Nurse in Africa!

Even though Mercy Ships arrived in Lome, Togo over a month ago, I have only started to work as a ward nurse within the last two days. I love it!! The last two nights have been wonderful, as I was assigned my own little group of patients, gave out medicines, and started a few IVs. Anyone who isn't a nurse probably won't understand my excitement over caring for patients, but I enjoy it so much, and after not working as a nurse for about three months, it's even more enjoyable.

So what have I been doing if I haven't been working as a nurse? Well, my lovely roomie - and supervisor - convinced me that I should train to be one of the ward Charge Nurses. I was quite apprehensive at first, didn't think I would be very good at it, or enjoy it, etc; but now that I have been charging for about three weeks, I realize that I do enjoy it, and it has been exciting to stretch myself and grow while learning a new position. Since I really, really enjoy working nightshift, and am now trained as a charge nurse, I have been given the sweet position as Night Charge Nurse; I know, I know, you're jealous of my long official-sounding title. Really, it's the best of both worlds; I get to be the 'Boss' and I also get to have my own patients assigned to me! It's fantastic!

I personally think that the cutest patients we have right now are the 'Feeding Program' babies. These are some of the tiniest babies I have ever seen. For one reason or another, they aren't able to get the nutrition they need. Usually, they either are very little, as in the case of a set of twins, and can't nurse well enough due to really tiny mouths; or they have cleft lip/palate and can't nurse. I had the priviege of caring for the twins on one of my first shifts - although the nurses really don't do much because we encourage and teach Momma to care for them. I did get to hold them long enough to get their daily weights; each one weighed less than 2kg (4.4 lbs). Their mother is such a good little momma to them; it's wonderful to see her bonding with them a little more each day, as she is now able, and knows how to supply for their needs.



Weighing tiny little Annie





Drinking out of a medicine cup, because her mouth is too little for her to be able to suckle well.




Ponsetti casting to correct club feet.