Dr. Karla needs a nurse for when I go…

I will be leaving Nicaragua June 3^rd and cannot imagine leaving Dr. Karla alone to do this medical ministry without a nurse/companion to share it with. 

Without a nurse, Dr. Karla would not be able to do manage the large load of patient needs that we have with the 1,800 children in the NRN schools and any health education or classroom to classroom activities including the biannual anti-parasite teaching/ treatment would not be possible.  While at the schools, Dr. Karla is always busy with new consults, following up on previous consults, or an emergency comes up.  She often has to leave to see a patient at their home or go to the hospital.  I have been managing and bringing to Dr. Karla’s attention the additional needs/mini-projects at the schools.

Without a nurse, it would be impossible to have any normal/effective schedule of consults at the schools. She would always have appointments to bring patients to and attend, visits to a hospital or home, or meetings to attend.  A nurse allows Dr. Karla to manage her time and medical skills more effectively because she has someone to rely on and delegate other tasks to.

Without a nurse, the project would be much more overwhelming and stressful. With a nurse Dr. Karla could have someone to pray with and share the experiences and responsibilities with to make it much more enjoyable and fruitful.

So, we found Nurse Martha, a wonderful Nicaraguan Nurse to take my place when I leave! Then, we had her approved, and hired. The nurse’s role in this project includes but certainly are not limited to:

·        Doing basic assessments and triage for the consults with Dr. Karla

·        Completing clinical history interviews with patients and/or patient’s parents

·        Giving injections/administering medicines ordered by Dr. Karla or from outside prescriptions

·        Organizing and carrying out health education projects at the schools

·        Accept new patient concerns, questions about health from students, and phone calls while Dr. Karla  is in the middle of consults

·        Attending appointments with patients, meetings with directors or parents,  so Dr. Karla can go to the hospital or attend to emergencies or higher priority items as they come up

·        Help Dr. Karla remember patient needs/questions

·        Keep medications/supplies organized in our clinical bag and in the car (Charlie)

·        Have another clinical person to help make clinical decisions and brainstorm how to solve tricky logistical issues that come up

·        I imagine to help manage medical mission groups that come down to help the project

·        Emotional/spiritual support and companionship through all of the joyful and very sad experiences with patients and their families

Nurse Martha is a very experienced Nicaraguan Nurse that is skilled, loving and enthusiastic. She has worked with Doctor Karla before and will be a great asset and addition to the medical ministry team. This last week, I will be transitioning Nurse Martha and teaching her all about the position. The organization couldn’t have found a better doctor to be working for their medical, mission and I am so excited to see the team of Dr. Karla and Nurse Martha together in action!

Love,

Ayla Landry

“I am more interested in what I can create 
than in what I can consume, 
in what I can share
than in what I can own,
in living my own life
rather than viewing others on TV or the big screen.
I think for myself and choose my own heroes.
My goal is to be one of them.” ~Dr. Sami Sunchild