taiwan, day #4.

yesterday at the baseball game, we went crazy.

and ended up on the news. 

i asked wayne, one of the interns on our unit, what the news was saying about us.  

"just that you were really enjoying the baseball game"

liar.

we were hoochi dancing to poker face.  

but it was quite hilarious.  i wonder what kind of impression it is that we give to these taiwanese people.  do they think we're kind? loud? too friendly? brazen? hussy? because after that game, i  believe they might think we're hussies.  {sorry about the word.  my mom uses it - look here for a definition.}

but basically, everyone in the hospital was talking about us today.  and it was hilarious.  people wanted to take pictures with us after the game.  so essentially, i am super famous.

but i really enjoyed being at the hospital today.  my instructor was mean and totally put me on the spot for not being prepared to discuss my patient with him.  i had only been with my patient for a mere twenty minutes, and hadn't found out any history on her.  we discussed for awhile and then he goes up to the doctor and suggests i do a report on the patient!  mean!  not only is it difficult to get a comprehensive understanding when all the charting is in another language, but then to add a language barrier to discussion, different medication names, and misunderstanding of treatments, and i was hosed.  he let me off with a, "you will give report on monday" type of thing.  like i said, totally mean. but i did appreciate the wake-up call.  i hadn't been told what the expectation was of me while here.  my understanding was that we were here to ask questions.  not to do any patient care.  i didn't realize that he wanted us to do a "preassessment" of our patients as we do in the united states.  now that i know the expectation, i can be on the ball next time.

it is also helpful because it made me realize how important and helpful it is to have open discussion with doctors, nurses, and other staff about a patient.  the nurse should be required to report on the status of the patient - as they do here.  i believe it would help people work as a team.  i believe giving report on monday will be a rewarding experience and help prepare me for my nursing care back home.  but i have to admit i am nervous.  it will also help remind me to be a good preceptor when a student nurse follows me.  i want to ask at the beginning of the day, "what can you tell me about this patient?" or, "what can you tell me about this treatment?" and give students the chance to learn and grow in a safe environment.  {where i won't be judgmental or impatient.}  i have thought over and over how i want to be a good preceptor for students, and this experience has already  helped me so much to realize how to do that.  the nurses and doctors are actually excited to see us, to teach us, to talk to us, and to have us watch or help with patient care.  when i am a nurse, i want to show enthusiasm and excitement when i have a student, so that they feel comfortable, willing to ask questions, and will have confidence to learn and grow.

today was also super embarrassing.  i wondered if chinese medicine had any treatments/medications/therapies for menstrual cramps.  {i thought i could use this information, as well as many other women in america}.  so i simply asked the nurses, "does chinese medicine have anything to help with menstrual cramps?"  little did i know that it would become the goal of every single nurse on the unit to fix "my" cramp problem, as they saw it.  they discussed for about a half hour, and then, before i knew it, had asked the chinese medicine doctor to come visit me to help.  ah!  i was at first embarrassed, but then it just became hilarious and i could hardly keep from laughing.  they aren't very shy about discussing things like this - even the doctor seemed comfortable discussing it with me and the other nurses.  he taught me about "chi" - a natural phenomena that the chinese believe makes you whole.  he also gave me free rose tea, told me about the different meridians of the body, the 365 acupuncture points on the body, and taught me about hot and cold.  i didn't understand the majority of it, but it was a fun discussion anyway.  the chinese have medicine therapies that have lasted over 3,000 years, so i am sure there must be truth to some of them!

we finished off the day with badminton and swimming.  the swimmers did a synchronized dance in the swimming pool that was hilarious.  {a lot of our night activities seem to be revolving around food and dancing. hmmm....}

breakfast.

pig intestine and who knows what else.... yum!

this is aubrey.  and i love her.

these are the nurses that we work with on my unit.  they are beautiful, wonderful people.  i really enjoy learning and working with them.

i find every day that i wish john were here, for many reasons i miss him.  but also because it would be so easy to communicate with people.  ordering food can be a point-and-grunt kind of process, and i think speaking mandarin would maybe come in handy.  but people are patient with my point-and-grunt routine, so for now, it works.