Waited for the sun to go down. Had some mattresses outside the balcony. It was nice and windy. Got bit by one mosquito. Good thing I brought a lot of insect repellant wipes with me. The sunset was magnificent. What a view! A nice way to help relax before going to work that night. Once it was time, those of us decided to go to the main hospital to check out the "assignment list". Janet told us that assignments for everyone would be listed on this piece of paper. I was anxious to find out where I was going to be assigned for the night.
Once we got to where the list was posted, I didn't see my name anywhere. Did they forget about me? I thought to myself. There were a lot of people everywhere. Those preparing to work, and those getting ready to rest for the night. I was determined to do something tonight. I decided to go downstairs to the main floor where the operating rooms and patient recovery rooms were located.
First thing I remember doing, was helping someone move a hospital bed into one of the already crowded rooms. Once in this room, I was pulled aside by one of the other CRNAs named Brenda. She apparently was working the day shift with her team members and were providing nursing care all day. She saw that I had "Vince, CRNA" written on my shirt and pulled me aside and asked if I was working the night shift. After I said, "yes, I'm here to help", she told me that I needed to take care of a patient in the next room who was badly burned during the quake (he was apparently in his car in Port-au-Prince when the quake hit and was crushed inside his car which exploded. He was found 5 days later, badly burned over 90% of his body but still miraculously alive), and that he needed someone with critical care skills to look after him.
One of the physicians who was in charge of of the hospital that day spoke with me and gave me a quick history of his injuries, along with what needed to be done through the night. Another patient came in to the room from the operating room who was in critical condition. I now had 2 very ill patients to look after, with very little to no monitoring equipment available! All I had was access to a huge oxygen tank, a monitor that I shared between both patients, and a hardly working suction device (the only one in the whole place!).
Once I got a quick report from the physician, they asked me to go around with Brenda so that she can give me report on EVERYONE in the hospital (there were probably over 30 patients). Seemed that I was going to be in charge for the night. I asked the attending physician if he was going to be available for the night shift, to which he replied, "No. I'm going to rest and sleep. You'll do just fine."
At this point, I got very nervous. But then, I figured that if something urgent was to happen, I could just barge in one of the rooms upstairs to ask for help. No problem I kept telling myself.
Here I am with 2 very sick patients to look after, plus being in charge of all the other sick patients in the wards! I needed some help. Janet, who was an Angel throughout this whole week, managed to recruit 3 Dom. Rep Medical students for the night shift. She told me that I was to utilize them in whatever aspect of care I needed them to do.
I also asked Luc and Helen who are my team members to help and stay with me. They gladly agreed. Now I had 5 people to help for the night...
Once the dust settled, so to speak...when everyone from the day shift started leaving...I focused on what was at hand - taking care of these 2 critically ill patients. Meanwhile, the rest of our night shift crew got busy giving routine medications and medical treatments/care to everyone who needed it. It was chaotic to say the least. I felt like going into a battle zone with a blind fold. I'm sure everyone else felt the same way as I did...
I went around the hospital to help familiarize myself with it's layout. The night shift pharmacy crew was there...still organizing all the medications that were coming in non-stop from donors.
I found the surgical instrument cleaning room, where used instruments were soaking in alcohol or bleach. No fancy sterilizing machines here. This is OLD school now...
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