Wednesday, September 29, 2010
The Harvest is Plentiful but the Workers are Few
Today our day was delayed a little by the rain. We have 2 medical teams at our base. Today we all went out together, because it was too muddy to get up into the mountains to see the patients at one clinic. Then we came home early because it turned super sticky humid hot.
Didn't see anything too exciting, but there was the 2 month baby brought in that I saw with a 102.8 temp swaddled in a blanket, with rapid respirations and heartrate. The baby was dehydrated and needed to go to the hospital, and was failing to thrive for his age.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYVOuYZyq2k
I can't say too much more about today, but what I can talk about is the needs. If you have any ideas or would like to help with a solution let me know. The most common drugs we handout are vitamins and Tylenol. There is always a huge need for that. The oral thermometers we have don't work the best, and it would be a good idea to get a bunch of temporal thermometers. But the thing that came to my mind first was when we were talking about a man that probably had prostrate cancer. There was no way to confirm the cancer without proper tests being run like the ones we do in the States. The man had a distended abdomen and was probably full of urine due to the inability to void. I know how uncomfortable it is when you need to void, but can't. I have Shy Bladder Syndrome, and in certain situations can't go no matter how much I need to go. There is also a need for an ultrasound machine. An ultrasound machine has the ability to see the fetus in utero and the measure the amount of the urine in the bladder, so if the bladder was too full the patient could be cathed. On that note, for extra full bladders would require straight cath kits, which the clinic doesn't have. I don't know how feesible it would be to have foley catheter kits in this type of living conditions. The challenge that comes with all of this is actually performing the catherization, there is no privacy in the clinics. All the patients are examined out in the open. If you have any ideas on solutions or how to obtain equipment please let me know. I'm going to do research, and see if I can't contact some of these companies about getting stuff at a discounted rate.
Didn't see anything too exciting, but there was the 2 month baby brought in that I saw with a 102.8 temp swaddled in a blanket, with rapid respirations and heartrate. The baby was dehydrated and needed to go to the hospital, and was failing to thrive for his age.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYVOuYZyq2k
I can't say too much more about today, but what I can talk about is the needs. If you have any ideas or would like to help with a solution let me know. The most common drugs we handout are vitamins and Tylenol. There is always a huge need for that. The oral thermometers we have don't work the best, and it would be a good idea to get a bunch of temporal thermometers. But the thing that came to my mind first was when we were talking about a man that probably had prostrate cancer. There was no way to confirm the cancer without proper tests being run like the ones we do in the States. The man had a distended abdomen and was probably full of urine due to the inability to void. I know how uncomfortable it is when you need to void, but can't. I have Shy Bladder Syndrome, and in certain situations can't go no matter how much I need to go. There is also a need for an ultrasound machine. An ultrasound machine has the ability to see the fetus in utero and the measure the amount of the urine in the bladder, so if the bladder was too full the patient could be cathed. On that note, for extra full bladders would require straight cath kits, which the clinic doesn't have. I don't know how feesible it would be to have foley catheter kits in this type of living conditions. The challenge that comes with all of this is actually performing the catherization, there is no privacy in the clinics. All the patients are examined out in the open. If you have any ideas on solutions or how to obtain equipment please let me know. I'm going to do research, and see if I can't contact some of these companies about getting stuff at a discounted rate.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Links
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtQyCWBm55I Tour of Haitian Nurse's Home
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIB9j-9bSqo The Clinic and Wengi dancing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIB9j-9bSqo The Clinic and Wengi dancing
Baylor Garland
I have been meaning to give my last thoughts on my first nursing assignment.
Baylor Garland is not like the big 700+ bed hospitals I am used to working in, but they do a lot to cater to the happiness of their employees. Their employees get to take vacation time for a month at a time. Each month they provide a mid month meal on Thursdays and Saturdays for their employees, which I found to be nice to not have to make supper for a night. When I locked myself out of my car in the parking lot, Baylor picked up the tab.
The nurse manager that hired me retired, but was the sweetest boss I had ever known. I didn't think anyone would come close to filling her shoes. My experience is that most bosses aren't that nice. Then when the 2nd one came along she was just as pleasant. She was very nice to me upon my exit!!!!
Overall I found most of the patients to be very pleasant! Maybe its the southern hospitality, but Texas was very nice this summer!
Baylor Garland is not like the big 700+ bed hospitals I am used to working in, but they do a lot to cater to the happiness of their employees. Their employees get to take vacation time for a month at a time. Each month they provide a mid month meal on Thursdays and Saturdays for their employees, which I found to be nice to not have to make supper for a night. When I locked myself out of my car in the parking lot, Baylor picked up the tab.
The nurse manager that hired me retired, but was the sweetest boss I had ever known. I didn't think anyone would come close to filling her shoes. My experience is that most bosses aren't that nice. Then when the 2nd one came along she was just as pleasant. She was very nice to me upon my exit!!!!
Overall I found most of the patients to be very pleasant! Maybe its the southern hospitality, but Texas was very nice this summer!
All the Colors of the Rainbow
Our days begin with breakfast at 6:30am. The classic staple to most of our meals has been avocados and some type of mango juice. I have not seen yet but am told the avocados are gigantic. After breakfast we have 15 minutes of devotion before we hit the road for the day. The Haitian ladies sing one of their songs in Creole, here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5B13JNy17c There are several different types of teams staying here at JAX beach, construction, rubble, water sanitation, medical teams, etc. As you've probably already seen on my Facebook pictures I also encountered my first tarantula today.
Today I got a few pictures of some of the vehicles I have encountered here there are all the colors of the rainbow, and usually say something about Jesus.
As I read Isaiah 46 today it was very fitting for the Vodoo conversation I had last night. The commentary I read was saying how God made us and works for our good, not to harm us. A message those imeshed in Vodoo don't understand. Jesus values and loves us all no matter our sin and circumstances.
Another day at the clinic and more interesting things. There was a 3 year old boy, Wengi, that hung around the clinic all day. When we arrived he was there, no mother in site. I saw no mother all day long. I know that there is no way we would have been able to leave my nephew at home alone when he was 3 years old, but Wenji although I'm sure a trouble maker seemed very independent and mature for his age. He was also my parrakeet and I taught him a line of English. After awhile he was mimmicking everything I said. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfUXwUQNwBw We also had a set of baby twins with malaria and 2 other children. We have malaria tests for that are like pregnancy tests. Something American nurses usually don't see!
After clinic today we went to our Haitian nurse's, Sherline, and Mark Elie our Haitian translator's home. Mark Elie's mother died in the earthquake when the wall of their house fell on her. We saw the spot she was killed. He now lives in a large tent with a king sized bed and a twin bed with 8 people. Cooking is all done outside on a grill. Sherline had an actual structure for her one bedroom house, but she sleeps on a twin mattress on the floor of a tent. It's sad to see their living conditions and know they will live like this the rest of their lives, especially when relationships are built with these people. Then I stop to think, "They don't know what they are missing out on. They don't know anything else. The only reason we get sad is because we know what they are missing out on!" As I learned in Africa that they are more rich in family and relationships. Americans are more rich with materialistic possessions, and often times live much lonelier lives. Which really is the more sad way of life? They were so proud to show us their homes and where they lived. They had no shame, why should we feel shame?
Today a few of the Haitian's were wearing American clothing. I asked how they got it. One told me that their American families send them the clothes. The other had Puma shoes like mine, and said that he bought them in the market in Haiti. Who knew they'd sell such items in such a poor country.
At my base there are something like 301 Haitian workers. Samaritan's Purse gives out many different jobs: translators, doctors, nurses, drivers, guards, and cooks. It gives the opportunities to so many who were effected by the earthquake, and I love that this organization is able to do that.
Every day I try to remember all the details of the culture to report them. I forgot to mention that we are living like we are in Mexico. Our toilets flush, but the paper goes in the trash. So I apologize in advance that if I put my TP in your trash upon my return to the U.S.
I'll post the rest of my videos when they finish uploading. Also if you are reading this feel free to leave a comment as a guest below.
Today I got a few pictures of some of the vehicles I have encountered here there are all the colors of the rainbow, and usually say something about Jesus.
As I read Isaiah 46 today it was very fitting for the Vodoo conversation I had last night. The commentary I read was saying how God made us and works for our good, not to harm us. A message those imeshed in Vodoo don't understand. Jesus values and loves us all no matter our sin and circumstances.
Another day at the clinic and more interesting things. There was a 3 year old boy, Wengi, that hung around the clinic all day. When we arrived he was there, no mother in site. I saw no mother all day long. I know that there is no way we would have been able to leave my nephew at home alone when he was 3 years old, but Wenji although I'm sure a trouble maker seemed very independent and mature for his age. He was also my parrakeet and I taught him a line of English. After awhile he was mimmicking everything I said. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfUXwUQNwBw We also had a set of baby twins with malaria and 2 other children. We have malaria tests for that are like pregnancy tests. Something American nurses usually don't see!
After clinic today we went to our Haitian nurse's, Sherline, and Mark Elie our Haitian translator's home. Mark Elie's mother died in the earthquake when the wall of their house fell on her. We saw the spot she was killed. He now lives in a large tent with a king sized bed and a twin bed with 8 people. Cooking is all done outside on a grill. Sherline had an actual structure for her one bedroom house, but she sleeps on a twin mattress on the floor of a tent. It's sad to see their living conditions and know they will live like this the rest of their lives, especially when relationships are built with these people. Then I stop to think, "They don't know what they are missing out on. They don't know anything else. The only reason we get sad is because we know what they are missing out on!" As I learned in Africa that they are more rich in family and relationships. Americans are more rich with materialistic possessions, and often times live much lonelier lives. Which really is the more sad way of life? They were so proud to show us their homes and where they lived. They had no shame, why should we feel shame?
Today a few of the Haitian's were wearing American clothing. I asked how they got it. One told me that their American families send them the clothes. The other had Puma shoes like mine, and said that he bought them in the market in Haiti. Who knew they'd sell such items in such a poor country.
At my base there are something like 301 Haitian workers. Samaritan's Purse gives out many different jobs: translators, doctors, nurses, drivers, guards, and cooks. It gives the opportunities to so many who were effected by the earthquake, and I love that this organization is able to do that.
Every day I try to remember all the details of the culture to report them. I forgot to mention that we are living like we are in Mexico. Our toilets flush, but the paper goes in the trash. So I apologize in advance that if I put my TP in your trash upon my return to the U.S.
I'll post the rest of my videos when they finish uploading. Also if you are reading this feel free to leave a comment as a guest below.
Monday, September 27, 2010
First Day in the Clinic
I am doing a mobile clinic here in Haiti, which means each day we will be going to a different site. Today we conducted the clinic at a church/school. I have two options, which is triage or pharmacy. In triage I take the patient's vital signs and then send them to see the doctor. In pharmacy the nurse distributes the medications the doctor has prescribed and explains how and when to take the meds. Resources are limited with what the doctor is able to do. There are a couple cots in the exam room, but the doctors ask the patients about their chief complaint and prescribe them antibiotics, vitamins, or Tylenol accordingly. Most of the people go home with Tylenol for a fever or pain. Common things seen were high blood pressure, vitamin deficiencies, pain, and worms. Thankfully no TB today, because we are not wearing masks to safe guard us. Many of the medications being distrubuted are meds not commonly used in the US anymore. They are probably meds that were donated, because they are no longer being used. After getting the medications the patient goes to see the pastor, who inturn prays with them or shares the gospel if spirit led.
The things I saw today........
There was a lady pretty much wearing a rag. Her shirt had holes and covering her barely. The people down the hill were living in tents. Making food with dirty hands that don't have the proper hygiene. They were frying food over a flame from firewood underneath the pan, cooking in oil who knows how many times it had been used. It rained twice today, and there were children walking around barefooted with mud squished between their toes because they had no shoes. I saw many children along the roadside with no pants or underwear or only underwear. I've seen dogs and a dead donkey (whole new meaning to "dead donkey")laying in the middle of the road. Donkeys and horses grazing everywhere without being tied up or fenced in. Many of the vehicles here are painted multiple colors of grafitti and in one instance a car had bling on it. Many of these vehicles I see on a daily basis seem to be Godmobiles taking people to church, because they always say something about God on them. 'Papa Nu' is the word for 'Father God' in creole! Finally my shower room is outside, when I look above my shower I see palm trees. These are just a few of the cultural and ways of life that I can think of that are different from America.
Franklin Graham also has a helicopter. The helicopter flies the doctors up into the mountains on Saturdays. It's a 2 hour drive between the 2 Samaritan's Purse bases here in Haiti, but a 14 minute flight. We would have taken it to get here, but it doesn't fly on Sundays. The helicopter flies between bases atleast once a day, and there is a high estimate on how many lives it has saved from not driving. Driving is dangerous here! I still have to somehow manuever a ride on the chopper, and it's more difficult now that I'm on the base where the helicopter is not parked. But when I do I will make an aerial video.
The Haitian doctor tonight explained what Vodoo is. I didn't have a good understanding of it before. I wasn't sure how it was different from Christianity. Vodoo came about because Catholicism was forced upon the Haitians, which they knew nothing about. Many Haitians know that Jesus doesn't accept vodoo, and don't want his name around in the midst of their practices for fear Jesus may bring harm upon them. They don't understand that Jesus is love. The will attribute death to a spirit they follow in Vodoo, because of something they did bad. These people need a lot of prayer to be released from the bondage and fear that these Vodoo spirits have over them!!!
The things I saw today........
There was a lady pretty much wearing a rag. Her shirt had holes and covering her barely. The people down the hill were living in tents. Making food with dirty hands that don't have the proper hygiene. They were frying food over a flame from firewood underneath the pan, cooking in oil who knows how many times it had been used. It rained twice today, and there were children walking around barefooted with mud squished between their toes because they had no shoes. I saw many children along the roadside with no pants or underwear or only underwear. I've seen dogs and a dead donkey (whole new meaning to "dead donkey")laying in the middle of the road. Donkeys and horses grazing everywhere without being tied up or fenced in. Many of the vehicles here are painted multiple colors of grafitti and in one instance a car had bling on it. Many of these vehicles I see on a daily basis seem to be Godmobiles taking people to church, because they always say something about God on them. 'Papa Nu' is the word for 'Father God' in creole! Finally my shower room is outside, when I look above my shower I see palm trees. These are just a few of the cultural and ways of life that I can think of that are different from America.
Franklin Graham also has a helicopter. The helicopter flies the doctors up into the mountains on Saturdays. It's a 2 hour drive between the 2 Samaritan's Purse bases here in Haiti, but a 14 minute flight. We would have taken it to get here, but it doesn't fly on Sundays. The helicopter flies between bases atleast once a day, and there is a high estimate on how many lives it has saved from not driving. Driving is dangerous here! I still have to somehow manuever a ride on the chopper, and it's more difficult now that I'm on the base where the helicopter is not parked. But when I do I will make an aerial video.
The Haitian doctor tonight explained what Vodoo is. I didn't have a good understanding of it before. I wasn't sure how it was different from Christianity. Vodoo came about because Catholicism was forced upon the Haitians, which they knew nothing about. Many Haitians know that Jesus doesn't accept vodoo, and don't want his name around in the midst of their practices for fear Jesus may bring harm upon them. They don't understand that Jesus is love. The will attribute death to a spirit they follow in Vodoo, because of something they did bad. These people need a lot of prayer to be released from the bondage and fear that these Vodoo spirits have over them!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
