Being a ward nurse...

I've now finished my two days of orientation to the ward. I've been on two of the four wards. Yesterday I was on the VVF ladies ward. Today I was on the plastics ward. The nursing care is similar to at home, and yet different. Everyone practices differently where I work in Canada, and there is even more diversity in practice when you have nurses from many different countries practicing together. All of the nurses I've worked with so far are fabulous, but we do things differently. The equipment is all different, and lots of varieties of tubings, types of gauze, IV stuff, etc. We certainly get some of the leftovers, but we're very well stocked, I think.
I'll have to learn some new skills: drawing blood, which only lab techs do at home; giving IV push medication, which you have to be specially certified to do at home; taking care of pediatrics (kids), which we have special wards for at home, etc. There will be lots to learn, but I think I'll love it!
At the start and end of every shift, the nursing staff pray together for the patients. We have a devotional time and sometimes singing. It's quite refreshing and a lovely start to a shift!
Every morning, the ward disciplers, who are Liberian/African nationals, lead devotions in each ward. It's such a nice time of singing and praising God and reading His word. I went this morning even though I wasn't working until the evening because it was a dress ceremony again. It brought tears to my eyes to see how grateful to God these women were. They have been healed not only physically, but spiritually, emotionally, etc. The people here are so beautiful. I can't get over how joyful they are in spite of much difficulty. And CAN they DANCE! They love to dance and sing! Their music makes me want to dance too, but I'm not able to move my body as well as they are!
I don't think it will be too difficult to work here as a nurse. I'll get used to it pretty quickly. It will just be the normal challenges of finding where things are, how things are done, and getting used to having kids as patients and knowing what to do for the various surgeries they do here. I'm used to learning on the job and having to think on my feet, so I think I'll be fine. The other nurses are extremely supportive as well, which is so important!
Oh, I have to get a picture of some of the cutest little kids I've ever seen! This one little guy wanders around all shift finding someone new to play with him or hold him. He has the most gorgeous puppy dog chocolate brown eyes framed with luscious lashes! He's extremely cute. Actually, he is the definition of cute. We can only take pictures of patients off the ward, so I hope I get an opportunity when we take them outside for a walk in the afternoon tomorrow. The "no pictures on the ward" rule is good because it prevents the patients from feeling like a spectacle. Many of them have lived their lives being looked at strangely, because they do have a strange appearance. So, we want them to have as much dignity as possible.
I'd better get to bed because I work morning shift tomorrow and it's already after 11 pm!