Week 5 of my clinical rotation and I'm finally more confident in my clinical abilities. So far I've scaled the computer charting wall, collected many passwords and am spending more time talking to my patients rather then trying to figure out the computer. I am amazed at how much of what I've learned in school is coming together for me. Suddenly, I can make sense of the labs, order appropriate testing, and consult with my physician colleges without the feeling of dread that they will scowl at me for asking so many questions. I guess that is what "integration" is for?..Graduation is quickly approaching and I still can't seem to bring myself to think that far ahead. Invitations?...reception dinner?...Thankfully, I have a couple weeks after I return home to worry about those details.
Aside from my random thoughts and wishful thinking, I am in awe of the women I care for. Some of them traveling 6 hrs for 1 prenatal visit, some may or may not have transportation, others dealing with family members with multiple issues, trying to get a college education and trying to maintain some sense of "healthy" for themselves. These women are doing the best they can for themselves and their families all the time! I find myself to be not only a healthcare provider, but a counselor, advocate, friend, and many other things. My only limiting factor is TIME! I'm having a hard time limiting my visit to just 10-30minutes a visit. I've heard this complaint again and again, how do they "preverbal bean counters" expect to me to see 20 women daily with varies issues? As my wonderful preceptor has told me recently, she has had to leave pieces of her heart behind to accommodate the increasing number of clients she "has" to see daily. Visiting with women is one of the things I love about becoming a midwife. I will have to think outside the box to give women the kind of care I think they should have and do it in 30 min or less.
On a separate note, I am still working on solving the pharmacy issue. That is..why does it take so long for medications to get filled at this particular Indian Health Services unit? Let me remind you, apparently it takes an average of 2-3 hrs for 1 prescription to be filled. I'm not saying the service units pharmacy is lazy or taking long lunch breaks, but I would really like to know the big secret as to how many prescriptions they fill daily vs. a Wall-greens and why Wall-Greens is faster? I know I'm not the only one who would like to know this answer.
One of my goals for being here was to educate women in their options for care and so far I've had the luxury of time to do that. Some women have been very forth coming in their questions about "all things female" while others have taking a quieter approach, but I fear with the lack of time we as providers have to discuss all matters of heart and health, we may be missing the meat of each visit. I know I've learned more about a woman in 1 good visit then I would have in 10 short visits! Each woman I encounter I learn a little more about her unique needs and I pray that I do not loose that closeness with them by trying to meet the needs of the practice I am with.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Reflections of Time
Its hard to believe I am already heading into my third week of clinical's here. I met a wonderful Navajo medicine woman who shared some traditional knowledge with me and also wrote a prayer for me to say each morning in Navajo. Per my request of course. This was actually one of the high lights of my week. As well as, attending a birth at which I got to see her provide labor support and prayers for a patient. I am still at the stage in my clinical training where I am gaining the trust of my preceptors and the nurses. This is always an uncomfortable stage for me, as that I have to share my past experiences with them and prove to them I am competent. It is even more worrisome when they know the program I am with is well known for "good" and "competent" students. Because, then they expect no less of me. I know it is how it has to be, but I am the type of person who likes to feel comfortable from the get go and feel like old friends, rather then to stumble around. However, I know the stumbling around part is in important step in my develop as well. Gotta stumble before I can stand...right?
Aside from some of the clinical and management skills I want to develop while I am here, I am trying to get a sense of what it means to be a Navajo woman. I mean, I know what kind of Navajo woman I am, but what does it mean to other Navajo women?....I am asking this question because it is interesting to see the role women play in each family and compare it to the role the elder women play in each family. There seems to be a shift in what the roles used to be to what they are now and also whether they are a "traditional" Navajo family or " non-traditional" Navajo family. I take this to be an interesting study of my own culture and what women's roles are in it. I have my own life to compare it to, but my up bringing was a mix of tradition and non-tradition. Further more, my experience with Navajo women in labor is limited. And let me tell you, the experiences I've had so far with them, is very different from the experiences I've had with other cultures. I find this interesting, because for one I am a Navajo woman, but yet I have little knowledge of how other Navajo women cope with the pains of labor, motherhood, and their overall new roles in their family. Again....this is stuff my mother never discussed with me. She went to the hospital one day and came home with her baby the next. She never talked about the pain of labor or how she coped with it, nor did she tell me about how her mother birthed her. Could this be the same experience other women have in my culture as well?
Obviously, I am seeking a deeper meaning to what it means to be a Navajo woman today and what it meant to be a Navajo women 20 or 30 years ago. I don't think I will get this answered in the short time I will be here, but I do look forward to spending some time with some of the elders to learn more about my cultural history. Its during this time I wish my grandmothers were still alive to share this knowledge with me. It is only through bits and pieces of other peoples stories am I able to put it together for myself.
Aside from some of the clinical and management skills I want to develop while I am here, I am trying to get a sense of what it means to be a Navajo woman. I mean, I know what kind of Navajo woman I am, but what does it mean to other Navajo women?....I am asking this question because it is interesting to see the role women play in each family and compare it to the role the elder women play in each family. There seems to be a shift in what the roles used to be to what they are now and also whether they are a "traditional" Navajo family or " non-traditional" Navajo family. I take this to be an interesting study of my own culture and what women's roles are in it. I have my own life to compare it to, but my up bringing was a mix of tradition and non-tradition. Further more, my experience with Navajo women in labor is limited. And let me tell you, the experiences I've had so far with them, is very different from the experiences I've had with other cultures. I find this interesting, because for one I am a Navajo woman, but yet I have little knowledge of how other Navajo women cope with the pains of labor, motherhood, and their overall new roles in their family. Again....this is stuff my mother never discussed with me. She went to the hospital one day and came home with her baby the next. She never talked about the pain of labor or how she coped with it, nor did she tell me about how her mother birthed her. Could this be the same experience other women have in my culture as well?
Obviously, I am seeking a deeper meaning to what it means to be a Navajo woman today and what it meant to be a Navajo women 20 or 30 years ago. I don't think I will get this answered in the short time I will be here, but I do look forward to spending some time with some of the elders to learn more about my cultural history. Its during this time I wish my grandmothers were still alive to share this knowledge with me. It is only through bits and pieces of other peoples stories am I able to put it together for myself.
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