Birthday Blog!!
on Rachael's VSO experience (Malawi), 19/Mar/2011 08:47, 34 days ago
So Tuesday was the end of my orientation! Wow I'm sure you're thinking now time for Rachael to get on with some proper work. This would be true but unfortunately no one seems to know exactly what it is they want me to do! The paediatric matron is in Nkhata bay on some kind of conference for two weeks and the CNO is 'uncontactable' and has been since the 9th March. I know this from the post it note on her office door!! These are the two people that are really supposed to set what they want me to do. Some of my job description is specific; like audit equipment, but most of it is very vague and I need them to clarify how they want me to work. My programme manager from VSO is coming on Friday to see how we are settling in. The answer is I like it here on the most part I find it frustrating that I don't know what they want me to do and have no clear outline for the job that they want me to do. I have two options, one is to just do things off my own back the other is to just work. Realistically I think just working is the best option as I don't want to waste my time doing things for the matron and CNO to come back and say that's not what they want! In some ways I'm looking forward to going back to the paediatric ward as my Tumbuka has improved and I know it sounds silly but I know how to nurse so it's safe! Nursing doesn't really change, the management and the equipment do but generally nursing is nursing no matter where you do it.So basically I have spent the week working on the paeds ward. I am actually beginning to love it, I find it amazingly rewarding when a child doesn't die and when they begin to look better because of the nurses it makes me amazingly proud. I'm still crap at cannulating but it's a skill that takes time and I'll get there soon. So on Friday the CNO returned and I briefly spoke to her to clarify who is going to set my objectives. She told me she wants it done by the paediatric matron who returns to work on Monday. Hopefully by the end of Monday I'll have some idea of where we are heading and what we are going to do. So it's been an interesting week. Met with my VSO programme manager on Friday to make sure we were settling in OK which was nice. It made the day difficult though because we weren't really sure what to do after that. I had a meeting at the university in the afternoon and so could have gone to the ward and worked for a few hours but once you start it's really hard to leave so I planned some teaching sessions. I feel incredibly guilty whenever I'm not on the ward working and it isn't helped as the nurses believe that if you aren't on the ward you aren't working! I'm not sure how I'm going to be able to get around that unless I work on the paeds ward but there aren't any offices only the staff room which isn't really practical! Friday marked another important event in my life..my birthday. Which I celebrated well by working, although I had finished by 14.30 so went out for lunch but then felt really guilty as I felt like I should have been at work. Whilst out I bought a bottle of wine, a mars bar and a packet of Lays cheese and onion crisps!! All of these items are a treat in Malawi and I enjoyed all of them. The Oxford medical students who have kept me company since I moved in leave Malawi today, they gave some books to me as a birthday present so I have something new to read!! Teresa one of the nurse lecturers gave me a sachet of hot chocolate. It's funny how a different location and different amount of money changes your perspective on things. Old books and a single sachet of chocolate made me really happy!!I'm going out today with some of the other volunteers to watch rugby. Its funny but going without telly for a while and suddenly when you see news in a shop window or in a café you stare amazed as if you've never seen a working telly!! My Tumbuka lessons are coming along it's just unfortunate that the teacher can't make weekends so I have to miss 2 hrs of work but I'm going to talk to the matron on Monday and see if she has any suggestions. In general life in Malawi continues at a slow pace but I kind of like it to be honest. Things that you wouldn't think twice about in England give me immense pleasure here. Finding a Snickers bar was a highlight as was finding proper Heinz tomato ketchup and beans! My cooking skills are greatly improving, I'm even daring to venture away from the recipe book. I was never really that interested in cooking at home and now I love making preparing a meal take at least an hour! I get up at 5.30 every morning and take a thirty minute walk, mainly because it is a beautiful time just as the sun has risen but also because it is often the only exercise I get during the week. Apart from cooking I've done a lot of sewing this week, I've also been attempting to capture the amazing night sky here. There are so many stars and with no street lights it is incredible. Unfortunately none of my photos are coming out well! I've also foundabout 100 different versions of patience you can play on my computer which keeps me busy for hours.My Tumbuka teacher is busy this weekend so I am not going to church with her.. Yeah I'm gutted too..... More time for drinking alcohol and shopping yay!! Oh and cleaning and washing.... booo