prOpeR etiquette

Hello friends, family, and newcomers. Welcome to or welcome back to my blog where I am documenting the process leading up to and during my first humanitarian mission to Eldoret, Kenya. I have a brief update for you today.

Upon arrival, we will primarily spend our time at the hospital. This is the first year nurses from outside the hospital staff are being brought in, making it a learning experience for everyone. My role will vary day by day. I may assist with colposcopies, help with immunizations, work in the women's ward, or be in the operating room. Although I have been in the OR many times as a patient, I have never been there as a nurse. In the OR, a nurse helps set up the table, counts instruments before and after surgery, assists surgeons during procedures, dismantles the room, and more. Since this is new to me, Dr. Spivak connected me with Tina, the coolest OR nurse, to learn the ropes. I started by donning my abominable snowman suit to enter the procedural area, which was fun but also very sweaty. I learned to properly open kits, maintain a sterile field, and how to gown and glove steriley (putting on sterile gloves felt like wrestling a wet dog). Although my day with Tina was short and sweet, I left feeling more confident about setting up and being present for a fistula case, which are the main procedures we will handle. I can set up the table, recognize instruments, know their names and uses, and load a needle for suturing and hand it safely to the surgeon. I felt thrilled to learn new skills that will be valuable for our mission. I still have much to learn once I am there, but I am now better prepared. Tina, if you find your way here and read this, thank you for taking the time to teach me and for sharing my excitement. You are a gem.

I'm grateful to Tina for taking some pictures I could share with everyone. The first and third images feature me posing with the table we arranged, while the second image shows the table fully set up.

Thank you all for staying tuned. The trip is almost here, and I'm thrilled to share all the exciting and amazing experiences with you. As I was writing this today, I received a very exciting email, and I can't wait to share more in my next update. Until then :)

All Love,

Meg