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Objectives:
- Compare and contrast Haitian earthquake disaster relief and recovery
- Expound upon the cultural differences within the Haitian people
- Identify long-term healthcare needs exacerbated by the earthquake effects
Process:
On January 12, 2010, the poorest country in the Western hemisphere suffered a 7.0 magnitude earth quake in Port Au Prince, Haiti. More than 230,000 died, 300,000 were injured, and 1.3 million people were left homeless. With fifty-percent of the Haitian population being under 18 years of age, and 60% of the post-earthquake healthcare needs were for wound care, volunteer disaster relief encompassed a necessity for pediatric WOC nurses.
This is the story of two pediatric WOCN’s who, joined together by their educational mentoring relationship and passion for pediatrics, responded to the global call for WOC nurse volunteers to provide WOCN care at Haiti’s only trauma and critical care hospital. In a compare and contrast, the first experience encompassed earthquake disaster relief at a field hospital. Alternately, the second experience encompassed earthquake disaster recovery in a permanent acute care infrastructure and outpatient wound care clinic. Severe wounds and heartbreaking needs, coupled with harsh conditions and language barriers, were the challenges in providing wound and ostomy care to the Haitian patients. Advanced wound infections and pressure ulcers leading to amputations, were some of the wounds that children and young adults suffered. Spinal cord injuries and amputations resulted in immediate management with a new long-term focus on rehabilitation services.
Outcomes:
Two pediatric WOCN’s had differing volunteer experiences; however, their profession was represented similarly through autonomy and evidence based practices. Personal reflection resulted in similar post-experience feelings, including a grieving process coupled with a desire to promote pediatric WOCN volunteerism.