After three days working here at St.
Luc ER I finally feel like I have settled into a routine. The first day was both exhausting and overwhelming. I was asked to take on a management position with the nursing staff as well as present a series of lectures for nurses. I feel very honored to have the privilege of working with my fellow nurses as well as sharing my knowledge with them. I also feel a tremendous amount of pressure to give them so much information in such a short amount of time. Yesterday I gave a lecture on triage and emergency nursing assessment of patients. I am so grateful for my translator Jean, for none of this would be possible! I am currently working on the next lecture which will cover hypertension and stroke, as well as
ACLS protocol with the hopes of running a mock code next week.
One of the most frustrating things so far about working in Haiti is the lack of resources. As a health care provider nothing is more difficult to deal with then having a patient who is sick and suffering and you are unable to provide proper treatment for that patient. It is heartbreaking to have to stand back and not be able to do anything. I have learned that I must focus on the things that can be done and not the things that cannot. Often the simplest task becomes complex when you have to take time to stop and figure out how to adapt your care related to the resources that are available.
Everyday presents a new challenge, and I feel very grateful for the opportunity to be here in Haiti, and hopeful that the work I do will impact the lives of many.
Thank you for sharing your experience! I cannot begin to understand what it must be like to work in such an environment where there is so much need and so little resources to do your job. You are all saints for what you are doing. My prayers and thoughts are with all of you for the work you are doing, and the knowledge you are sharing.
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