— By Sandra Vega, Senior —
As a summer intern at the Hospital of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation in Ho Chi Minh City I am observing firsthand several major differences between the healthcare industry in Vietnam and the United States. I will share what some of these differences are after I share why I decided to come to Vietnam. The two biggest reasons were that I was inspired by Elizabeth Loika, DNP, PNP, FNP, the director of the UT Children’s Wellness Center, who has traveled extensively in nursing leadership roles as a former flight nurse with the United States Air Force, and my own personal desire to travel. Thanks to the organization Student Exchange Vietnam, and Vinh Nguyen, assistant dean of student services, who advised me about the language and culture of Vietnam, I am here ready to learn all I can.
During my recent orientation, I spoke with the nursing director of the hospital, my mentor Hà, and local buddy Huong. We discussed my nursing duties and I met volunteers at the hospital from another organization. The conditions that the hospital patients are being treated for are very eye opening. If you believe the United States still has the need for healthcare improvements, I can attest that other countries also have a long way to go after witnessing the public care here. In the small hospital rooms there are six to seven patients and their families, whereas in the larger rooms fifteen to twenty patients and their families occupy the space. Each patient has one bed and family members either sleep alongside the patients or on the floor nearby. After speaking with a retired nursing instructor from Australia volunteering here, we discussed how the families are very involved in the patient’s care, leaving the nursing role to only encompass medication administration, wound cleaning, and dressing changes.
My first couple of days have been challenging and I have had to adapt to the practice here quickly. The morning of day one I was shadowing and by the afternoon I was giving medications. The second day was similar; medication administration was my role that day. The following two days I have been working on wound care and dressing changes. I’ve seen wounds I have yet to see back home. Many of the patients are here due to a motorbike accident which is common here. Some patients have small wounds that have healed quickly whereas others have had to have amputations.
There are times I feel my practice and ethical views have been challenged while at the hospital. There are small skill and equipment differences. Nonetheless, endless questions arise during each treatment. How is infection control maintained at an effective level here? Why don’t the patients have any privacy? Why does the nurse do this one way? Why do you use only one cotton ball for a wound cleaning? Ultimately, some questions are answered and others are not. Limited resources and equipment is a reason for such practices and appears to be a challenge the hospital faces since many of the materials are really expensive. Families can only afford so much and are careful not to waste materials the patient might need.
There is still much to see! I have only experienced one section of the hospital and hope to witness more before my time ends in Vietnam.