We’re down to 2 patients on Ward 8, our post op ward. Ward 9 is functioning as a same day surgery floor but after they patients are gone, we’ll secure it. Overall we saw some great surgeries but really weren’t that busy. Kind of scary. Cambodia should be twice as busy with half as many translators. Great!
The language barrier has been huge. It’s hard to explain to a mom why she cannot feed her crying baby. Or why a parent cannot share their meal with their kiddo postop. Also some of the procedures and effects scare the families. How do you explain the swelling is normal and the pt will feel their lips after its gone down? It’s just hard sometimes. But overall it’s awesome. Everyone seems so thankful and joyful. They have been very sweet and gracious to us as their nurses. Most go out of their way to say thank you before they leave and are affectionate.
SIDE NOTE: Mail Call on JUNE 13TH!!!! J YAY!!! Finally!!! Cannot wait to see if my packages show up .
Internet is up and down…sometimes it’s us, sometimes it’s San Diego or Hawaii’s connection (or whoever we’re going off of). It’s hard to call back home because the timing is off during the day and I work every day so by the time I’m off I’m exhausted. Hopefully nights will be better timing and slower so I’ll have the chance to talk. Lucky me, I get to see Aaron in 20days!! He’s coming to Singapore to meet me there for my liberty. We’ve reserved a hotel with a spa and poolside bar. J Can’t wait! It’ll be a nice break after Cambodia.
There are several MEDCAPs in Cambodia that are very remote so they will be overnighters. I know of a 10day, 7 day and several 3 day overnight MEDCAPs. I’m hoping to go on at least 1.
My MEDCAP experience in Vietnam was interesting. They had it set up in on a school campus. Everyone waited in the courtyard area and were called by the Ministry of Health. They were then let into our patient administration area to determine what provider they would see. Options were Optometry, Dental, Medicine (Adult) or Peds. My job as a nurse wasn’t well defined since I’m unable to diagnosis and the corpsmen were assigned tasks such as vitals, I didn’t see patients but directed traffic. Really I ended up running a vital signs clinic with 4 of my corpsmen, 2 med students and a bunch of Japanese nurse volunteers. We saw all kinds of patients…monks, policemen, old men, old women, children, blind, injured...all with their hats and dressed in what sometimes looked like pajamas.
To be continued on my upcoming night shifts…
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