Study Abroad with UNA
Mandy Taylor
The Experience of a Lifetime
This trip has been the experience of a lifetime. As I think back to my very first post when I said our hearts were full, I think I didn’t know just how much more our hearts could hold after 10 days in this beautiful country with such an amazing team/family. In this short period of time, I have experienced some of the saddest and happiest moments of my life. I could not imagine a better group of people to have shared this experience with. In our 3 clinics alone, we were able to see roughly around 700 patients. … // Read more
Goodbye, City of Refuge!
Today our team split up into four different groups and visited different private clinics. The groups went to an OB-GYN clinic, a general practice clinic, a pediatric clinic, and an orthopedics clinic. While we were all spread out today, it was great to be able to share our varying experiences with each other! This afternoon, we were treated to delicious snow cones from a local business. Later, we were invited to dinner by Dr. Barrientos at his home in Chiquimula. He and his family prepared a delicious meal for us while we enjoyed ourselves in his pool, basketball court, … // Read more
A Day in Guatemalan Hospitals
Today has been one of the hardest days of my life. This morning we went to the Hospital Nacional de Chiquimula. This is a public hospital with very limited resources and technology. We split up into groups and went to the emergency department, the intensive care unit, labor and delivery, and pediatrics. My group started out in the ICU, which was divided into the pediatric side and the adult side. Unfortunately, in the short time we were there we lost two little ones. An 8 year old, who suffered from pneumonia and went into septic shock, and a 5 … // Read more
Clinica Número Uno
Today was our first clinic at the Iglesia Cristiana Odre Nuevo in Chiquimula. We were able to see about 150 patients throughout the day! Each person had their blood pressure, pulse, and temperature checked before being sent to a translator to talk about medical problems/complaints. From there, they would wait (in a very long line) to see one of our AMAZING healthcare providers to receive a diagnosis/order for meds. After this, they would bring their order to the pharmacy, where it would be filled and given to them with thorough instructions on proper administration. To see all of our team … // Read more
Packed and Guatemala Bound!
We are packed and ready to go! 19 suitcases have been filled to the brim with medical supplies, medicine, baby formula, shoes, clothes, and many other various items for the people of Guatemala! I am confident that I can speak for all of our team members when I say that our hearts are just as full as those 19 suitcases. Tomorrow is the big day, and I am so eager to use the nursing skills I have learned thus far to make a difference in the lives of those who are less fortunate. Guatemala, here we come!
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