Isla Grande

After an awesome week of clinical experience and learning so much, the group took a trip to Isla Grande today. It was a few hour bus trip and then a quick boat ride and we arrived at Banana’s resort at Isla Grande. It was like we were arriving at something straight out of a travel catalogue—the view was absolutely beautiful! The water was clear blue, there were hammocks to relax in, there was a wonderful pool…this blog definitely doesn’t do it justice. We spent the day tanning, snorkeling, having lunch, and swimming. Everyone had a great day soaking up the sun! We are now back at the hostel and getting ready for our day of visiting a Embera Village tomorrow.

I’m having a great time in Panama! I’ve really experienced so much! But, I miss everyone back home! Love you guys!

--Caitlin Brock

Health Fair

Today was the health fair! We were escorted by policeman to a school named February 13th (many of there schools are named after dates) with a mobile clinic to deliver vaccinations, Pap smears, take blood pressures, and inspect homes. My first activity of the day was to inspect homes for stagnate water. Stagnate water is a huge problem down here in Panama. Many of the homes do not have running water so people leave hug barrels outside their houses to collect rain water for washing clothes and cleaning. The problem with this is, though, is that standing water is a breeding zone for mosquitoes which carry dengue!!! Many of the homes we went to today had stagnate water and we educated the families on the importance of not leaving the water outside. Many of us today were able to assist with Pap smears and vaccinations. Many of the vaccinations were influenza shots for the children. The children were not too happy about this, but they were all good sports! We had a blood pressure stand where we took peoples blood pressure and educated them on the importance of healthy eating and exercise (well we didn’t exactly do it because we don’t speak Spanish very well, but the Spanish speaking nurses were a big help). The health fair went really well and we had an amazing turnout. Many families from the community came out to get their free screenings and vaccinations. The last half of the day we visited the University of Panama to par take in some of their festivities. They had a gathering for the crowning of the senorita enfermeria; I guess you could describe it as the “Queen”, like prom queen, of the nursing school. There were three girls in the running, each with their own section decorated and their friends cheering them on. There was music playing, people playing the drums, and dancing around! We were unable to see who was crowned because we had to leave, but I am sure we will find out when we visit the university again.
-Erin Smith

School Visit/Mobile Clinic

We went to the school called "February 13th". Yes, that's right, a date is the name of the school...it's a Panama thing! Each student had a different experience, with hands on experience with at least two or more of the following: gave Polio, Influenza, Pentavalente, Hepatitis or MMR vaccines...visited the homes nearby to educate people about where mosquitos breed and how to prevent various diseases...did (our first) Pap Smears...conducted surveys about HPV (Human Papilloma Virus)...and/or checked blood pressure. What a day! We really made a difference today =)

"When you're a nurse you know that everyday you will touch a life or a life will touch yours." 

For pictures from today, go to the link below:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2280924&l=6ed3&id=5124385

Posted by: Tania L. Cruickshank

clinic

Today we attended the clinic we have been at all week. We were divided up into pairs and rotated throughout mental health, growth and development, maternity, injections, blood pressure, and HPV teaching. Two students were also sent to a highschool where they administered injections and two students participated in home health nursing.
In the mental health group, students were able to listen to a psychiatrist speak to paitents about their mental illness and issues with their medications. Some clients were here by court order and attending their routinely visits.
Students who attended growth and development gave injections to children and the polio vaccine which is administered orally. For babies who were eight days old, students weighed their body and measured their head circumference.
In the maternity section, students performed and assisted in Papsmears where they were able to locate and identify the cervix and witness what it looks like to have an infection.
Two students gave over 200 influenza vaccines that were administered for free to anyone who desired and had a social security. By the end of the day we felt like pros.
In home health nursing, two students traveled to farms to administer vaccines to the local farmers. Each student administered at least twenty vaccines. When asked to describe their experience, they stated they felt like they were traveling through the jungle because they saw wild animals like monkeys and bulls. The farmers were very nice in return and provided the students with eggs and fruit which helped to make our delicious lunch of scrambled eggs.
Lastly, we provided the patients in the sitting room with a display on HPV and passed out questionaires to be answered on their knowledge of the disease. Over fifty surveys were completed and the patients were interested in the material we provided.
At the end of the day, we attended an orphonage, which contains children who were abandoned and abused. The orphonage was run by nuns and contained girls and boys up to the age eighteen. On their campus there was living quarters, a church, a school, and a play ground. The houses were divided between the age groups. The toddlers stayed in a two bedroom house with a play room and kitchen. There were two bedrooms with about nine cribs to a room. In the other houses there was the same kitchen, play room, and dining area plus two bedrooms. In both of those bedrooms contained bunkbeds, seven or eight to a room. Most of the girls were shy but some had smiles on their faces that made you melt. Their conditions were clean, they were fed, and clothed. You would think they would be so unhappy in this situation, but when you asked, they were just so happy to be in a place where they felt comfortable and loved.

Melissa Skrzypek

Panama 2008

To me time seems to be going by so fast, To think we have been here for a little over a week and a half and to think about all the wonderful things we got to experience is quite amazing. The first week was a sort of meet and greet week, with a lot of touring and letting others know we were in country. The nursing experience really started taking shape when we were able to visit El Valle. For those who don´t know El Valle sits inside a concave mountain top that was once a volcano dating back three million years ago. Yes, the place was beautiful to say the least. The over night experience was one that will soon not be forgotten. I do have to say thank you to Mellisa for taking care of the zipp lining experience and Jessica M. for getting the majority of us on a horse back trip. These activities really increased the whole El Valle experience. We got back to our hostal on Monday and were to get ready for the next experience at Arraijan. We are spending the next four days there. Monday night was a interesting one to say the least, put 15 intelligent nursing students together to make a poster for teaching and what do you get. Well three card board boxes, eight colorful folders, lots of large print (in Spanish), a roll of duct tape and one bed sheet later our presentation was ready. Well just have to see if the people we get to teach enjoy the display. As for my personal experience I have been able to give vaccines and test peoples blood sugar, the experiences have been eye opening due to the procedural differences between the U.S. and Panama. It is exciting to listen to each other at the end of the day when we try and describe the experiences we had that day. It is difficult to understand if you have never experienced it but it seems that everyone is having some sort of eyeopening situation that helps them look at themselves and others differently. It is almost time to depart for the clinic, I hope that all the family and friends are doing well and I'm sure the girls that you sent over here can not thank you enough.

To my family and friends I am so grateful for all the help and support you are giving me back in the states.

- Jason Merry -

Photos!

Here are some pictures from El Valle!

Arraijan

Today was our first day in the Arraijan clinic here in Panama. When we first arrived we were taken to the director of the hospitals office where he welcomed us to the hospital and the city. Next we were given a tour of the facility. There were so many people there, you could barely move through the hallways. It seemed like every where you turned there was a lobby of some sort with tons of people piled in. Some of us were then split up and placed with nurses throughout the facility. I was sent to observe the maternal/women’s health nurse. Her office was very tiny with one exam room in the back. Each patient was brought in one at a time. I assisted with vitals and communicated the best I could with the patients. Most of out patients today received Pap Smears. I was able to assist with 4 Pap smears; it was really a great experience. (Especially since my clinicals are at the VA, it was nice to have a female patient for a change) Next we took a tour of Arraijan city. It was a big eye opener to see the way people live here. Before we had mainly seen the nicer areas of Panama, and this was nothing like we have seen before. Many do not have running water and have buckets outside their houses that they use to catch the rain water. They will then use this rain water to clean with. The houses were very run down and there was a lot of trash in the streets. We were able to visit a school during the tour. The kids were so excited to see us; they all wanted to have their picture taken. They would swarm us (knock some of us down actually) and gives us hugs. It made me realize how many of us are so unhappy and we have a lot, compared to those children who have so little but are full of such happiness. Today’s experience was a real eye opener and one that I will not forget.

-Erin Smith