Humanitarian Nursing
Nurses and those who participate in the medical professions are usually selfless individuals who are interested in helping others in times of distress. During times of natural disaster, like hurricanes, floods, or tornados and during times of war, throughout history nurses have come to the aide of civilians. Developing countries also have a need for nurses and other medical professionals to assist in teaching about how disease is spread, giving immunizations, and treating illnesses and injuries.
Many registered nurses become involved in humanitarian nursing every year. Organizations like Doctors without Borders, Children's Aide Society, Hospital de la Familia, and the American Red Cross all provide opportunities for nurses and other medical personnel to assist patients doing humanitarian work. Nurses who become involved with organizations that see patients in the third world and war-ravaged countries often go with groups of other medical professionals and emergency medical service workers, like emergency medical technicians, first responders, and paramedics. In these countries, the medical providers do not have readily available medications or supplies that are used in clinics and hospitals. They rely on their knowledge of disease processes and physical assessment skills in order to diagnose and treat common and not-so-common ailments. Many nurses who perform humanitarian nursing, especially in underdeveloped countries, attest to the fact that many supplies are necessary but are often inadequate. Medications and intravenous fluids might be available, but resources like medical oxygen are often in short supply. Diagnostic testing, of course, is often not available either. Tests that might be commonplace in hospitals like X-rays and CT scans are not available to Afghan refugees.
Humanitarian nursing is truly nursing in its most pure form. Registered nurses become involved in this area of nursing solely to help medically underserved populations throughout the world. In hospitals, nurses are responsible for copious amounts of charting and documentation. When providing medical relief in underserved areas, this type of rigorous charting is not warranted and indeed not plausible. Registered nurses who take part in humanitarian relief are also able to see parts of the world that they otherwise might never have experienced. Their skills as professional nurses also become more adept than they might by working in a more traditional setting. Their confidence with their ability to treat patients increases. They are able to make do with the bare necessities in supplies and medications. In short, they learn to adapt. They also come into contact with people of other cultures, who are often very grateful for the relief effort that nurses doing humanitarian work provide. As well as helping people who are unable to help themselves, these nurses also further their own careers by working in this type of setting. A traditional office or hospital seems like a cake walk after doing humanitarian work.
Humanitarian nursing is not only an excellent way to hone nursing skills but it is also a great way to learn about other cultures and treat people who lack resources and medical training. Nurses who participate in this type of selfless care are rewarded not only by helping those in need but also by becoming better diagnosticians and caregivers.
Published: 2009-11-03
