Get on your bikes and ride...

   Our day started out with a very unusual sight- A sister on a bike.  Before you get all excited, it wasn't a Nun type of sister.  In Guyana, nurses that have superior status, such as nurse managers and charge nurses, or just nurses that have worked on the ward a long time.  All the sisters usually wear all pink instead of the traditional white uniform, making them very noticeable.  So this was sister on her bike: 

Needless to say, this made my monday :)  

Today's focus was on ventilation and CPAP.  Randy gave demonstrations of how to set up both the ventilator and CPAP tubing from the base parts and had each student give a return demonstration.  He also led them through scenarios to trouble shoot alarms and if the system isn't working.  Kate and I ran through how to structure care for a baby on ventilation, emphasizing suctioning and oral care to prevent VAP.  We learned that overnight a baby had to be reintubated because of a plug in the tube, which most likely was due to not refilling the humidity chamber and suctioning the baby over the weekend.  While there has been resistance to doing "scheduled" cares in the past, we asked the nurses just to place babies on a schedule who are on a ventilator or CPAP, as this most likely would only be a max of 4 patients currently.  This would ensure  that these babies received more direct monitoring and  care to prevent unnecessary intubations or further respiratory distress.  

After yet another amazing lunch from Shanta's (red snapper curry!), Kate and I worked with the students in their direct care, making sure they understood their IV rates and orders, and helped 3 get their first IVs!  I think most nurses can remember the first good IV attempt...mine was in a 28 weeker with the help of IV goddess Renee C...and there is no better feeling in the nursing world, no better boost to your self esteem, and it was great seeing the rush these student's got with theirs.  

Back at the house, Shaheen got a tutorial in how to "wobble", which led to me and Randy performing a very white wobble for Kate and Shaheen :)

Also enjoy pictures from our dinner at the "house" last night!

Oh Randy :)

 Jonelle and Rachel practice setting up a CPAP with Randy

Onika and Sheba

Onika admitting a new 34 weeker with mild respiratory distress

A mother admiring her daughter

 

Kate and Terrance working on an IV

 Shaheen teaches Claire and Conor, medical students from the UK

Randy's tropical fruit salad- grapefruit, starfruit, passionfruit, pineapple, bananna, and star apple

Sunday night dinner with our growing family...from Kate going clockwise, Kate, Shaheen, Randy, Charlie, Jenny, Graham (all from the UK), Dr. Kaino, Conor, John, Joe, and Sherrie (OB from Chicago)