The Learning Process

Let's just say I'm excited that I get to be here for eight weeks. From my first step onto Nehemiah's campus I've felt welcome, and I attribute that to the people here, both Haitians and Americans. From what I've gathered so far, it seems that the operations of this place are founded on a love for Jesus Christ. Everything stems from that. Our team coordinator makes a point to gather us in prayer each morning to ask God for His direction, to focus ourselves on the true purpose behind all that takes place here. I think this is crucial.

I've had the delight of living and working closely with two precious young ladies here, Lindsey and Abby. The three of us share in the joys of being nursing majors, allowing for the opportunity to be medical interns here at the NVM clinic. I'm sure it's because we're adventuring together in a country foreign to us, but it's crazy how comfortable I am around them. Especially after only two days. I love it, and I love experiencing life here alongside them.

Thursday and Friday were my first two days in the clinic. I stayed close to Lindsey most of the time as I watched how things operated. People from surrounding villages come early in the morning (on foot) to seek medical care. They receive a number and wait for their name to be called. Us interns take some basic vital signs and record them on their chart. When we finish we tell them to "take a seat outside" and wait for the doctor to see them. I can already confirm that this particular phrase is one I'll use a lot. "Ou mait sheeta deo." One of the first times I tried saying it I blanked halfway through and kind of just stared at the poor girl. She finished my sentence though and smiled. Hahahaha.

Once we triage everyone (the vital signs), the interns transition to the pharmacy section of the clinic. Once the first patient has seen the doctor and been given prescriptions, they bring their chart with the doctor's orders to us we tell them to sit again (lots of waiting for these patients) and we gather their meds. Based on the patient's age and weight, each medication's instructions and what the doctor wrote, we determine the dosage. When we're ready, we call them up to the window and explain to them what each medicine they'll take home is for and how often/long to take it. For me, this is the biggest challenge because I don't know Creole yet, haha! It's incredible watching Lindsey and Abby because they can do this part, and they do it well. They can even explain (in Creole) that if they don't have a fever or pain, they don't have to take their Tylenol that day. The entire first day I observed them communicate like this I was blown away, not to mention a little freaked out considering I am going to take on the same job.

What's been good, though, is that no one expects me to be at that level yet, by any means, and everyone in the clinic has done a good job at affirming me in this. Lindsey has been here for about a month now, so she's had some time to develop her skills, while Abby has also been here three weeks. The most pressure I feel to get the hang of all this comes from myself, being somewhat of a perfectionist. I want to be good at my job right off the bat, but I have to work hard at being patient with myself and okay with not being good at really anything yet. Hahaha. I laugh because this is stupidly hard for me. There's no room for pride here so I'm learning to humble myself and commit to the learning process. Not one of my favorite things, but I trust it.