Costa Rica

While in Costa Rica, I worked at a clinic with one other nurse and one to two doctors. Daily we would see anywhere from 25-30 patients.

What I enjoyed the most on this trip was working with girls from a ministry called Refugio. This ministry is in a slum called La Carpio where 99% of the women are raped or sexually assaulted by the age of six. While there I was able to listen to, pray with, and get to know these girls. Being able to support and show love to such a hurt group of girls was a blessing to me.

What I enjoyed the least was hearing the stories of La Carpio such as the babies sleep in sugar sacks that are hung from the ceiling so that the rats don’t eat them. I just can’t imagine having to live that way. It was very hard to hear such a thing be true.

The cultural differences I observed were the happiness in Costa Rica. The happiness that this culture had was so contagious. These people are people who have essentially nothing and are happy with what they have. In the Costa Rican culture it is customary for families to always be together and eat every meal together. I enjoyed this aspect because it made every day more fun and exciting.

A memorable moment to me is when the girls from the refuge and I had a mud fight. These girls have to grow up so fast and their childhood is stolen from them and being able to play with them took away all of their worries for the time being. One of the girls gave me a coffee mug with our picture on it afterwards. I know that it was a sacrifice for her because they barely have enough money to live off of. Another memorable moment was teaching a fifteen year old how to add and subtract. This particular boy never had the opportunity to go to school so he attends a tutoring program in La Carpio ran by Christ for the City International. Seeing him progress and actually understand the math was very exciting for me.

While on this trip, I translated for an American doctor and was able to better my Spanish medical terminology. I enjoyed working with Dr. Elizabeth because I was able to observe the different treatments for the diseases that I’m not used to seeing in Illinois. Since the clinic in La Carpio is operated mostly from donations, many times we had to work with what we had and be creative with our supplies. I learned to adapt to a new environment and be ready for any situation that would come through the front door.

I would just like to thank ONAAT for the scholarship I received. I was able to change the lives of many people in the one month that I spent there. I hope to return to Costa Rica whenever God provides. 

By: Ashley Basurto

 

Baby hats for Nurses for Edna

Lynn Calkins has been an Ob-Gyn Nurse Practitioner since 1992. Early last November, as she was mentally preparing for her second medical mission to Fiji, she began to consider what her next mission might be down the road. She’d had been looking at going to Africa for some time, first inspired when she read the book, Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese.

She emailed One Nurse At A Time to inquire if we were involved in any medical missions in Africa. Sue Averill, President, replied immediately explaining that we do not really go on missions, rather they try to support those who are doing so. Sue suggested a medical mission to Edna Adan's Maternity Hospital in Hargeisa, Somaliland.

Having read Half the Sky and watched the two-part movie on public television, Lynn was familiar with  Edna's hospital and her personal mission to train 1000 nurse-midwives to disperse all over Somaliland to provide prenatal care, safe births, and teach appropriate newborn care in order to decrease the horribly high maternal-infant mortality rate. She went to Edna's website and learned more. She also immersed herself in Somaliland history, culture, healthcare via the library and internet.

At about the same time, several nurses from different parts of the United States and Canada contacted Sue wanting to volunteer internationally in women’s health. Sue connected these nurses via group meetings for the ones living in the Seattle area and later a Goggle chat that included the entire group. Soon, for before you could say, "Somaliland," we had an enthusiastic, energetic group of nurses looking forward to going to Hargeisa to volunteer, teach, mentor, support, learn in Edna's program. The team, Nurses for Edna was born.

“It has taken on a life of its own, with the terrific enthusiasm and support of Sue Averill and from One Nurse,” Lynn says, ‘That's my story, and I am exceedingly joyous that one little email has lead to this exciting adventure of generosity and caring. If Nurses for Edna can decrease the maternal-infant mortality rate by even one percentage point, it will have made it all worthwhile. And, from my previous mission experience, I know the nurses will receive far more than they give, even though they will be working very, very hard under arduous conditions.”

As it turned out, due to personal reasons, Lynn Calkins is not able to participate in the first Nurses for Edna medical mission in August 2013. She is, however, very much a member of the Nurses for Edna team and she actively supports the team as they prepare, gather equipment, and supplies for the mission. Most recently, Lynn led the women of the San Dieguito United Methodist Church of Encinitas, CA to knit 400 hats and blankets for the babies being born at Edna Adan’s Maternity Hospital! The Nurses for Edna medical mission team will deliver them in August.

One Nurse At A Time and the nurses of the Nurses for Edna want to give a huge THANK YOU to each of the knitters. One knitter at a time, one nurse at a time we are changing the world.

Tanzania with Missions for Humanity, Wendy Libowitz, RN, MS, CPNP-PC

Wendy Libowitz has been a registered nurse since 1995 and a pediatric nurse practitioner since 1998.  Nursing is a second career for Wendy.  She worked with adolescents in a community program management capacity before becoming a nurse.  Wendy’s work experience has included acute care, home health, and school nursing.  She currently works in a nursing consultation capacity for a private company.  She has volunteered as a nurse in Honduras and Tanzania.  She also volunteers for several organizations within her community.
Wendy holds a BA in Judaic Studies, BS in Nursing, and MS in Nursing all from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.  She is interested in pursuing a Master of Public Health degree next and aspires to move more into a public health nursing role in the future.
Wendy’s other passions include her family and pets, outdoor activities, and travel.
Today, thanks to generous donations from Barco's Nightingales, Wendy left for a 2 week medical mission trip to Tanzania with Missions for Humanity.  We can't wait to hear all about it when she returns.

Nurses for Edna - Emily Scott

One Nurse At A time and Nurses for Edna welcomes our newest volunteer nurse: Emily Scott, RN, BSN, PCCN. Emily became aware of the Nurses for Edna team on Facebook and knew immediately she wanted to become involved.  For now she is volunteering by helping to complete the “Wish List” of equipment and supplies Edna Adan has requested for the hospital in Hargeisia, and she hopes to be able to participate in a future Nurses for Edna medical mission.

Emily was born and raised in Seattle, Washington. She spent four years in sunny Southern California earning her Bachelor’s degree in Peace Studies from Chapman University. While spending one summer serving at a clinic in the slums of Nairobi, Kenya, she met a group of volunteer nurses and immediately realized her calling. She finished her degree and returned to Seattle to pursue nursing, hoping to combine the two fields to affect positive change in neglected areas of the world.

Since that experience in Kenya stole her heart, Emily has returned to volunteer in Africa four more 

times. While in nursing school, she organized a service trip to Kibera, the largest slum in Africa, with her fellow students. After she gained a couple of years of hospital work experience at home, Emily and her husband quit their jobs and left for East Africa to volunteer and adventure as long as their savings would hold out. She spent four months working at a maternity hospital in Tanzania, delivering babies without electricity, running water, or doctors. Since returning to Seattle in early 2013, she has been working as a labor and delivery nurse at Providence Medical Center.” I am very passionate about maternal health and, like many others, I was deeply inspired by Edna Adan after reading her story in Half the Sky, “said Emily. “I have taken 5 trips to volunteer in East Africa over the last several years, most recently spending four months at a maternity clinic in Arusha, Tanzania. It would be a dream come true for me to volunteer at Edna's hospital, but for now I want to do anything I can to support the team going in August.”

Everyone at One Nurse At A Time, especially the Nurses for Edna team wishes to extend a hearty welcome to Emily Scott. Working together we are changing the world….one nurse at a time.

First mission to Ecuador

As soon as my passport came in the mail... I couldn't wait to get on that plane!!   I will be forever grateful to the generosity of One Nurse At A Time, for helping to support my desire to give back to others and to provide medical care in a country that is in need of help.
   Shortly after arriving at the airport in Baltimore, I knew this was going to be quite an adventure.  I was the 'newbie' among the seasoned veterans..There were surgeons, nurses, anesthesiologists, dentists and many other invaluable volunteers coming together for this medical mission to  Ecuador.  I had a lot to learn, but definitely felt up to the challenge! I was immediately accepted as one of their  own.
  As we arrived in Ecuador,  i still wasn't sure what to expect. Thank goodness I had my good friend, Deb Skovran with me, to show me the ropes...
  My job is in the Neonatal intensive care  unit at the university of Maryland medical center in Baltimore. However, my role on this mission was that of a PACU nurse!  We traveled with Ecuadent, a non profit out of Baltimore that treats over 2,000 children each year.
   43 surgical patients  came through the PACU doors in that Hospital in Salinas Ecuador... Ages ranging from 4 months to over 40 years old... cleft palate/fistula repairs, many patients with polydactyly/syndactyly, among many other surgeries ..
I realized that not only did we help the children through these surgeries,  we made a difference in the lives of the entire family. The gratitude from the parents  and patients alike, crossed all cultural and language barriers..
  One nurse At a Time made it possible for me to be a part of this incredible journey, I am very much looking forward to the next mission.
 ..before I went on this mission, a friend told me that this trip would change my life. That friend was right :)

Excellent article- "Medical Missions - Nursing for a Cause"

Last month Sue was featured on the web based site "Health Callings, Jobs that Matter". Linda Childers wrote up a quick little article about Sue's first start into the medical mission world and why she and Stacie started One Nurse At A Time. 

Some of the best lines out of the interview are from Sue's version of how volunteering adds to your resume...read on:

“Serving on a medical mission will make you a more well-rounded nurse,” Averill says. “You care for many patients who have never received formal medical care and may have walked for days to receive treatment. They are all so grateful for the services provided to them."

“Serving on a medical mission offers nurses a life-changing and career-changing experience,” Averill says. “You’re working in an environment where you have to problem solve and think quickly on your feet.”

Today Sue is off in Guatemala with our first Jo's Nurses Mission. These nurses are taking full advantage of Sue's medical knowledge as a 20+ year nurse and as an experienced volunteer nurse. When they return, we hope to share their experiences with you. 

Best lines from the article by far:

Once nurses serve on a medical mission, Averill says they are typically hooked.

“I think we often forget how much teaching we do in our daily nursing jobs and how much we truly have to share with others,” she says. “On a medical mission, you are able to share your talents and skills with patients in need as well as with colleagues from all over the world. You not only change the lives of many patients and their families; you will be changed as well.”

If you would like to read the full article- please click HERE

As always, thanks!

ONAAT

Jo's Nurses

Jo’s Nurses is a medical mission for current, active nurses who have never volunteered abroad but want to begin to incorporate volunteering into their careers. A small group of nurses (6-8) will travel with One Nurse staff to rural Honduras, where they will work alongside local nurses in various areas of a hospital as well as in rural clinics. One Nurse will provide pre-trip orientation and training so nurses are comfortable and informed.

When: November 5-11, 2012
Where: Rural Honduras
Cost: One Nurse will cover all trip costs except airfare
Application: Use the application on this site and note on your form it is for Jo’s Nurses. There is no application fee for Jo’s Nurses. All applications are due by September 15, 2012. We will let you know by September 30 if you are chosen for the mission.

Requirements:

• Current, active nurses (LPN, RN, ARNP)
• Must be Spanish speaking (translators will not be available)
• Attend 2-3 pre-trip meetings and information sessions (we are working on obtaining CEs for this)
• Nurse to provide airfare round trip Seattle to Tegucigalpa (approx $500)
• Be prepared to share educational opportunities with your local counterparts in Honduras — presentations and while working alongside
• Nurse to update any necessary immunizations and medications
• Nurse must have a valid passport
• Nurse commits to at least one international mission or local volunteer work in 2013
• Preference will be given to Swedish Medical Center employees
• All education levels and areas of expertise are welcome to apply
• Nurses will present their experience as a group to Swedish Nursing Grand Rounds in January 2013.

Jo’s Nurses is named after Marilyn Jo Schuyler, an early supporter of One Nurse at a Time, who set up a memorial fund to assist nurses who have never been on a mission before. She hoped the experience would ignite a passion for volunteering.

ONE NURSE AT A TIME Scholarship Nurse Leaves for Belize

One Nurse At A Time sends a warm send-off to our  11th scholarship nurse for 2011, Carolyn Zook, BSN, PNP. While traveling in Central America last year, Carolyn was deeply moved by the level of poverty. She felt a strong connection to the people, especially the children, and decided she wanted to go on a medical mission to Central America. She left on July 22, 2011 to serve with the non-profit , "International Servants" in the Stann Creek region of southern Belize.

Carolyn has worked in Child Neurology at the University of North Carolina for eight years. She previously worked as a PNP in primary care for six years at Duke University.  She serves as a preceptor and lecturer for the University of North Carolina and Duke University Nursing programs, and is a speaker for PESI Healthcare, a national organization that provides continuing education for nurses.  Carolyn worked for several years in cities with large Hispanic populations where she learned to appreciate their compassion and love for their families.  She continues to work with a large Hispanic population in North Carolina.  Carolyn has also volunteered at a local homeless shelter and a shelter for women who are victims of domestic violence. She lives in Durham, North Carolina with her fiancé and 2 cats. Carolyn loves all outdoor activities, especially gardening and hiking.   

Everyone at ONAAT wishes her a safe and satisfying journey and looks forward to hearing all about her medical mission when she returns.