Teaching

So pretty quick I figured out the system here, with which workers are nurses and which ones are students. Many of the students are just beginning, but everyone has to any learn quick in a 3rd world country, any care providers are doing things very quickly, often above what we would consider their skill levels.

So after one of the births I asked one of the student nurses to do a newborn exam and she looked at me like she wasn't sure what I mean't. Then I said, would you like me to show you how? It was so fun! I had about 5 students and we did the whole newborn exam together! I love teaching and they are so attentive and interested in learning.

So today the labor room is empty, a rare occurrence and I went in search of a "baby dummy" and got two little babies! So we are all set for a "Helping babies breathe" class. This is a simplified Neonatal resuscitation class made for 3rd world countries. We scheduled the class so the students coming off shift would be able to go and the ones coming on also. My room was full! At first they were shy and I asked are you understanding me? They all quickly said yes. But as our class progressed and we got the part where we practiced, and I gave them a scenario, I could see it they were truly learning, Then to make it stick, we just happened to have a birth immediately afterwards, and I said, Ok, do you have your supplies? who's on your team? Thankfully this baby didn't need any help breathing, but came out crying and strong!

The other great thing about my day was when the nurse that was doing the birth with me said, "I love the way the way you do births!" She got so excited when the head was partially out and said, "is baby ok?" I explained how the baby was fine because the cord is still doing it's work! She got so excited because they had the idea that they have to rush once they see the head. The birth today was very much like a birth at home, except for the fact of missing chux pads, and a ton of other missing items! haha. These people are masters at figuring out how to make do!