So many things have happened in the past 2 weeks I don’t know where to begin.
On September 25th, I joined a group of medical volunteers consisting of physicians, undergraduate nursing students, a few professors and another NP student to Jamaica where we provided care in clinics through a group called PRN relief international. When we arrived, it was warm, sunny and tropical. Starting the next day the rains came, and came and came! There was a tropical storm that settled over us that stayed all week that made for a challenge to our week.
We visited 4 different clinics, and as part of my clinical experience, I functioned as an NP seeing patients- with lots of support and oversight. It was a fantastic opportunity to meet some great people and hone in on my clinical skills. Because of the rains, the clinics were slower than usual-personally I was relieved that I was able to see patients without feeling rushed-I’m still feeling like I’m missing stuff, questions I’m forgetting to ask, assessments I am forgetting to make, cranial nerves that I don’t have memorized.
interviewing a patient at clinic
Goats & chickens visited the clinic
We stayed at the Mayfair hotel in Kingston- not a 5 star- running water in the shower did not last for more than 10 minutes before quitting. Some of the undergraduates were wise enough to rinse off outside in the pouring rains.
Dr Julie Stewart showing pictures of her dog from her Blackberry to the Jamaican children.
undergraduate nursing students triaging patients
The physician volunteers were fabulous and so willing to share their pearls with us- I am so thankful for that.
Me & Dr Vynedra Smith- a wealth of pearls!
The best part of the week was going to Montego Bay for the final 2 nights in an extremely nice all inclusive resort to decompress, take a real shower, and sleep in a real bed- with real fluffy pillows. Several glasses of wine did not make it bad either!
Montego Bay did not stink.
After returning home, I attended the annual fall conference for the New England Region Wound Ostomy Continence Nurses. This year, for the first time, I presented a case study. At work, we received a physical therapy referral to teach kegal exercises to a homebound woman- we didn’t have a PT qualified to do it and it went to me. What made the case a challenge wasn’t the patient, she was a joy, the challenge was convincing myself that I was a continence nurse and could do such consults. I was delighted that it went off so well. Since becoming a WOCN, this group has encouraged me to grow and do things that I never imagined myself doing before.
Really could have used a step stool!
My next challenge is to study for my exam on 10/19, submit my capstone proposal on 10/18, prepare my presentation and research review on 11/8, and go back to work starting tomorrow. I spent most of today transcribing my class notes to index cards to study in spare moments during the day. I am already feeling the effects of not getting enough exercise and eating poorly over the past few weeks, and desperately need to get back on the stick soon. Sigh, all in good time, somehow things manage to get themselves done!
