Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital

      So we finished up our first week of clinics on Thursday. What a week! Now, there are 3 groups of us all at different hospitals and my group got to be at the public children's hospital this week. It was beyond intense! We were literally at the hospital from 8-6 everyday. The schedule consisted of clinic from 8- whenever you wanted to take lunch and then we had class at 4. The first two days at the hospital were not as clinic-like as expected because we were literally just thrown out into the hospital and told to make ourselves useful wherever we saw fit haha. Majority of the other volunteers left at noon which allowed us an ample amount of opportunities to be helpful to the nurses and doctors. Unfortunately the nurses and the doctors did not see us as helpful as we saw ourselves but rather just someone in the way so that was a little disappointing at first but nothing that couldn't be overcome.

      On the first day, we went to a presentation about what toys are appropriate for what ages which was hosted by some Child Life majors from Iowa. It was helpful to an extent but a lot of the children are beyond developmentally so that was kind of hard. After the presentation, we got assigned someone to show us the ropes. First, we went to the Toy Room!!! It literally is every child's Disney Land in that place. We picked out books and puzzles and play-doh for the kiddos we would be with that day. Next, we went to our first ward and I got to play with a little boy who thought it was a great idea to throw things at me for 2 hours while I dodged them ha but at least it brought joy to his day while he's recovering from some very painful burns! After tea time, David told us to go out and make ourselves useful somewhere again haha. They wanted us to actually be involved in patient care and doing things, but again we were sent out into the hospital. I was a little confused as to how this was going to work but I just went with the flow. I walked onto a ward and up to the first nurse who looked like she had some tenure and said, "Excuse me. My name is Morgan and I'm a student at UCT. We are taking classes here at the hospital and I'm here to observe and help you today. Would that be ok?" Surprisingly, she said yes and I was on the job. Nurse MoFlo in the house errbody! Not long after, I found out that I had walked straight into the high care ward for kidney and liver patients but my day was just beginning. I got to do all sorts of things that I know have already enhanced my nursing career as well as widened my spectrum of patient care! As my heart began to break for these sick children, I began to see the lack of healthcare workers for this area as well as a lack of morale and respect between patients, family and the nurses. My heart was overwhelmed but I kept trucking.

      Day two was interesting in the fact that we didn't go to a presentation and we were told not to do the play volunteer program! I was a little confused as to what we were supposed to be doing but TIA. You kinda have to flexible here or else it'll get the best of you, and we all know I'm not about that life. So, David told us to find Heather and she would take us up to a ward where we could be of some help. Little did we know that would not be the case...immediately we were taken up to the cardiac and tracheostomy floor. The children were literally so precious that I could not contain myself and just had to be with them! So we got a little baby tour by the head sister in charge and then we were off to work aka "make yourself useful." I found a nurse who I felt was in need of a student ha and we began preparing the meds for all of the patients on that floor. I mostly watched and was slightly shocked at the process, but TIA. That took quite some time but then, the doctors came in and we got to go bed to bed getting a breakdown of each patient and the plan of care that was to come. It was so kool to hear everything firsthand! After all of that, I was so excited to finally know what I was doing! Until, one of the other nurses pretty much came up and said some not kind words and I voluntarily left that ward. I went down to the pharmacy and just ended up playing with the kids in the waiting room and they were so excited! It was good for my heart to speak the language of kids for some time.

      On the third day, we had a completely different schedule again! This time we were given assigned wards with someone in charge of us. I was assigned the Intensive Care Unit. I first met with the social worker for the unit and we discussed each of the patients that I would be working with and what would be the best way for me to play with them. I was so excited! We discussed the importance of play in these children's everyday routine and how they don't get to do it enough. So, that day I got to play for like 6 hours straight- I even skipped lunch because me and this precious little boy were having so much fun. He was teaching me how to make chicken curry! That's a big deal y'all! But any who, I went back on day four and played with the same little boy.

      Overally, I had a great experience at the children's hospital. Sometimes it was hard to know exactly what I was supposed to be doing here because of organizational issues but that was minor compared to the hope and joy that was instilled in and experienced all in the midst. I wouldn't have changed one thing about this week! It would not have been worth it had it been easy the whole time.