Tuesday morning our contract came through and we were able to start clinicals at the Yukon Kuskokwim Delta health center. This hospital serves 52 different villages in the region. It has 50 beds, an emergency room, maternity ward, and two clinics on site. Two other CSS students and myself were on their medical floor and pediatrics. The two sections are on the same wing and the nurses help one another out.
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\nMy nurse for the day was originally from Hibbing, MN. We had 4 patients for the day. It was really interesting to see the different cultures. In Alaska there are different cultures in every area. The area we were serving was the Yupik culture. Everyone but one patient that I took care of was Yupik.
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\nThat day I took care of a person that had frostbite on the bottom of both feet. This person had been drinking and in this culture, you take your shoes off when entering someone's home. This mixed with alcohol is very dangerous. This person ended up walking outside without any shoes. The frostbite was pretty bad but they were very lucky. This kind of frostbite is seen with many people in the villages. Alcoholism is very prevalent in this area. Another patient was in for wound care. In this area, they will admit people for not taking care of their wound. That is what happened with this person. In the lower 48, how they refer to us, that would never happen. If they were not able to take care of their wound, it's their problem whereas here in Alaska, they help them out by admitting them to take care of it.
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\nMy nurse for the day was originally from Hibbing, MN. We had 4 patients for the day. It was really interesting to see the different cultures. In Alaska there are different cultures in every area. The area we were serving was the Yupik culture. Everyone but one patient that I took care of was Yupik.
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\nThat day I took care of a person that had frostbite on the bottom of both feet. This person had been drinking and in this culture, you take your shoes off when entering someone's home. This mixed with alcohol is very dangerous. This person ended up walking outside without any shoes. The frostbite was pretty bad but they were very lucky. This kind of frostbite is seen with many people in the villages. Alcoholism is very prevalent in this area. Another patient was in for wound care. In this area, they will admit people for not taking care of their wound. That is what happened with this person. In the lower 48, how they refer to us, that would never happen. If they were not able to take care of their wound, it's their problem whereas here in Alaska, they help them out by admitting them to take care of it.