05 September 2011

Today I actually felt like a real nurse.  I give injections and watch IV medications, but those are usually just in-and-out patients.  The nurse practitioner that I have been staying with assigned me two patients to take care of on my own today.  They both had NG tubes in, and they were both severely malnourished.  They are both pretty unresponsive as well.  They do not use NG tubes a lot here; so many of the workers do not know how to use them.  One is a young boy named Elise, and the other patient is an elderly woman.  I did not have to do too much for them except give feedings, rehydration fluids, and medications.  I went ahead and did a full exam like I would in the hospital though just for practice.  It was so nice getting to work with the patients one-on-one.  It was also amazing to me how helpful the families were.  Any time I had to do something they would hold things for me or prepare the feedings.  It was so sweet and different to rely on them for help rather than having another medical professional.  Hopefully these two patients will get better soon.  I am so thankful for the work I have been able to do here in Cote d’Ivoire!