Posts
Clinical
in Uganda has met me, and my students, with some challenges. Though I am the teacher, I am also a
constant learner, particularly at the clinical site. Students, 22
in all, are split between 4 wards (as a comparison, in the US I would normally only have 8 students). I rotate between all these wards trying to
understand the layers of culture and clinical practice clinging to every
surface of this experience. In the
midst of directing students, I find myself trying to understand the different
levels of expectations and boundaries that reside with my presence on the
ward (both for the students and the staff). Such complexities fluctuate my
emotions throughout the day, impacting my perceived success. Grace, of course,
is required in such tricky situations and I am very thankful that God's grace
and love manage to overcome self-degradation!
The more I teach,
and the more I see at the hospital, the more I understand how important it is
to develop nurses who are willing to do something about the problems they see
in practice. When they see other health care workers accepting bribes or not
showing up to work or ignoring patients, I want my students to be the ones to
break this cycle. I want them to be leaders in their work place, to be knowledgeable nurses who care for their patients with the grace and love of Christ.
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| My students after their first day of clinical. |
Please be praying
for my students as they finish this last half of the semester. Also be praying
for me and my Ugandan colleagues, that we would be strong examples of what nurses and
nursing care can be.
