Nursing Orientation and such!

So both yesterday and today I had nursing orientation where we went over hospital policy, protocols and documentation. It is so different from what I'm used to- all documentation is on paper, I have to transcribe meds from MD order forms, and the wards have up to ten patients in one room. Its so cool though. We went through a whole section about cultural differences and it was mentioned that because the West African culture is so community focused, the patients would actually have a hard time if they were separated. This was seen during the tour of the hospital. Everyone was talking and hanging out with the patient in the next bed. I will be working on Ward B and C which currently has general surgical patients in it and surgical overflow patients, respectively. Most of the general surgeries are like hernia repairs and thyroidectomies, but I understand the general surgeon is only here for another week or so. Ward A has plastics patients and Ward D has maxillo-facial patients. There is also an ICU which has 5 beds. They combine both adults and children in each ward and children 18 and younger have a caregiver with them that sleeps under the beds on a mattress. During the tour, I did notice a few cleft lip/palate patients and tumor removal patients. I saw some burn contracture release patients. I'm not sure what else we are currently doing now because it was just my tour. Once I start working I'll have a better idea of what cases are being performed now. This outreach in Sierra Leone isn't doing VVF (vesicovaginal fistula) repair surgeries because the incidence rate of them in West Africa is lower than in East and other part of Africa. Also Sierra Leone has its own fistula hospital that Mercy Ships initially set up on another outreach in the past. It is now run by another NGO- but that's that reason we aren't doing them, which I'm a bit disappointed about.

I start work on Monday. We work an average of 40 hours a week, but it varies. Each shift is 8 hours and the night shift is 10 hours. Next week, I work Monday through Friday some days and some evenings and my first two days I will be with a preceptor. The following week I will be working Monday through Thursday nights and then Saturday evening- which will total 48 hours. I can't wait to start working. I know it will take some time to get used to the routine of things but because all the patients and nurses are in one room, I'll have lots of people there to support me.

I'm still getting so lost on the ship. There are 7 decks and i'm still learning the differences between the port and starboard, aft and the other one (don't remember). The amount of stairs is insane. I get a work out all the time. I am living on the 3rd deck which is also the deck that has the hospital. I'll explain more about the ship at another time. I love the feeling of the ship rocking though and you can feel it shutter especially in bed at night. Sierra Leone is beautiful and the sunsets are impeccable. Can't wait to post a picture of it!
 



Last night, we had a church service. They are every Monday morning and Thursday night. The worship was really good and then someone gave a message about being a light in a dark world. It was very encouraging. I was so tired last night though and went to bed right after church at like 8pm. At 10pm, a number of nurses get together for Tea at Ten. Maybe i'll join another night. I was way too exhausted and then this morning woke up with a stomach bug or something. Can't figure out if its from the food or the water or something else, so please pray I feel better soon.

The weekends are quiet. No one works on the weekends except for nursing staff, and most people leave the ship for day or weekend adventures, so it feels like no one is here. Its good though cause I need to learn where everything is this weekend and then maybe I'll venture out on a weekend off. I'm going to see who is leaving the ship for church on Sunday, which I really want to do. I'm excited to be the in community.

I've met so many people already from all over the world- Finland, Colombia, South Africa, England, Australia, Germany, Canada, and of course the US. I love meeting people from all over. There is so much to learn from those from other countries and cultures. There are also day staff with us from Sierra Leone, that are either volunteers or workers who help out with tasks both in the hospital and the ship as a whole, so I've met some of them too!

Anyways, that's an update of what's going on. Hope you enjoy!!