Before I went home for my holiday I helped out with the implementation of Emergency Triage and Treatment Training at the Jenner Wright clinic, the under-5s clinic about a mile away from the hospital. Until now the children were seen in order of attendance, meaning they might be getting sicker and sicker whilst waiting in the queue to be seen.
Along with Cat (the VSO nurse), the Welbodi’s and Rosie the medical student we did lectures and scenarios for the staff on the purpose and process of triaging patients according to the WHO guidelines. We had a lot of fun during the role playing sessions (some of the nurses being particularly good at acting as distressed mothers!) Most of the staff actually knew already how to spot a sick child; it was just a question of giving them a framework to base their decision making on.
After the teaching sessions we spent time with the nurses whilst doing their job; mentoring them and continuing to emphasise the ABCCCD approach (yes I’ve put in the right number of C’s! – Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Coma, Convulsions, Dehydration).
Teaching and training is one of the things I most enjoy about being here. Sure its fun working with patients and parents and getting an instant buzz of helping them. But by teaching the staff they’ll be able to go on and treat more patients once I leave (and it’s a lot less stressful than watching patients die!)
(I've been trying to upload a photo - but don't think it has worked - I'll keep trying again).
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