Perseverance: A Vietnam Healthcare Story

Mercer on Mission 2010 visits Vietnam to care for the poor. Mercer on Missions goal is to deliver genuine care across borders while incorporating student learning. My experience traveling to a developing country has opened my eyes to many things I took for granted. I realized that life is not about "things" and many things are overlooked. Vietnam has taught me to be grateful for the little things in life because over there they may only have "little things." Nurses Announcements Archive Article

Perseverance: A Vietnam Healthcare Story

Mercer on a Mission focuses on delivering genuine care across borders while incorporating an unbelievable international learning experience for students. My eyes have truly been opened to many global health issues by traveling to Vietnam and by conducting clinics in areas of extreme poverty.

Many freedoms and benefits are taken for granted by U.S. citizens and until one is completely immersed in a foreign culture that is entirely different from their own, they are unable to realize how blessed they actually are. For example, something as simple as clean drinking water or toilets that flush is overlooked.

Reality is that many countries, including Vietnam, live in critical conditions, and as a nurse, I can be the one who spreads the word that these impoverished countries are crying for our help. I feel that it takes one individual to make a difference, but when a group of people come together and work hard for the same cause the outcome is unbelievable. It is my honor to present a case that our team encountered during our endeavors in Vietnam in 2010.

Our first stop was in Can Tho where we began clinics in the breezeway of the local hospital. It was our first day, a Monday to be exact, that we encountered a woman named Lin.

She is 45 years old, homeless, and lives under bridges. She explained to us that she has had severe stomach pain that gets worse when she eats for a long time. She claimed that she had Gallbladder Polyps. However, this information and paperwork were not available for us.

Katie Wells, a Medical student at Mercer University, knew that her symptoms were indicative of Cholelithiasis. We knew that she needed an ultrasound, however, in a communist country, it is very hard to obtain healthcare.

She lived under a bridge and could barely feed herself or her twelve-year-old daughter. This was very frustrating for our team because in the U.S we seek care when we need it and in Vietnam if you do not have money than you are not cared for. Through teamwork and God's blessings, Jacky, an MD at Can Tho general hospital, was able to perform an X-ray on Lin on Tuesday.

The healthcare system in Vietnam is very different than in the U.S. In a communist country, like Vietnam, the government makes every decision. Even individuals who have money and insurance may wait for weeks to get the care they need.

By utilizing the knowledge from many different disciplines we were able to brainstorm and work the system. I was able to experience the complete admission process to a government-run hospital.

I never imagined that the admission process could be so complex. First, we went upstairs with Jacky, the MD, and talked to hospital authority about admitting Lin quickly. This was a special circumstance since our team was sponsoring Lin to receive care.

We were able to get the lengthy admission process expedited. After speaking with many different people, we finally were quoted 500,000 VND to get Lin a bed.

500,000 VND is equivalent to 25.00 USD. This alone exemplified the extreme difference in cost of care in Vietnam than that of the US. It was Wednesday that Lin was admitted into the hospital.

We would expect that after admission the process would become easier, however, it was still complicated. We spoke with many different people that gave us many different quotes for the Laparoscopic cholecystectomy. We were quoted $250.00 and this was only applicable if no further complications were encountered.

Next, our hope was that the surgeon would consider Lin a candidate for the surgery. In a communist country, an individual must get approved by a set of doctors to receive services. It was Thursday that Lin had the Laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Through many long frustrating days, we accomplished our goal of Lin receiving her much needed surgery. This case truly exemplifies how crucial it is that all disciplines play their part and work together as a team to successfully meet their goals.

This heart touching experience is one that will never be forgotten. Although it caused frustration and left some of us feeling helpless, I am pleased to see a successful result.

This situation shows how important it is for me, as a nurse, to stay educated on all the different disciplines I work with and to be a team player. As a student here at Georgia Baptist College of nursing, I want to tell about this special experience and use it as a model in order to show the importance of teamwork and, most importantly, to never give up.

My name is Stephanie Kinsey and I am a senior nursing student at Georgia Baptist College of Nursing. I recently had the opportunity to travel to Vietnam with Mercer on Mission. This experience was life changing and very rewarding. I want to share my experience with all nurses and individuals within the medical field. Anyone who has a opportunity to travel to a developing country should absolutely do it.

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