Experience Panama with Global Brigades Spring 2026

 This week I believe I respected the cultural differences here in Panama. By trying new things and learning why they do what they do.  For instance using holistic methods versus modern medicine methods.  Being limited on supplies you have to learn to manage with what you have. I didn't come across any ethical tension that I can recall.  I am uncertain if this counts as a biase but I noticed in the dining hall the locals didn't sit with us and some seemed very timid.  But this week had been a real eye opener for me on how hard it is to provide care with limited sources.  We had a lot of people come through the clinics but we ran out of some of the meds they needed the closer we got to the end. With Panama having a big population with limited resources I can't even begin to imagine how fast they run out of supplies. Not to mention only making $5 a day and needing to make the choice of spending money on Healthcare or food. Sometimes it is hard to make ends mee...

 Today I worked the data intake portion of the Global Brigade Clinic. By being in this position I showed integrity and accountability by working hard to get caught up from yesterday. I would say this is the position I was most confident in since I worked front desk at the Cardiology office for years. I wasn't that confident in speaking Spanish while working triage and as a runner even though I was able to say "Puede Sentarse Por Favor" by the end of the day. This experience has formed me into an Empathetic Nurse of the future. By learning that everyone doesn't have the same living situations as us.  It was a great experience seeing others helping out the community because they made the ethical choice to come to Panama to help. I believe the clinic days went well because of Fransico's leadership qualities of working with the instructors to make assignments and checking on everyone throughout the day. Overall our three clinic days helped alot of people and I feel bl...

 Today at the school, where the clinic was being ran, me and Olivia came across a first aide kit with no supplies in it. Which is a common issue all around Panama even in the clinics and hospitals.  Without supplies people can't get the care that they need. I did not know that this Panama community relied so much on the Global Bridgades Clinic. I was thinking it was kind of like back home but just a little worse off. After being here for the few days my assumption was completely off they are really hurting.  Being in clinic these couple days really showed me how strong the community is by being there to supporting one another. It has also taught me that Healthcare isn't there same globally.  What we take for granted someone else doesn't even have and what supplies we waste someone else could use. Overall I am grateful for the impact today had on the community and us. 

 Today in clinic I helped in triage by taking blood pressures, respirations, height and weights. So I felt like all the interactions with the patients impacted me because of how I felt I was making a difference even if it is a little difference. I tried my best to respect everyone I encountered by introducing myself to them in Spanish.  Also,  by learning the 4 phrases pictured in order to provide care for them. The patients were very patient with me when I would mix up the phrases. As was the interpreter that was teaching me how to say the phrases right before clinic started since I let him know I didn't know how the words are pronounced. By letting him know that I was able to say the phrases close enough to provide care to the patients. Since I was able to strengthen my skill in converting pounds to kilograms I hope to strengthen my Spanish as a runner tomorrow. 

     Today we worked as a team collecting data for research in the community.  There was a family of 4 so we all did a survey on a family member.  Unfortunately,  there wasn't a translator available when I was doing my survey.  When I tried reading the questions in Spanish it wasn't working.  In order to keep us moving because I knew numbers really count I just turned my phone towards the 22 year old woman so she could read the questions in Spanish.  I only had to interrupt the translator once to help me with an answer and the rest I used the translator on my phone. When I told the translator, that was in our group, that I was done she said that was really fast and I did good.  Unfortunately,  I didn't just accept the compliment because I didn't feel good about it since I didn't ask the questions my self by reading them out in Spanish. Therefore my reply was exactly that. Communication really mattered when it came to collecting data...

Today I showed up on time to catch the shuttle to the airport to fly to Panama. I thought I was fully ready for this trip.  Unfortunately,  I was held up at the bag check because I was unaware that the batteries couldn't be in the flashlight that I had in my bag. Once I got past that little hiccup I was well on my way with a positive attitude about the work that lays ahead of me. This mission will impact the health of the locals along with having a positive impact on my life by what I learn this week. I am going to try to learn some spanish this week in order to respect the locals and be professional in my interactions with them as a nursing student. I am grateful for this opportunity this week because I know it will be an experience of a life time.  On the way home I will be better prepared by removing the batteries from my flashlight before packing it.