The following is a Guest Post via JoyceFiodembo
Shelter in Ekero where we had our coffee breaks.
I woke up early Saturday morning to pack for the Monday flight.
The medical team was depending on me, so I had to make sure I did not forget anything.
I had done most of the work the previous day, but wanted to make sure I did not miss anything.
My list went something like this: ten laparatomy sets, seven thyroidectomy sets, four hysterectomy sets and so on. I also packed my favorite coffee, adding extra packets so I could make enough for the other team members.
Our work entailed performing surgeries for four days in the remote parts of East Africa. Our offices were based in Kenya’s capital city, Nairobi.
Most of the smaller hospitals had doctors who could perform minor surgeries, but when it came to thyroidectomies, hysterectomies and major abdominal surgeries, our non-government organization would assist by supplying surgeons and scrub nurses.
This week we would be travelling to Ekero, a small town in Western Kenya.
Our team consisted of the surgeon, the pilot and me. As usual, the hospital Medical Director prepared a list of the patients we would be doing surgery on, including their medical history so that we were aware of what to expect.
The pilot dropped us off on Monday, planning to return to pick us up on Thursday afternoon. As soon as we landed, we only had an hour to eat, put on our scrubs and get to the operating room to start preparing for surgery.
Typically on these trips we took a work load of 25 patients and tried to complete surgery within three and a half days. This meant that we worked long hours, sometimes until 11pm.
The most exciting part of the job was getting to meet the patients and their families. The patients had mixed emotion, often showing both anxiety as well as appreciation. They were glad to be on the operating list and yet anxious about the procedure. Some of their relatives offered us gifts of ripe pineapples and mangoes, but we had to decline because our airplanes were usually small and the pilot did not want us carrying any extra luggage.
There were times the pilot was unable to come for us, because the weather would be so bad that it was not advisable to fly small planes. In these circumstances, we would travel using larger international flights like Kenya Airways to return to Nairobi. This meant driving for a few hours to a major airport to reach the flight. If this was not possible, it would mean spending an extra night at the hospital and hope that the weather would be better the next day. Thankfully, the weather in East Africa is not as extreme as it can be on other continents.
As soon as I arrived back in Nairobi on Thursday evening, I spend that evening telling my family all the adventures I had. On Friday I would be back in the office preparing for another trip for the following week.
Travel nursing in Africa is one exciting adventure. If you have an opportunity to volunteer for a medical mission in Africa, take the opportunity; it may be the best thing you will ever do.
Nairobi City
I woke up early Saturday morning to pack for the Monday flight.
The medical team was depending on me, so I had to make sure I did not forget anything.
I had done most of the work the previous day, but wanted to make sure I did not miss anything.
My list went something like this: ten laparatomy sets, seven thyroidectomy sets, four hysterectomy sets and so on. I also packed my favorite coffee, adding extra packets so I could make enough for the other team members.
Our work entailed performing surgeries for four days in the remote parts of East Africa. Our offices were based in Kenya’s capital city, Nairobi.
Most of the smaller hospitals had doctors who could perform minor surgeries, but when it came to thyroidectomies, hysterectomies and major abdominal surgeries, our non-government organization would assist by supplying surgeons and scrub nurses.
This week we would be travelling to Ekero, a small town in Western Kenya.
Our team consisted of the surgeon, the pilot and me. As usual, the hospital Medical Director prepared a list of the patients we would be doing surgery on, including their medical history so that we were aware of what to expect.
The pilot dropped us off on Monday, planning to return to pick us up on Thursday afternoon. As soon as we landed, we only had an hour to eat, put on our scrubs and get to the operating room to start preparing for surgery.
Typically on these trips we took a work load of 25 patients and tried to complete surgery within three and a half days. This meant that we worked long hours, sometimes until 11pm.
The most exciting part of the job was getting to meet the patients and their families. The patients had mixed emotion, often showing both anxiety as well as appreciation. They were glad to be on the operating list and yet anxious about the procedure. Some of their relatives offered us gifts of ripe pineapples and mangoes, but we had to decline because our airplanes were usually small and the pilot did not want us carrying any extra luggage.
There were times the pilot was unable to come for us, because the weather would be so bad that it was not advisable to fly small planes. In these circumstances, we would travel using larger international flights like Kenya Airways to return to Nairobi. This meant driving for a few hours to a major airport to reach the flight. If this was not possible, it would mean spending an extra night at the hospital and hope that the weather would be better the next day. Thankfully, the weather in East Africa is not as extreme as it can be on other continents.
As soon as I arrived back in Nairobi on Thursday evening, I spend that evening telling my family all the adventures I had. On Friday I would be back in the office preparing for another trip for the following week.
Travel nursing in Africa is one exciting adventure. If you have an opportunity to volunteer for a medical mission in Africa, take the opportunity; it may be the best thing you will ever do.
About The Author:
Joyce
Joyce Fiodembo worked in East Africa as a travel nurse for ten years. She is the author of “How Nurses Can Cope with Difficult Coworkers.” found on Amazon.com
She is a nurse entrepreneur and runs the website: http://www.internationalnursesupport.com This is a blog where nurses can find practical ideas as well as inspiration.
Please click HERE If you would like to submit your story to The Gypsy Nurse.
TheGypsyNurse
Latest posts by TheGypsyNurse (see all)
- Travel Nurse Daily: May 22, 2013 - May 22, 2013
- Food: Eating and Food Shopping in San Francisco (Bay Area) - May 22, 2013
- Travel Nurse Daily: May 21, 2013 - May 21, 2013
- Travel Nurse Daily: May 20, 2013 - May 20, 2013
- Travel Nurse Daily: May 19, 2013 - May 19, 2013
Leave a comment