First Day of Work!

Today was my first day of work! It was a good day, although I don't know that I can get used to waking up early. My shift started at 7am. Breakfast during the week is served from 6:30 to 7:30am. I grabbed breakfast at about 6:40 and then went to the ward at 6:55. Its so cool having everything so close to the hospital. No transit time needed. :) Once, arriving the ward, the night nurses and day nurses mingle and we have a time of prayer, thanking the Lord for the night, for the patients, and for each other and then praying for the health and healing of the patients and for our hands, hearts and minds to be prepared and ready to be used for the Lord's work. It was such a nice way to start the day. Then we go bed to bed with the night nurse to our assigned patients to receive report.  I guess some would say it is "old fashioned" but I loved it. The patients are then involved and know what is going on too.

I then reviewed the charts and orders and checked the meds that would be given for the shift. I had two patients who were going to go to the OR. Each patient prior to going to the OR has to get a bath with a Chlorhexidine wash. I am working on a general surgery ward right now. The general surgeon is only here for another week or so ( I don't know if I've said that already), and then after he leaves I'm assuming the ward will become the ward for whatever surgeon comes next. Most of the patients have inguinal hernias or hydroceles which are much larger than anything seen in the states. I was speaking with the surgeon today (who lives in Washington state) and he was saying how he's never seen hydroceles so large. They had one in which they drained 3L of fluid. Crazy! (I know this means nothing to a lot of you, but that's alot of fluid).

When a patient goes to the OR, we (the nurse) walks them to the OR and then does a handoff with the OR nurse, where we state the surgery and have the patient confirm the surgery and side of the operation. We then all pray with the patient, and then the patient goes into the OR.

On the wards, there are day "volunteers", which are people from Sierra Leone who are paid to help out on the ship. They are our interpreters, our meal staff, housekeepers and also help with some patient care, such as toileting. They are an amazing asset to the team. They also work with our patient life coordinators who come onto the wards and sing and play music and dance with the patients. It is soo cool to sing and dance with the patients in the hospital!! The patients love it. I had to place an IV in a patient and it put her at ease to be singing worship songs and enjoying the music right after it was done. LOVE LOVE LOVE that part of the hospital.

All the documentation is on paper- something I am not used to. I don't remember ever documenting on paper. I can't say I like it. I have to flip through so many pages to find what I need. Once the surgeons rounded, all the MD orders has to get transcribed onto nursing pages- medications, dressing changes, postop orders etc.

At the end of day shift, the second shift comes at 2pm and day shift leaves at 3:30pm, we take the patients who are able to the 7th deck, port side to be outside and enjoy the view of the water. A large number of patients enjoy this, as its a way to get out of the same surroundings. Many of the patients have been with us for a while, especially the plastics and maxillofacial patients, and need the change of scenery every now and then. So that's how I spent the end of my shift.

I also had a patient whose course of stay, s/p thyroidectomy, was complicated by newly diagnosed malaria. She was spiking fevers all day. Its sad to see how malaria affect the body. I realized I don't know much about the clinical manifestations, course or treatment of malaria so that was my homework today.

This evening, we had our new crew orientation where we went over all the ship policies and departments. The crew nurse spoke and informed us that malaria is around and we've had some crew infected with it. It is thus very very important to be taking my antimalarial medications. Its an awful disease! The other thing I learned was that our blood bank is the crew! When blood is needed, they pull from the crew to provide the blood. Very cool!

Anyways, that was today. My computer did get set up so I will load my pics to it tonight and hopefully get them up tomorrow. I don't work until 2pm tomorrow so I will have the morning to do it.

Glad to here everyone in CT is safe despite still not having power in some parts. Our God is a mighty God and cares for each one of you!

Thankful for another day...