Nursing in Bangui - CAR

We finally went back to work at the complex pediatrique at the end of November.

I started in the urgence medical: medical emergency department. It was going ok until we had two very I'll patients at the same time, one resus after the other. The doctor was writing notes and the nurse was trying to put in an iv line when I noticed he had stopped breathing. I grabbed the mask and bag to start resus. But the mask was too big, I couldn't find the baby one ( later I found someone had disconnected the rubber from the plastic- Abd that's why I couldn't see it ) so we called icu and the nurse helped. Thank God she came, she us a very good nurse, although she is a bitch. They didn't have any suction catheters in their draw ( the nurse) so I grabbed my box which was fine. But I was really condemned for it. The national nurses give me their list of stock needs and I replace them twice a day. It was my third day and I overestimated their abilities. Anyways, basically local staff mostly stuck in emergencies and in the end the room was full (it's a small room, so maybe 4) of international staff with the national staff at the edges. It was a shame because we are supposed to be teaching them what to do. One died but one is still in intensive care. I had a big cry to the head nurse about it. I've never worked in the emergency department or with kids. I've never ventilated someone before either, so I'm really not a great fit for the area. Especially as the doctors don't take charge! I saw the nurse taking blood on a red code while the doctor was seeing another patient, it's ridiculous. Still trying to cannulate when the oxygen is 85%. The department is defiantly the hardest, the staff area really hard to manage, always late, really stubborn and no skills.

In general it was also a hard first week back as I'm still new here ( to the work) so I'd ask a question about a drug or what we do for a certain illness and the reply is often common Lisa you should know this! Ffs I've worked in tropical medicine for 2 weeks- and most of the drugs are in Italian or have other brand names. The office said take it easy on yourself for the first month/ 2 months. It takes time to get used to it etc. Very nice. They should say that to all the other staff, rather than have a bit because I almost ran out of stock on my second time ever ordering.

So after a week I went back to my old ward soins continue. I really like being back, my nurses are nice and I can really teach them stuff. They still miss obs and some drugs but are getting there.

Now we have two new staff they are really nice and one old one came back- another English/ non-Italian speaker! She is really nice and is in urgence medical. Two mean nurse have left. So the team is improving.

Yesterday was Xmas eve. They had some sort of ceremony in front if the hospital then the presidents wife came in to meet the kids and give them presents. Nice gesture, I got to shake her hand. Bit intimidating with all the soldiers with massive guns around though.

My mum sent me a package. I told the logistician that if it was going to cost too much money to pay taxes and bribery that they can keep it. He was negotiation/ waiting for how much. Then he have it to me and said I didn't have to pay anything! Then today the invoice arrived for 287 Euro. Wtf . I was very clear that if it's ridiculous they can keep it. Total contents is only worth 100AUD. Merry Christmas Lisa. Fu Emergency.Read more