Today was our first hands-on clinical day. We went to Post Basic Nursing School where we waited for our presentations to begin (the 'tutors' were going to give us a brief lecture and answer questions prior to our in hospital experience). After our tea time with fruit cakes and sweet tea (which we are all continuing to love!) we were assigned to our very own personal tutors (1:1 student to tutor ratio) and went to our floors at Lady Ridgeway Hospital. We were split into teams of 3 and went to 5 different units including burn, pediatric, medical/surgical, cardiac, ENT (ear nose throat) surgical unit and the ICU (intensive care unit). One cultural difference that we were surprised to see was that fathers of patients were not allowed to visit patients. We then had lunch at the nursing quarters, where Jon was planning to feed a stray cat (which was running around the floor by our feet), then Shawna and Krissy stopped him! :D The girls named the cat "Valentine" (because there was heart shaped markings on the fur!). Nadya and Jessica assisted with Physical Therapy for a thirteen year old cerebal palsy boy. Sarah W., Ashley R. and Beth spent their time on the Cardiac floor where they were privileged to view their most current and modern ICU ward. This portion of the hospital is the newest ward in ALL of Sri Lanka! Heather, Tara, and Ashley V. were in the outpatient department (OPD) and the ER (Emergency Room). They observed children getting shots (9 year old boys) and noted that it was no different than in the states- they both screamed!! Bria, Jeff, and Kimberly were in the medical/surgical unit where they performed assessments on patients with colostomy bags (1 month old), hernia repair (2 month old), and a hermaphrodite... The 3 were also really surprised to meet 2 blond nursing students from Sweden!! They too had wanted to visit Sri Lanka for their intercultural nursing practice! Shawna, Jon, and Krissy were on the plastic surgery floor and saw children postsurgically after a cleft pallet/cleft lip repair. Nadya and Jessica saw a pt with electrical burns. One arm was amputated. The other arm was laid on the abdomen for skin grafting. Once the skin off of the abdomen grew onto the arm, they cut off the skin on the abdomen and stitched up the skin.
Right now it is POURING rain! There has been thunder and lightening...in fact the electricity went out once already! We keep joking that we brought the rain from Seattle... :D Hope not!
