, despite the many challenges and struggles they face. Their spirit of tenacity and love for service runs deep within them and helps fuel them to continue to serve others.

“The greatest impact that KAC ingrained in my memory was to be sharply awake and reasonably disturbed. I stood up to the oppressions my profession is currently facing and I honed myself looking for the root cause of every problem I encounter. I couldn’t turn a blind eye to the sufferings of others. In those moments, I use my talents and abilities to connect with people who also have the heart for service and create projects to those in need,” said Niño.

At the RAFI Center for Leaders, we continue to celebrate frontliners across the Philippines, and the globe, who continue to share so much of themselves in the service of others. For the month of August, the RAFI Center for Leaders will feature frontline heroes who work tirelessly at the frontlines in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Text by Elisabeth Baumgart; Graphics Edits by Marlon Perilla, RAFI Center for Leaders

The RAFI Center for Leaders provides learning and development programs that equip leaders and enable communities through world-class, safe, powerful learning experiences. The RAFI CFL headquarters are located in the scenic mountains of Balamban, Cebu at the Kool Adventure Camp, the country’s first and fully-dedicated adventure education facility.