Filipino-American nurse Rod Salaysay has been transforming post-surgery recovery at UC San Diego Health with the healing power of music. In the recovery unit of Jacobs Medical Center, Salaysay combines his nursing expertise with his musical talents, playing guitar and ukulele to soothe patients after surgery. His repertoire includes folk songs in English and Spanish, classical pieces like the Minuet in G Major, and beloved tunes such as “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”
Patients often show visible signs of comfort, such as smiling or nodding along, and some even request fewer pain medications. Salaysay has observed changes in vital signs, including lower heart rates and blood pressure, suggesting that music may play a role in pain management. He notes, “There’s often a cycle of worry, pain, anxiety in a hospital, but you can help break that cycle with music.”
Salaysay’s approach aligns with emerging research on music-induced analgesia, which explores how music can reduce the perception of pain or enhance pain tolerance. Studies indicate that allowing patients to choose their preferred music and engage in active listening can be more effective than passive background music. This personalized approach empowers patients and may contribute to improved recovery outcomes.
Before his tenure at UC San Diego Health, Salaysay was known as the “singing nurse” at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla, where he began serenading patients in 2009. With over 30 years of nursing experience, he has consistently integrated music into patient care, offering comfort and emotional support through his performances.
Salaysay’s innovative blend of nursing and music therapy exemplifies a compassionate approach to patient care, highlighting the potential of non-traditional methods in enhancing healing processes.
Paraluman P. Funtanilla
Paraluman P. Funtanilla is Tutubi News Magazine's Marketing Specialist and is a Contributing Editor. She finished her degree in Communication Arts in De La Salle Lipa. She has worked as a Digital Marketer for start-up businesses and small business spaces for the past two years. She has earned certificates from Coursera on Brand Management: Aligning Business Brand and Behavior and Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content. She also worked with Asia Express Romania TV Show.
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
