It's been said that anyone who cares can be a nurse, but I truly believe that the nursing profession is a calling. During my 30 years of employment at a local hospital, I've been a part of several mission trips to various areas serving as a circulator or scrub nurse.
Our team works as a unit, but we try to involve the hospital staff as much as possible. The language barrier is the biggest problem we encounter, as it can be difficult to communicate and obtain needed supplies and equipment. The hospital normally provides translators to assist with patient discharge instructions or other information. For patient comfort, I usually have staff bring the patient into the room, ask all the pertinent information, and stay until the patient is asleep. It's amazing that these people trust us enough to put their lives into our hands, and yet don't understand what we're saying. They only know that we're able to perform procedures that aren't normally available.
Assorted emotions
I can't explain the array of emotions I experience while on these trips. There's sadness when I look at the poverty that exists, and a feeling of remorse that we take so much for granted in the United States. Their staff will wash the lap sponges out after each case and sterilize them for use again. They'll reuse the wrappers until the pieces are too small to be used. There's joy and relief when a cleft palate is repaired, or when an extra digit or a goiter is removed. There's also frustration because of the limited supplies and medications.
People often ask me why I go to other countries when we have people in the United States who need medical care. My main response is that I feel called to go, and these countries don't have the assistance programs we have. The facility we work at in the Dominican Republic charges patients based on their ability to pay. They feel that this promotes responsibility and dignity. The patients are appreciative, and we just provide the basics. The patients' family members are expected to bathe and provide meals for them-all we do is treat them.
The advances in treatment we've been able to facilitate each time we venture out are significant. For example, during our first trip, we assisted a re-mote eye clinic in setting up a central sterile area so that general surgery could be performed. Fourteen trips later, this eye clinic now trains other surgeons to perform eye surgery, and has built a Children's Health Center, a school, a separate hospital, and has year-round mission teams that work with their permanent staff.
An eye-opening experience
I'd encourage everyone to go on a mission trip at least once. It'll open your eyes to not only a different culture and people, but make you realize the importance of life itself. You can contact a local church for information on available trips. They can also direct you to other types of teams, such as those for building or teaching. The skill, compassion, and experience you bring to those you serve will result in personal rewards. OR