Cindy Jenson Medical Missions

05 Aug 26 Today’s post is about what’s different working here on the Africa Mercy Ship

1. Dates are written differently. I started writing the month as a word rather than a number to keep from getting confused. I realized after the fact that I filled out my visa info incorrectly. Fortunately they figured out I was just a stupid American.
2. Acetaminophen is called paracetamol here
3. Our OR schedule doesn’t have times, just an approximate operating time. Before starting today we had an educational lecture, played a get to know you game and sang happy birthday to one of our surgeons. After that our room huddled to plan the day.
4. In many countries anesthesiologists are referred to as anesthetists. The OR is the operating theatre.
5. Our IV fluids come in 500 ml bottles and it’s called compound sodium lactate.
6. Our anesthesia machine has a button for total gas flow and Fi O2. You change these and the flow rates for oxygen and air are adjusted accordingly.
7. I have to remember to take the oxygen mask to the recovery room and bring a clean blood pressure cuff back with me.
8. All of our patients are in the hospital the night before. The wards are opposite the OR and down one deck from my cabin. So this evening after dinner I went to do a preop visit with all of my patients for tomorrow. There is an interpreter there at all times as well as in the OR when the patient is going to sleep and waking up.
9. In addition, all of my patients from today were also there so I could see how they were doing.
10. I am amazed how well this group from all over with different skill sets, ways of doing things and levels of experience works like a well oiled machine. Everyone has been helpful, tolerant and kind.

And the last thing I learned: you have to lock stools and carts that are on wheels or they will roll across the room as the ship tilts a bit!

Until tomorrow……

Blessings,

Cindy