So Many Firsts.....

Pediatric Ward

During our first week in Tamale, we spent four days learning at the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH) on three separate floors; Accident & Emergency, Labour & Delivery, and lastly Pediatrics where we (Jill and Syd) spent our time. For Syd, working with children has always been her end goal so finally having the opportunity to work with kids was exciting!

Each day we began our morning eating a breakfast sandwich at Bakisu's followed by waving down tricycles (A.K.A Yellow Yellows) or taxis to TTH. One day, while waiting at the taxi stand, a car pulled over and asked if we wanted a ride.  Imagine our surprise when Jeanette spoke with him quickly and told us to get in.  Four of us loaded into his car, and as we pulled away from the taxi stand we found out he was one of the nurses on Pediatrics.  We'll admit we were a bit surprised when Jeanette offered us up....and then realized this was just another example of the genuine kindness of the people living within this country.

 

Bakisu and Jessica - Making our Breakfast

Completely outside of our comfort zone, what awaited us on the other side of those Pediatric unit doors was a whirlwind of mixed emotions.  Before we go any further into our experience, we would like to thank and make note of how wonderful and welcoming each and every single staff member was on the Pediatric unit. The students, nurses, physicians, and nutritionalists are just some of the incredible individuals that work beautifully within this environment to care for and save the lives of children every waking day. 

With the help of two unbelievable nurses, A.A and Osman, we were able to assist and get to know a number of patients and their families who were all admitted for a multitude of reasons. We spent a majority of our time on the East wing of the Pediatric ward which consisted of critical care, malaria, sepsis, meningitis, gastroenteritis, nephrology, hepatology, oncology, and malnutrition. 

Taking a Yellow-Yellow to TTH

There is no emotion that can describe the way your heart feels when you are surrounded by extremely sick children but still manage to work a smile or a laugh out of them. Unfortunately along with the joy came a great deal of heartache and sadness. On this unit we witnessed our first cardiac arrest and death.  Having the privilege of growing up in Canada, this is something we are not accustomed to seeing, especially with a child so young and a condition we would deem "treatable". 

Even with our heavy hearts, we both left this placement with unforgettable memories and a new admiration and appreciation for the health care providers.  It was truly fascinating to watch the staffs’ ability to critically think and improvise in an environment where they lacked or had little of the necessary equipment and supplies needed for a procedure. However, this did not threaten or hinder their ability in completing a task but rather allowed them to be creative in how they provided competent and safe care. For instance we saw IV/Oxygen tubing and the cuff of a glove being used as a tourniquet.   To prevent an infant from pulling out his nasogastric tube, the staff were able to splint the infant’s hands simply with cardboard and tape rather than resorting to restraints. This is so different....they work with what they have.....and as they would tell us...."here in Ghana, we improvise".  We saw examples of it every day. 

During our time at TTH we learned many different approaches to, and aspects of health care, especially in a global health context.  We carefully examined, explored, witnessed, and lived the similarities and differences of our Westernized approach to medicine to those here at TTH. We gained a level of knowledge and skill from the staff at TTH that will continually shape our careers as registered nurses.

And for this we are grateful.

Jillian Filsinger & Sydney Schindel

4th year BSN students

University of British Columbia Okanagan 

Jill & Syd