Two separate teams of health science students are in Guatemala over Spring Break this year.  One team consists of nursing and pharmacy students.  The other includes OT and PT students.  Both  team are writing about their experiences.

Team Nursing/Pharmacy
from Kristen Flowers and Noah Ploegman

On our second day in Guatemala began with a traditional Guatemalan breakfast prepared by a local mother and daughter. After breakfast, we ventured thirty minutes under the shadow of an active volcano to a coffee plantation where women enthusiastically greeted each member of the team with a hug.

The owner of the plantation allowed us to set up a clinic in the school for his employees and their families. We provided screenings for diabetes and hypertension, personal hygiene, nutrition, and CPR. In return, the plantation owner invited us to experience the “work” on a coffee plantation. We were able to sort and pick coffee beans, and observe, first hand, the heavy lifting the workers perform. This experience gave us insights into why we were seeing so many workers complaining of shoulder and knee pain. In addition, the recent volcano eruption left ash covering the coffee plants and covered the workers and us while we worked, leaving us to wonder if workers were experiencing respiratory issues.

Although we had prepared for screenings and teaching it quickly became apparent that workers and their families had many acute needs they wanted addressed.
Patients presented with symptoms of strep throat, peritonsilar abscess, arthritis, diabetes, peripheral edema, and arrhythmias. This unexpected change placed a new responsibility on our team to work together to manage their expectations and our capabilities to care for their immediate needs.

This unique opportunity forced us to work as teams. One 40 year old female who presented complaining of numbness and tingling in her hands provided excellent practice in inter-professional care. Kristen,the nurse practitioner student, assessed the patient, taking into consideration multiple factors of her life. Meanwhile, Noah, a fourth year pharmacy student, measured the patient’s blood pressure, which was noted to be elevated. We then performed a full physical assessment, under close Nursing and Pharmacy faculty supervision. Working together, we realized the actual problem was very different from what it initially seemed, and information from both graduate specialties was synthesized to provide a safe recommendation for the patient. Using each other’s strengths and expertise provided a higher quality of care than either of us could have accomplished individually.

The team then left the coffee plantation and headed back to Antigua. Our day was concluded with a delicious dinner, fellowship, and time for personal and spiritual reflection.