Blog 3
All and all, I really enjoyed my time here in Panama.
Although there were some bumps along the way; changing of plans, mixed
personalities, random issues, etc., we had a good group here and everything
seemed to work out. I have really learned to thoroughly appreciate my life back
home and all the little comforts I hadn’t noticed before.
While here, I feel that we did the most good when we were
able to go the schools and to Nutre Hogar. The children really seemed to enjoy
us being there. I especially enjoyed being able to size shoe’s for the children
in Las Minas. I am hoping that I can get an annual shoe drive going so that
shoe’s can be provided every year. We shall see.
The people of Panama have been incredibly gracious (well,
except some nurses at the clinic and another person in particular that shall
not be named. . . . we all know who she . . I mean who that was). But the
people of Panama and Chitre were helpful to us babbling English speakers and
that made a good impression on me. The patients that allowed and trusted
English nursing students to do simple procedures with needles should be
commended. I’m not so sure I’d feel comfortable if a student that only spoke
Spanish came to a clinic or hospital and wanted to give me a shot or start an IV.
I give those folks props for trusting our abilities.
One thing the language barrier has taught me is that
communication is truly a key to being a great nurse. Not knowing what these
patients were thinking or saying really hindered me feeling comfortable in
treating them. I believe communication is a very important part of effective
nursing. My plan is to being Spanish courses so that I can feel comfortable
providing care to the Spanish speaking patients that are back home.
Panama has been a great learning experience in many
different ways. Not only have I learned about community health nursing in an
environment different than my own but I’ve learned quite a bit about myself as
well.
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