Haiti nursing experience

I thought that I knew all about transcultural nursing when I wrote about Yoshi- the young Hassidic Jewish patient we cared for and got through his bone marrow transplant. I didn't think that caring for Haitians and the nurses would qualify for this writing post. I'll give it my best shot. Nurses Announcements Archive Article

Last January I traveled to Haiti with 2 other nursing faculty to give the nurses an inservice- or what we call in the US "Continuing nursing education" (CEU's.) The nurses in Haiti do not have CEU's. They get through their education and have no other benefits to further their education. At my school of nursing, we thought- why can't we offer them continuing ed?

Barbara- put together a Power Point presentation on cardiac assessment. Mimi did one on maternal complications. I did mine on HIV/AIDS. A brief history- Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere. If you are looking at data- worst in infancy mortality. Worst in HIV, Worst in poverty. Worst in life expectancy. Worst in income (average 300/year for one who is working.) Life expectancy is about 48 for men and 45 for women. Worst in incidence in TB. This is a country that is 90 minutes from our shores in FL and a universe away as far as means go.

We stayed on the grounds of Hopital Sacre Coure (Sacred Heart) and worked in this 68 bed hospital. This hospital is in Milou, about 12 miles from Cap Haitian. The 12 mile journey is over an hour by Land Rover due to the horrific roads. I quickly learned that there was no running water. No plumping for the clinics- though the hospital thanks to the sisters- had toilets.

Nurses out there- we had 1 sink for 68 patients. We had 1 sharps box for 68 patients. We had no running water to drink- so if you didn't bring your own water- you were thirsty. My colleagues and I went back to our "dorm" rooms for lunch and hydration. Up again after 2, back to the hospital. Our hosts made us lunch and provided us with drinking water. We spent the remaining evening giving care, providing inservices and just trying to "be there" for our Haitian nurses. They work much longer shifts then I ever do in the US. What was very different is that for the patients who made it to our hospital- their care givers had to provide food and water. Hopital Sacre Coure has no cafeteria. No water. That is the way it is in most 3rd world countries. The family/friends have to provide food and often bed clothes- though here we did have a laundry.

Food for the patients you wonder? Just outside of the "emergency room" is an out door market. Probably the only income for many- they make rice soup, fried plantains, fried veggies of what ever they can find. To have a job is a luxury- and to provide food for the patients of our hospital is guaranteed job. Family members have to buy food AND water for their patients. We had no water to offer them. I could change dressings.... but could not offer the burn patient a sip of water. I was nearly passing out due to the severity of her burns. Gagging. She was moaning. All I could do was hold her good hand and help her to fall asleep without medication. Haunts me as she probably died from her horrific injuries.

I came back to our dorms each night tired but thankful. I ate a lot of rice. Took 1 skimpy shower in a week. Didn't wash my hair- had no water. Took care of a lot of suffering Haitians who were so grateful for all that we did.

Flew back to Ft. Lauderdale and was shell shocked at the waste.

Wish every nurse. Or American Teen could see the horrific conditions that exist just miles from our shores.

My practice today has changed and I try hard to educate my students about watching what we waste and are careless about.

Soap box? Off of for now.

Specializes in Occ Health; Med/Surg; ICU.

Nice post, thank you.

To any nurses in America that have Haitian patients I suggest you read up on their religion and expect that they will, in almost all cases turn to or consult their local witch doctor and or religious practices. Understanding this relationship will go a very long way in being a culturally accommodating nurse and will afford the patient with both dignity and care that leads to a good outcome.

You can research the relationship if you do some research.

Thanks to all of you writing in this topic who have helped me remember I'm not alone. I just joined this forum a few days' ago and stumbled across this post on Haiti. My husband has been traveling to Haiti for 25+ years and I've been traveling there for 10. We also travel and stay in Milot at the Catholic parish located there. My husband lived in Milot from 2000-2002. Sr. Martha was the administrator at Sacre Coure & is now leaving after 10 years of service and while the hospital will still be supported by Crudem, it is now completely administered & staffed by Haitians, a long-term goal that was finally accomplished with the help of the Daughters of Charity. (Sr Martha & her predecessors.) They brought the Haitian administrators to several of their hospitals in the US to help train them in their role.

Because of Haiti, I'm giving serious thought to becoming an NP in Holistic nursing. I have no real desire to be one here in the US, but know it would be of help to me when I travel there. Once people know you are a nurse, they will come to you for help, whether you can or not.

My husband & I have a small non-profit to help children & families in Haiti. It's not much, but we send over $25,000/year to Haiti graciously given by our sponsors. (www.stjosephworker.org) Yet, another nurse I work with here in the US always gets angry when she hears me talk of another trip. She says "There are plenty of people HERE in the US who need help. Why don't you help THEM? You don't have to go to 'that place' to help." And I just smile and acknowledge her, but don't really try to answer. I think maybe you have to 'experience' Haiti to know why we keep going back, as so many of you have described here.

Of course, they have no medicaid or medicare, no food stamps, no govt stimulus packages, no social security, not even neighbors or family who have 'enough' to share with them. But I'm not sure that's even why most of us go.

It is a world that, yes, STUNS most Americans when they first visit. In fact, on my first trip to Haiti, my flight out of Miami back to TN was delayed for several hours. YOU know the guilt I felt at spending $5 on a book to read!

My husband always said not to go to Haiti because you 'SHOULD" but only if it was something you knew in your heart you needed to do.

I've often said that I go back to Haiti to remember who I am and what is important. When I start complaining about my 'troubles' here in the US.... I need to go to Haiti to be reminded that I really HAVE no troubles. My husband and I both say that we always come back from Haiti having been given much, much more than we could ever have given to them.

As far as religion goes....it's reported that Haitians are 97% Catholic and 100% voudou. While they may consult a voudou practitioner, in most villiages and towns the local priest is not only a minister, but a teacher, counselor, community leader and often the one who will drive them to the nearest medical care when they are seriously ill.

There are so many organizations that go there, and as most of you know....there's plenty of work for ALL of us to do! (Including keeping our own government honest about issues.)

There are some non-religious organizations that travel there, such as Doctors Without Borders & Smile Train. But in a country of people who live on such close, personal terms with their God, it's hard to be completely void of any religious context while there. Haitians will often tell you good-bye and that they will see you again...if God wills. They really take to heart that their daily bread comes from above.

A new hospital is being built in the southwest halfway between Jeremie and PAP by www.visitationhospital.org It's completed phase 1, and when all completed will be a 100-bed modern, Americanized hospital. I keep trying to imagine that existing in Haiti! What a wonderful dream, and in time, reality.

And as a side note....my husband and I travel to Haiti at least once a year; we're planning a trip for mid-April right now. We don't do medical work, save the minor care I can do such as hand out tylenol or wrap sprained ankles. However, if you're interested in getting a 'taste' of Haiti for the first time (or a repeat time!) feel free to contact me.

Blessings to all of you for what you've done, what you dream of, and what you will do!

Specializes in Education and oncology.

((HolisticDream))) Thank you for such a powerful posting- and an update on Sr. Martha. I'm sorry she's leaving but can understand and am glad that the administrative staff are Haitian. That's truly the goal- help them to help themselves, not just a handout.

I hear a lot about the "need" in this country, but that's what struck me- we have soup kitchens, food stamps, even just begging as the passers by usually have something to give. In Haiti, they have NOTHING. I watched the children at the Sunday mass, dressed in bows and spotless dresses- no pants or jeans here... and their hands were empty. No juice boxes, toys, trinkets, iPods, cell phones etc. Take a look at almost any American child, and they have a bag of toys, electronics, etc.

We stopped and watched the children at Hopitol Sacre Coure waiting to be seen at the pedi clinic, and they had made a car out of a stick and some bottle caps. wow. At least 4 of them playing/sharing this toy they had made. Our kids here would be screaming and fighting over a toy.

I wish that every teenager had the opportunity to spend 1 week in Haiti and experience the poverty and lack of food/water/entertainment. I don't wonder why they have such a powerful relationship to God- there is not much else to distract them.

Bless you and your husband and I will look up your website.

I remember one of my first visits, and meeting a five-year-old child who walked 2 hrs each morning to get to school.... and was immensely grateful for the blessing of that opportunity. My own children didn't complain much about school after hearing about that child.

What so impresses me: very few are looking for a 'free' handout. They just want a hand UP, so they can make their own way.

BTW...if anyone is ever interested in embroidered Haitian cards, linens, shirts, or paintings.... there is a women's cooperative in Milot that employs over 50 women doing just that: making their own way.

Specializes in Education and oncology.

Quick note- "Helping Hands for Haiti". Certainly "CRUDEM". We have many non-profit groups here in the US that contribute to the cause of Haiti. Those who want to help merely need to go online. Blessings to all who contribute time and resources.

Please don't hesitate to contact me if contact info needed.

This is for Butterfly51

...yourstatement on "...there are hospitals in places like FL and NY that are very third world, the nurses have to take out the garbage, pack boxes in supply room (personal experience) treated like nothing by management ..."

Can you please share either the names or locations of theses places... I always interested in places as such..

Fulawmn

Hello holisticdreams,

I'm interestd in traveling to Hati with your group.

Please contact me.

Fulawmn

I was just wondering if you have any contacts in milot or information about the hospital there. I was there this summer volunteering in an orphanage and am starting nursing school now. I would love to go back and work/volunteer there as a nurse next summer.

Specializes in Education and oncology.

If you're in Milot, the hospital is Hopital Sacre Coeur and is supported by Crudem. Go to "Crudem.org" website for info re: volunteering. A team put together by Crudem goes down during the "winter" or cooler months and donates a week of service. I'm not sure what you would do, but they'll have a better idea. (Do you know French or even Creole? That was my biggest hurdle!) Good luck!

Ya i was at that hospital this summer a few times with the kids from the orphanage. Do you know how i could contact them about volunteering there? The website doesnt really have a contact us section at all. I took french in highschool/university a little bit so i picked up a little creole this summer. Would need to do some more classes, but the basics i got this summer.!

Specializes in Holistic and Aesthetic Medicine.

Although it is a bit wealthier, my experience in the Dominican Republic was the same regarding people taking their medicine to a curandera. They would ask her if she should take it. We started telling patients that if they have a curandera, they should take the medicine to her. Tell her these are the reasons we want you to take it. Respecting the wisdom of the native healers and choosing to work with them was very effective at increasing compliance.

Thanks so much to everyone re: your Haiti posts. I feel really inspiried by your stories. I've been able to go to Belize and the DR. Both were great opportunities.

I'm from CA, I'm finishing my second semester of nursing pre-reqs. I traveled to Haiti last June, and was also shocked at how much we take for granted, running water, toilets, air conditioning, clean water, clothes, shoes, food. It was an incredible experience to hold a newborn baby and realize how blessed people in America are. My brother is there in Haiti right now, building and teaching sunday school. We both hope to continue going, I eventually as a nurse and him as a missionary pilot. Thank you to the nurses that are already down there!!!