The Art of Nursing and the Science of Medicine - Sue Averill

From Sue-

Last month I traveled with other nurses and doctors to Port Au Prince, Haiti with Project Medishare, working at Bernard Mevs, the only neuro-surgical and trauma facility in the region.  Project Medishare’s goal is to train Haitian doctors and nurses and to establish sustainable programs so the facility can function independently beyond the departure of expats.

Among my role as ER and Triage nurse, I was anointed “The Hysteric Whisperer." Many teenage girls and young women came to the hospital via ambulance or private vehicle presenting in catatonic states, hyperventilating or as “post-ictal seizure” patients.  We soon learned, these were anxiety/panic attacks. One teenage girl was brought, ambulance lights blazing and sirens blaring for "seizures" – but made eye contact and was purposefully moving around in the gurney - not in a post-ictal state. The doctor approached the patient and shouted, "Prepare to intubate!"

Three minutes later, I held the girl’s hands and helped her off the gurney and onto a chair.  Intubation was certainly not necessary. With an astounded look on his face, the doctor asked “How did you do that?  That was magic!”  I replied, “Want to know the magic? I put my face down close to hers, spoke very slowly, softly and quietly into her ear, and told her  'It's OK' over and over and over.  I pet her cheek, made eye contact and suddenly big crocodile tears began to slide out."

The Haitian population has several factors working against them:  the traumatic events of the 2010 earthquake - the country is still piecing itself together.  The fact that Haiti is an impoverished developing country with limited resources.  Add to that frequent sexual violence against women, family issues, loss of not only loved ones but schools and homes and churches, plus the surging hormones of teenagers, it's no wonder these young female patients frequently present with anxiety and hysteria.

A nurse’s approach is humanistic. It's thoughtful.  It involves comfort, care, touch, words and warmth. It's holistic. Nursing approaches patient care - whether in a hospital, a clinic, or a tent in Africa – from another direction than medical doctors.  Our professions are intertwined yet quite different.

It's the art of nursing versus the science of medicine.

- Sue Averill, RN

Barco's Nightingale Scholarship Winner Jo Birdsong

Barco's Nightingale's scholarship winner Jo Birdsong is a registered nurse from the west coast. She was a lucky winner of our Nightingale's scholarship and is leaving to Haiti on a mission trip with the organization Project Helping Hands.

Jo has been in nursing for 30 + years and has enjoyed every bit of it and when she's not working, she has two sons and three grandchild who keep her busy! Jo is employed by Providence Little Company of Mary of Torrance, CA. There is spent 9 years working in their emergency department and was recently promoted to a Pre-Hospital Care Coordinator (if you are curious, a Pre-Hospital Care Coordinator is involved in all radio transmissions from the hospital to the paramedics out on the 9-1-1 calls. It's basically a liaison between paramedics, EMT's, fire departments, ER Radio Nurses and LA County EMS Agency).  Jo loves her job and her work!

Jo is not a new face to humanitarian mission trips. She has some experience under her belt and has participated in a total of 4 trips, all of which were to Haiti. The organization Jo is going with sends teams of volunteers to provide medical care and health education for people in all developing nations. The teams participate in treating and educating people in cities and towns, focusing on educating the local health care providers. This way their goal of seeing the health care providers become self sufficient is a reality.

If you are wondering how you can volunteer with Project Helping Hands please click here. There is a ton of info on their website and even some fascinating videos!

Jo Birdsong will be in Haiti February 3rd 2013 with Project Helping hands. Her mission was made possible by the scholarship she received from One Nurse At A Time and the generous support of Barco's Nightingales Foundation.

More will posted on her return!

Thanks-

ONAAT

Post Birthday/Election Catch up

Ok, so I've slacked a little this week, what can I say it was my birthday on Tuesday and I was celebrating! :)

There is a lot to catch you all up on, first I have several medical missions to tell you about that came through on our email a week or so ago. It looks like they have several trips planned for 2013, so check them out and let us know if you are going - we would like to hear about your experience and/or give you an opportunity to apply for a scholarship for financial assistance.

2013 The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS) Mercy Medical Teams 

Service Opportunities as listed below:

1. Madagascar - March 14-24   Clinical Team
2. Haiti - June 7-16   Clinical Team
3. Kenya - July 11-21   Clinical Team
4. Madagascar - August 1-11   Clinical Team
5. Kyrgyzstan - September   Community Health Education Team
6. Peru - October  Community Health Education Team
7. Kenya - November 7-17   Clinical Team

LCMS Mercy Medical Teams are currently accepting applications for medical professionals and hard working non-medical professionals to provide voluntary service in a short-term, primary care, clinical setting. These traveling, temporary, off-site rural clinics will bring desperately needed healthcare to some of the most under-served rural areas around the glove.

LCMS is looking for dedicated medical professionals including physicians, NP's, PA's, RN's, pharmacists and hard-working laity.

Ground expenses are estimated at: $1250-$1500 (for all inclusive food, lodging, ground transportation, and additional clinical supplies and meds) plus airfare. (Don't have funding now? Contact us for a flexible payment options and fund development strategies and tools for raising support!)



If you have any questions about these trips, or other opportunities, visit: LCMS Mercy Teams or feel free to call:

Jacob Fiene
Manager, Health and Medical Projects
LCMS Mercy Medical Teams
800-248-1930 ext. 1278
jacob.fiene@lcms.org
www.lcms.org/mercyteams

I Will Always Go Back to Haiti, a Piece of My Heart is There

“This was my fourth trip to Haiti, and it is always such a culture shock when I come home. When you first get there, it all seems so different, but by about the third day it just becomes your reality. Before you know it, it's almost time to go home and that is so bittersweet. I am usually so ready to go home and see my family, but so sad about leaving Haiti. It's kind of like there are two of me..the me who is wife, mom, grandma, daughter, sister and the me who goes to Haiti.

I was part of a really great group of people, most of whom I had not met before. We had 2 surgeons, a pediatrician, 2 family practice doctors, 4 nurses and two non medical folks. We went to Hopital Sacre Coeur in Milot, which is run by the Crudem organization. It is the main hospital for that area, and the main focus of Crudem is to help transition the hospital to eventually be all Haitian run, but improve standards of care and services that can be offered. It was a difficult week in many ways. We are supposed to work with the Haitian staff, being careful not to step on any toes or try to take over, but to help improve their knowledge and abilities. Very difficult, almost impossible sometimes. Many were not receptive, some were resentful, and there is such a cultural and language barrier. I ended up doing mostly wound care, which is something the nurses were happy to let us do for them. There seem to be many severe burns, so there were many complex and painful dressings to be done. That was quite a challenge, too, because the routine is to do dressing changes every 2 days, nothing like what we do at home. We had to just do what we were asked. The patients were all really glad to have us care for them, many were very particular about technique. Several patients were used to wounds packed with honey soaked gauze, not normal saline as we would use at home. They were also very particular about how much gauze was used, and how leg/foot wounds were wrapped. That part was actually very rewarding. I had one patient whose leg wound was very extensive and painful, requiring much soaking just to remove the old bandages. He would gesture and talk very rapidly, frowning the whole time, so I was sure he was very unhappy with me. When I was finally able to get a translator to work with me, it turned out he was so happy with my work, said his wound felt so much better after I was finished and he was finally able to sleep. I would never have guessed that from the way he was acting.There is your cultural difference again.

 There was one instance in which a tiny baby died, as we were holding her actually, She had been very ill and was not expected to survive. Several of us took turns holding her so she wouldn't die alone, because we weren't sure where her mama was. When she died, we could hear her mama outside shrieking and screaming, but she never came inside. We just didn't understand, but in the Haitian culture that's not what they do. Apparently they don't want to see the  person who has died, but go through very loud public mourning. Another cultural difference to learn. I had seen that on other trips, but never really figured it out until then.

 There was a very sick girl I cared for as an ICU patient one of the days. She had previously had an appendectomy, but had apparently developed an abscess and was getting sicker every day. Our surgeons operated on her along with her Haitian surgeon, and we cared for her afterwards. We were all really pessimistic about her chances for recovery, but she was better before we left, and our team was recently able to find out that she has been recovering well.

 One afternoon a group of us went to visit what we were told was an orphanage, but was actually a children’s home run by a church based group from the US. Their goal is to promote prenatal nutrition and try to keep babies with their families. They also facilitate adoptions of children who are truly orphans. It was an amazing place, and very inspiring. Definitely a high point of the trip. It is called Children of the Promise.

  Our last day we thought we were all done, but late in the afternoon there was a car accident with multiple injuries and we all went back to work to triage patients. That was actually one of the more fulfilling parts of the week for me, because it was just hands on care, doing what needed to be done.

  Overall, it was a good week. It is always a mixed bag for me. I will always go back to Haiti, a piece of my heart  is there. I am very grateful to One Nurse at a Time for the financial contribution, and also for the positive  reinforcement you gave me. I had so many supportive and encouraging emails from you all, and it really meant a lot to me.”


-Jeanie Fry, RN


Jeanie Fry has been a registered nurse for 28 years, working at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St Louis, Missouri. She is a 1984 diploma graduate of The Jewish Hospital of St Louis School of Nursing. She is married with 3 children and 4 grandchildren. Jeanie has always had an interest in mission work, but never had the opportunity to pursue it. When the 2010 earthquake struck in Haiti, she immediately began trying to find a way to go there to help. Jeanie worked with Project Medishare for Haiti at a tent field hospital at the airport in Port Au Prince March 2010 and then again in June 2010. She returned in February 2011 for a week at Bernard Mevs Hospital in Port Au Prince, which is run by Project Medishare. In Jeanie's own words, "I feel committed to Haiti for the long haul now".  

The Nine Days I Spent in Haiti Changed My Life!

Beth Langlais, RN traveled with Christian Medical and Dental Association to Haiti March 17 - 25, 2012.  Here is her story: 


"The nine days I spent in Haiti completely changed my life. I went with a team of general physicians, dentists, a pediatrician, chiropractor, physical therapist, pharmacist, and opthalmologist.  In total, there were 34 volunteers. We also partnered with a local Haitian physician and dentist. We set up clinics in a school and church in St. Marc. I worked primarily in triage, routing patients to the proper medical personnel for treatment. I also learned a few Creole phrases by the end of the week.  Over a period of five days, we treated over 1,500 patients. We primarily treated women, children, and the elderly. I saw a lot of skin infections, wound infections, high blood pressure, uncontrolled diabetes, malnutrition in children, gastro-intestinal issues, and blindness. We also treated several patients with active TB.

I most enjoyed working in triage. It was extremely stressful and exhausting, but it was where I had the most contact with the Haitian people. I learned the Haitian people are very kind and that they desperately need access to adequate medical services. I work in labor and delivery in Seattle and in Haiti, I had to use nursing skills that I had not performed in seven years (since I graduated nursing school). The trip really opened my eyes to the grim reality of healthcare services in the developing world. The conditions Haitians live in are appalling. Most people had no access to running water and proper sanitation. Garbage and rubble overflow in the streets. Many of the patients we treated were living in tents or crudely manufactured shanty homes and walked miles to the clinic. Most people were very nice and appreciative of the care we provided, even though they often had to wait in line for several hours to be treated and we weren’t always able to provide the services they wanted.

The hardest part was when we had to turn people away that needed treatment. We were forced to close early two days because the crowd outside they clinic rioted and tried to break down the door. We also saw patients who needed care that was beyond our capabilities, such as severe gangrene and advanced cancer. It was incredibly difficult to deal with not being able to treat them effectively and to provide the advanced care they needed. It broke my heart. I worked with one three-year old boy who had a severe eye infection. His eyes were extremely swollen and full of pus. We were unable to lay him down flat to examine him fully, because the pressure in his head was too great. The Haitian people had pushed him to the front of the line so that he could be treated first. We were able to give his mother antibiotic eye drops, but he most likely needed surgery to have both eyes removed. We provided his mother with money and transportation to Port-au-Prince so that he could be treated properly. I will never forget his face or the sound of his cries.

This medical mission truly impacted my life. I loved the time I spent in Haiti and working with the Haitian people. I can’t wait to go back and do more work there. The trip confirmed my desire to work in international nursing. I plan to participate in several trips a year from this point on in my life. I would never have been able to experience this trip if I had not received the scholarship from One Nurse At a Time. I am so grateful and thankful for the opportunity I had to travel to Haiti."

Beth Langlais, RN

Bethany Langlais is a Registered Nurse with a Bachelor’s degree in nursing from Seattle Pacific University. She has been working in labor and delivery for seven years. This June, Beth will complete her Master of Nursing degree, with an emphasis on global health, from the University of Washington, Bothell. She plans to work in the field of global health and pursue her desire to help improve the health of women and children worldwide. Bethany has volunteered on medical trips to New York and Costa Rica while in nursing school, but Haiti was her first international trip as an RN. She is active locally and has volunteered in her community working with local youth as a mentor and healthy living coach. Bethany's passions include the outdoors, running, travel, and caring for pregnant women.

"Committed to Haiti for the Long Haul"

Jeanie Fry, RN will be traveling to Hospital Sacre in Milo, Haiti for one week. She will be part of surgical team volunteering with the organization CRUDEM. This will be Jeanie's fourth trip to Haiti since the devastating 2010 earthquake. Jeanie feels a strong attachment to Haiti and it's people stating, "I know I can't change things on a large scale, but I feel it's important to do what I can to help individuals. I feel very strongly that we all need to take the extra step, go out of our own comfort zones and help others".




Jeanie Fry has been a registered nurse for 28 years, working at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St Louis, Missouri. She is a 1984 diploma graduate of The Jewish Hospital of St Louis School of Nursing. She is married with 3 children and 4 grandchildren. Jeanie has always had an interest in mission work, but never had the opportunity to pursue it. When the 2010 earthquake struck in Haiti, she immediately began trying to find a way to go there to help. Jeanie worked with Project Medishare for Haiti at a tent field hospital at the airport in Port Au Prince March 2010 and then again in June 2010. She returned in February 2011 for a week at Bernard Mevs Hospital in Port Au Prince, which is run by Project Medishare. In Jeanie's own words, "I feel committed to Haiti for the long haul now".  

2 ONAAT Scholarship Nurses Leave for Haiti and Honduras this Saturday!

Beth Langlais, MN, RN is traveling to Haiti with the organization Christian Medical Dental Association March 17 - 25. 
"I will be working with a team of 20-30 medical professionals in a free medical clinic set up at a school for 6 days. We will be providing medical, dental, physical therapy, medications, etc. to the Haitian people. I am very excited and nervous about this trip. It is my first real medical mission as a licensed, experienced nurse. I did spend ten weeks living in Costa Rica during nursing school, providing medical care the the people there. It was the best experience of my life.  While getting my Master's degree, I have learned a lot about the injustice, suffering, and lack of adequate medical care globally. I have become very passionate about these issues and want to do everything I can to change them. I am especially interested in improving the health of women and infants because this is my clinical area here. I can't wait to go into the field and give all I can to the Haitian people."

Robin Phillips, RN is traveling with the organization Friends of Barnabas to Plena Blanca, Honduras March 17-25.  
"I have the privilege of joining a Mountain Medical Mission Team to Honduras sponsored by the Friends of Barnabas Foundation (FOBF). As a team we will travel to selected villages to provide care. The village is notified in advance of the date, time, and services that will be offered. Our team is comprised of nurses, nursing students, oral surgeon, translators, and non-medical volunteers. We will set up stations to provide preventative and primary care.  Stations include anti-parasite, vitamin A, general medical, eye, dental and prayer.  This is my first medical mission trip. I graduated from nursing school in 2009 and entered into my second career. My desire to become a trained healthcare professional was a response to a very specific calling. I have longed to serve in this field as a trained professional, providing expert and compassionate care. My expectation is to serve the people of Honduras in addition to my team with a loving and tender heart. I am grateful that I have been prepared for this moment."

The members of One Nurse At A Time would like to send thoughts and prayers their way for safe travels.  We look forward to sharing their stories when they return home!

The Most Innocent of All - The Babies!

“Learning about how difficult it is to get the most basic things in life such as food, a secure shelter, and basic healthcare was difficult and humbling to accept,” reflected Nneka Matlock, RN about her recent trip to Haiti.  Nneka traveled with the non profit group Hands Up for Haiti this past January.  Haiti is the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere.  According to Northwest Haiti Christian Mission, “Roughly half of all Haitians live in absolute poverty (earning less than $1 a day) and have no access to clean water”.  In the recent publication of the Global Health Observatory Data Repository by the World Health Organization, of every thousand children born in Haiti, 70 die before reaching the age of 1.  Nneka’s group was determined to make a difference in this statistic.

The January Hands Up for Haiti’s mission trip to Cap Haitien, Haiti was primarily a pediatric and neonatal focused mission trip. In total, they rendered health care services to 139 babies, children, and adults and an additional 26 orphans.  They taught “Helping Babies Breathe”, a course that emphasizes skilled attendance at birth, assessment of every baby, temperature support, stimulation to breathe, and assisted ventilation as needed, all within "The Golden Minute" after birth. Approximately twenty-seven traditional birth attendants, nurses, doctors, and community members attended the class.  The Hands Up for Haiti group was also able to provide a Newborn Assessment and S.T.A.B.L.E. lecture for six nurses who will be working in a newly developed neonatal unit.    The acronym stands for the things health care providers need to check to stabilize a neonate after birth: Sugar, Temperature, Airway, Blood pressure, Labs, and Emotional support to families.  On the trip, the team also set-up a mother and baby unit, labor and delivery unit, and neonatal care unit for an expanding Christian charity hospital that will be providing free and paid health care services to the community.

One of the most memorable moments for Nneka occured when the team had a little downtime before dinner. “There were mountains upon mountains just behind the compound where we stayed. Some of the volunteers and our Haitian translators would hike up those mountains in the evening time. One evening, a group of us walked up the mountains. We passed local houses with people cooking and doing their hair outside.  Little kids followed us as we walked pass and started up the mountains behind the houses. The higher we walked, looking down we could see other mountains around us, the clouds were so close to our heads. And we finally made it to the top. There someone had made a shelter of wooden frames and a tin roof only- no walls. Under this shelter, on top of the mountain was an exhilarating and memorable moment. On the top of this mountain, we all gathered in a circle holding hands, prayed together for our work in Haiti to benefit many people, and sang songs of praises. It was a moment in which all cultural differences were set aside and we all became one!”

Nneka Matlock, RN has a Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations and a Masters degree in Nursing from the University of Maryland at Baltimore 's Clinical Nurse Leader program. Her motivation for becoming a nurse stemmed from her experience as a health volunteer in the Peace Corps in Ghana , West Africa . While there, she worked with an organization that helped malnourished children, mothers, and lactating/pregnant women; a support group for people living with HIV/AIDS; and an orphanage. Her work included an array of health education, home health visits, and grant/proposal writing for income-generating projects. The Peace Corps experience has been an invaluable learning tool and motivation in her life.

Nneka is currently a NICU nurse at Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring , MD where she has the chance to help the tiniest, most precious gifts- the babies! When she's not working, she enjoys traveling, reading, foreign films, learning about other cultures, and the outdoors.

Welcome Back Nneka!

One Nurse At A Time would like to welcome home Nneka Matlock, the first 2012 scholarship nurse, from her medical mission to Haiti!  Nneka traveled with Hands Up For Haiti providing direct medical care for pediatric patients as well as neonatal training and education to doctors, nurses, and traditional birth attendants on neonatal assessment, resuscitation, and care. She also planned to do an assessment of the existing nursery at the teaching hospital in an effort to fill in the gaps with education and equipment.

Nneka has a Bachelor’s in Public Relations and a second degree Masters in Nursing from the University of Maryland at Baltimore 's Clinical Nurse Leader program. Her motivation for becoming a nurse stemmed from her experience as a health volunteer in the Peace Corps in Ghana , West Africa . While there, she worked with an organization that helped malnourished children, mothers, and lactating/pregnant women; a support group for people living with HIV/AIDS; and an orphanage. Her work included an array of health education, home health visits, and grant/proposal writing for income-generating projects. The Peace Corps experience has been an invaluable learning tool and motivation in her life.

She is currently a NICU nurse at Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring , Maryland where she gets the chance to help the tiniest, most precious gifts- the babies! When she's not working, she enjoys traveling, reading, foreign films, learning about other cultures, and the outdoors.

Stay tuned to see photos and hear the details of her trip!