This week has been so tiring! The good kind of tired, though. Early Monday morning, eight of us traveled an hour south to the Zimba Mission Hospital to observe and get some hands on experience for two days. The first day, I was in the men and women's medical ward. I gave meds and injections and took vitals. Best thing of the day, though, was one of my patients showing me his gangrene foot. It was not bandaged or covered and the flies were all over it. The smell was overpowering and his last two toes were shriveled and black. I could see his tendons and bones. Sadly, he would not let the surgeons amputate. He was under the impression that he could put medicine on it and it would be healed.
The second day was my favorite. I was in the theatre (which is what they call the OR) with my partner, Estie. The surgical nurse asked what we wanted to do while in the OR and we said we thought we were observing. She asked if we'd ever been a part of surgery and I said no, but that I would try anything if she just told me how to do it. Then she asked if I would like to scrub in. Of course I said yes! I got on my gown, cap, mask, and gloves and waited for everyone to be ready. The patient, a four-year-old boy, was brought in and laid on the table. He was so brave. They inserted his IV and prepped him before giving him anesthesia. The doctor scrubbed in, but the nurse was not scrubbed in yet. I asked why and she said "Today, you are the nurse!" I got to hand him tools, cut sutures, and hold the incision open!
Thursday and Friday, we stayed at The Salvation Army Hospital in Chikankata, which is about four hours north. There is a hospital, a nursing school, and high school, and a biomedical college all in one compound. I was able to sit in on a mental health class with the nursing students and spent an hour or so talking with them about their schooling and how it compares to our program. Today I was in the children's ward and the maternity ward. Most of the kids I saw had been admitted a few days ago and were feeling better, but one little baby boy broke my heart. He was the most malnourished child I've seen since being here. If he makes it, I would be very surprised. He was literally skin and bones and did not even have the energy to let out a cry or hold up his head. The doctors had put in a feeding tube, but the mother made them take it out 30 minutes later because she did not like seeing the baby in discomfort with a tube up his nose.
I cannot imagine the pain of watching your child slowly dying in such a way.
The rain on Saturday and Sunday brought some nice, cool weather, but the heat has come back with a vengeance! I love being here and have been learning so much, but this week was the toughest with missing family and friends. I'll be so happy to get back to seeing you all!
The hospital ambulance. Seriously.
In the back of the ambulance
Audrisco, one of the Guesthouse cooks, on the BBQ
you are a true nurse if you thought the gangrene foot was the coolist. Way to go for being in the OR by your self. Does the ambulance have red lights? We miss you and are glad you are loving it and learning alot.
ReplyDeleteLiz