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Archive for year: 2015
I Took This
I’m sorry
Winter helped me create a blog!
I am at CI Computer Girls’ Coding BootCamp!
CSS Workshop: I dont get paid enough
This is jesus, he loves you.
Hello world!
Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!
Hello world!
Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!
2010 Earthquake in Haiti
Haiti Earthquake
On January 12, 2010, a 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti and resulting in the loss of over 230,000 lives, and the country is still working to recover from these horrible natural disaster five years later (CNN, 2015; Laurent, 2015). The effects of the large earthquake were much greater due to the poor infrastructure of buildings – a great majority of them were not built to handle earthquakes (BBC, 2014). Since the country is extremely poor, with families living on as little as $2 per day, the money to redevelop after the earthquake was simply not there and, despite the billions of dollars received in aid, the country is still struggling to redevelop and return to its previous state before the earthquake (BBC, 2014; Laurent, 2015). As a result, more than 1.3 of the country’s population was left homeless and at least 300,000 people were injured while many of the hospitals collapsed in the quake (BBC, 2014). Today, individuals can walk into the country and still see damage waiting to be fixed – buildings which are still broken, and families (at least 85,000 people) are still displaced and living in “shacks” (CNN, 2015; Laurent, 2015).
In regards to healthcare, initially, as stated, many of the hospitals collapsed, leaving the primary source for medical care inaccessible (BBC, 2014). However, shortly after the earthquake, the worldwide community brought in resources: the Dominican Republic provided medical supplies and emergency water, many countries (e.g. United States, Iceland) sent in emergency rescue teams, the Red Cross arrived and set up field hospitals, the United Nations came to provide help, and individuals from all of the world donated money to help with the care of these individuals (BBC, 2014). Additionally, as a result of the earthquake and the difficulty in accessing safe water, there was a massive cholera outbreak in October of 2010 with over 700,000 people contacting this deadly bacteria (CNN, 2015). Since the outbreak, over 8,500 people have died from cholera (CNN, 2015). While aid was able to come and act as a primary intervention, the country is still struggling at rebuilding and providing healthcare for population (Laurent, 2015).
I feel that being a nurse in this country during a huge natural disaster such as this one would be extremely challenging. While I do feel that we receive training on how to handle disasters, the accessibility to healthcare resources makes a big difference. During a crisis like this, the ability to obtain clean water is definitely at risk (especially as seen by the cholera outbreak). So, the big challenge to nursing wouldn’t necessarily be handling all the patients (although that definitely is a big concern), but it would be nursing using the resources that are available.
“I don’t have any more bandages and this person is bleeding. What can I use?”
“There is no more clean drinking water. How should I proceed?”
“This person has a compound fracture. What is my best course of action?”
These are questions and issues that we don’t normally have to deal with in a developed country, even during a natural disaster. And yet, these are big issues during a natural disaster in an undeveloped country and are definitely an issue in providing care. As a result, we need to have a combination of training and intuition in how to handle these situations.
While I believe that developed countries are prepared to handle these situations, I do not believe Haiti is yet better prepared to handle another large-scale earthquake because they have not yet managed to recover from the first one. A big portion of their recovery has come from outside aid, and, while outside aid will come again in the event of another earthquake, families are still displaced and buildings are still not all repaired. The resources are simply not there to handle another disaster.
References:
BBC. (2014). Case study: earthquake. Retrieved from: http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks3/geography/ physical_processes/plate_tectonics/revision/7/
CNN. (2015). Haiti earthquake fast facts. Retrieved from: http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/12/world/haiti-earthquake-fast-facts/
Laurent, O. (2015). Haiti earthquake: Five years after. Retrieved from: http://time.com/3662225/haiti-earthquake-five-year-after/
LAST Blog: The Art of Being a Nurse
As the semester comes to an end and graduation nears, the realization that we will all be BSN graduates begins to kick in. This journey, we call nursing school, has been one in which I will remember for the rest of my life. I have learned so many new aspects of not only the nursing profession, but also of myself. I have met the most special of people who I know I can call friends forever. I have learned a new definition to the words hard work and dedication. I have cried and I have laughed and I have become stronger than I ever thought I could be. Nursing has always been a dream of mine, and nursing school has taught me that this profession is something beyond what I had ever imagined. Thanks to the knowledge we have received and the care we have given, I can honestly say that I have fallen even more in love with this career choice. Although nursing can be tough on some days, the satisfaction of helping others makes it completely worth it. This realization has especially resonated in me since the start of critical care.
Throughout my time within the intensive care unit, I have learned a whole new aspect within the meaning of being a nurse. I have learned that being a nurse means being a teacher, a caregiver, a listener, an advocate and most importantly a supporter. This rotation has been extremely precious to me in that I have been able to be a presence in not only a patient’s life but also their death. I have spent time with the most influential of nurses and on the opposite side of the spectrum I have struggled through days with those who are completely burned out. One thing that I have learned is that no matter how hard a day can be I maintain the ability to touch someone’s life and ultimately create a lasting impression and that in itself is enough to make me smile daily.
So, what is my plan for the future you might ask??? Following graduation and the completion of NCLEX I will be working as a labor and delivery nurse in Laguna Niguel. I will be a “baby catcher” one might say. I will welcome new life into this world everyday and I couldn’t be more willing and more excited to take on the challenge. What else the future might hold….who knows….the sky is the limit.
With that I will leave you with this…
Cheers to us CSUCI class of 2015!
