by raerusse

The thread on "will the NICU limit me" is kind of discouraging to me because I am starting NICU internship in June as a new grad (very excited), but also am interested in volunteering for medical missions to third world countries. Are there very many opportunities for neonatal nurses to do medical missions in our area of specialty? I know the same technologies/equipment will not be available, but will my skills still be useful?

Re: Medical Missions?

There are two posters on this BB who have writen about participating in medical missions: Spidey's Mom and I believe the other poster's name is LilPeanut, or something like that. Perhap you could pm them for more information.

While your NICU experience will be very specialized, I don't think it would prevent you from being useful on a medical mission trip. These missions serve people in very remote areas for whom even basic health care is a rarity. I am sure you would be able to participate in immunizations, pre-op and recovery care because the setting and expectations are so different than they are here in the U.S. Even though you may not be experienced in adult acute care, you will be skilled with infection control practices, injections, starting IVs, assessing and monitoring patients. Without the threat of litigation hanging over you head like it does here, you can provide those aspects of care to patients who will gratefully accept your expertise.

Re: Medical Missions?

Many nurses in our unit go on medical missions, although except for some to Russian ICNs in the 1990s, none of them are specifically nursery related care. Most of the nurses I know about go to Guatamala, Viet Nam and places with limited medical staff to help care for pre and post surgical children and adults--mostly for surgeries like cleft lip and palate or fistulas. The nurses like firming other skills that they may not use in the ICN while taking care of patients who are so immensely grateful to get this kind of medical service.

One nurse I know went to Indonesia after the tsunami and has worked on the medical ship Mercy. If you are interested in volunteering, most of these organizations will be happy to have you on board, regardless of what unit you work in at your home hospital.

Dawn

Re: Medical Missions?

I've known nurses who have done this and have found it very, very fulfilling. I'd like to do it myself. It's nursing the way it used to be, not bogged down in a thousand regulations but helping people who need help and appreciate it.

Re: Medical Missions?

This is very interesting question that I had been wondering about myself lately. I was in a car accident a few weeks ago and the er doc got all excited when he found out I was a NICU nurse. He had been on a medical mission in Africa and had met up with a doctor from Europe who does NICU missions. Apparently this guy is actually doing bubble C-pap in rural Africa. Also one of our educators showed us a picture the other day of 6 infants in Africa who were receiving oxygen from a single setup using homemade oxyhoods. So there is a definite need in our field. I too hope to be able to participate in a NICU mission some day!

Re: Medical Missions?

There are also opportunities to go and teach nurses or nursing students in other countries. Your time, efforts, and expertise have unlimited potential to impact the people in that area if you are teaching nurses who will be able to carry on that work after you return home. There are varying levels of technology like you mentioned. But think about the difference that teaching about basic thermoregulation, lactation, glucose stabilization, etc. could make in places where 36 weeks is considered the edge of viability. Or places with more technology but limits in the education their staff may have. There is a huge need in this area!

Re: Medical Missions?

The entire reason I want to be a nurse is just for the opportunity to serve in another country as an RN. I really dont even care what continent i'm on when I do this. I just wanna serve. But mind you, I'm two years away. Check out the World Health Org, OliveBranch Ministries and Doctors Without Borders for starters. Blessings to you!

Re: Medical Missions?

I had a NICU nurse contact me just this morning looking for a medical mission. I couldn't locate one immediately and this is my specialty! (medical missions that is). So, I love identifying a problem and looking for a solution and hopefully soon, we'll have a better free-text search engine on our site so we can do NICU and other specific searches. I'll also be reaching out to our partners about this specific area and if I find anything, I'll post it back.

Re: Medical Missions?

Yeah, my co-workers have gone abroad and taught NRP to third world countries before, there's a huge need for that.

Stuff we do routinely for LBW infants is taken for granted by us, but can be a death sentence for little 34-36 weekers.

Re: Medical Missions?

I have gone on several medical missions and although I am a nicu nurse (never worked with adults) I did the triage along with several Icu nurses. I did the BP and glucose screening. I learned a lot and the ICU nurses were there if I had any questions. Due to school, finances and life changes I havent done any missions in 2 yrs and I miss doing them.