Ok I'm using the last of my change to write you one more time before I leave for Afg. Today we had our first taste of what our day will be like taking care of patients at Camp B. Long story short, I have alot to learn. The biggest challenges I anticipate in my daily life (other than taking care of young lads with 3 and even 4 limbs blown off) is paper charting (nightmare) and every narcotic and IV infusion must be checked off twice by another nurse (time consuming). I'm realizing how much independence American nurses have, and how much more trust doctors put into us (like in our assessments). We don't have to check off anything with a second nurse except blood. Not IV meds, not narcotics, none of that. I'm just worried about time management with two nurses caring for 10 patients on morphine every 2 hours. Anyway, I really like my teammates which is really good because we will keep the same shift throughout deployment. I'll learn.
We are flying out Sunday. I can't remember what I've already told ya'll, but Sunday they are having a church service for the British soldiers deploying and we are invited at the Minster downtown York (BEAUTIFUL!). We fly out after that. Oh, and I met the Arch Bishop of York today! What else?... oh things you can mail me in packages if wanting to send something: Bubbles, coloring books, and crayons for kids(nothing advertising America). Bubbles to help with kids chest physiotherapy, and coloring for dexterity. Kids can be killed for it if they leave the hospital with American clothes or toys, so please don't send those. Bubbles and coloring books will stay in the hospital. Gifts for soldiers (bracelets, pins, stickers) and they can be patriotic, and holiday decorations for the ward.
Ok, in my last 10 minutes, I just was to briefly talk about some ethical delimmas that we will be dealing with. We are transitioning out of Afg so we are trying to prevent Afg from becoming dependant on western medicine. We CT almost every trauma that comes in. If we find lung cancer by chance, do we tell them or not? I woman is worthless in their culture if she cannot care for her husband and kids. A man tells his wife after a bilateral leg amputation that she is now worthless to him and she will be killed when she goes home, but we have to send her anyway. The local hospital can't care for a child who has more than 40% burns, they will die when we discharge them, but we have to do it anyway.... and so much more. This is the kind of stuff that's going to be the hardest for me.
Love ya'll! Thanks for all the support!
Wow! You are really living an adventure! So Brave!!! Those are some really hard situations to be a part of. I know that you will find the compassion, courage and strength to take care of those people, even if you can't save them all. Love you and miss you!
ReplyDeleteI think some of your highest points and some of your lowest points will come in the next six months. Just know that we share your joy during the good times, our hearts will be with you during the bad, and you will be a stronger, better person at the end. I love you and miss talking to you.
ReplyDeleteDitto to what your mom said! You are such a strong person Liz, I know you will do amazing whatever the circumstance it and always know you ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE to those lives over there even after they are out of your control and care, they will know that someone cares for them, a complete stranger even! I love you and miss you so much. Stay strong!
ReplyDeleteYou will experience what every commander must learn in order to become a wise leader -- the truly terrible cost of war. Most take it much too lightly. They have never seen it. If you read about our war of independence, the civil war or WWII, you begin to realize just how much we have paid for freedom. It is a truly terrible cost. It is staggering. I am sad and proud that you will see it first hand. It will affect you forever, but you can let it be a positive force within, not a negative one. I do hope you find the way to do that. I believe you can.
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