Nurses and medics

The imposing Commonwealth Health Center on Navy Hill stands as a people’s edifice. The physical plant reminds us of an imposing colonial center with stiff nurses, doctors and other medical staff in high-pocketed white gowns or light blue attires. The CHC nurses adopted pajama tops as alternative attire, not inappropriate for the night shift. 

It is claimed that 90 percent of all MDs in the United States a century ago had no college education! They attended medical schools condemned by the press and the government as “substandard.” Nurses were MDs’ go-fer. Nurses still train in China as a vocational choice for those who fail college entry exam. It is offered as a BSN in other places.

Pea Eye was a source of degreed nurses in the CNMI coming over to pass the NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination) and serving local clinics. An enterprising private school brought in Shanghai nurses to prepare for the standardized test, and three shifted to NMC, prompting the government to issue student visas for the first time.

The NCLEX then offered the exam in Manila and Hong Kong, resulting in an alleged airline discontinuing direct MNL-SPN flights. NCLEX test takers are presently locally taught, though stragglers from elsewhere still line up to take the Pearson-administered test.

With advances in science, the lab coats supplanted tonsured heads in explaining the structure of the universe. The quarks and the black holes to the sub-atomic energy field of neutrons and electrons—once the sacred fields of astrology and alchemy before Methodists and Presbyterians put up clinics and hospitals—were transformed into disciplined telescoping into the stars in the equatorial clear skies and dispensing mercury following Hermes whose caduceus (mirror image snakes on a walking staff topped by wings) entered as a symbol of healthcare organizations and medical practice in North America.

The surgical sophistication of medical institutions outside of the CNMI receives the referrals from the government, the one in Metro Manila for the hoi polloi, and the pink elephant up Oahu’s hills for vets and the well-connected. CHC of Saipan may lack the fineries of surgical services, but the staff looks good in their uniforms!

We aim neither to be trite nor capricious. MDs in the NMI trail the medical list in income tally, serving as pediatricians, family MDs, diabetes and endocrine disorder relievers, internal medicine, and rheumatoid helpers, averaging $190K-205K per annum—about a hundredth of Floyd Mayweather’s take for shuffling 12 rounds with Manny Pacquiao!

Conversely, orthopedics tops the list at $420K per annum, followed by cardiologist, relief givers on gastroenteritis, anesthetics and plastic surgeons. The latter corners the market in Korea, Manila and northeast China where looking good and staying young is at a high premium. The list of MDs continues with radiology, urology, dermatology, general surgery, and emergency medicine as the next top five from a total list of 26 specialties.

To keep distance from MDs and clinics, mind your greens and stay healthy. © 2015 Saipan Tribune