Adventures in San Manuel

The view from 6600 ft. San Sebastian, outside of San Manuel

I spent the last two weeks in probably the most peaceful, quaint village that I have spent time in thus far, San Manuel, Colohete. My trusty bodyguard, Richard, and I drove the 2.5 hours there and stayed so that I could work in their women's clinic, and learn about all of the other aspects of their health system. I DID miss hot water, and actually drinking water since there didn't seem to be much for sale there, and I ate enough corn tortillas to fill me up for the next two months, but other than that it was an incredible experience. The weather is BEAUTIFUL, and even though we got shamelessly stared at every minute of every day, the people were very friendly. (They were definitely not used to seeing gringos.) I'm pretty sure we know the majority of the population of San Manuel, and some of the surrounding villages as well. 

San Manuel is basically the headquarters of the "health community" of that area. There are 4 "municipalities" and 15 health communities, which means there are 15 villages whose clinics are supervised by the doctors and licensiadas (registered nurses) that I was working with. Some have "cesar" clinics and others have "cesamo" clinics. Cesars, I learned, are attended solely by a nurse and are in very small villages, while cesamos are attended by physicians as well. San Manuel is the only village in that area with a labor and delivery/women's clinic. 

Auditing Honduran charts with Licensiadas Gloria (right) and Katherine (middle)

I learned a LOT in those two weeks, and was able to work in so many different areas. Everyone was so very friendly and SO patient with my Spanish (which, I believe, got a lot better during those two weeks)! I went with the other two licensiadas to audit charts and supervise, I worked in the clinics doing exams on pregnant women and gave consults when it was needed, we drove emergencies to the hospital, I worked in the labor and delivery, and I went with them to two of their brigade/health fairs that they hold once a year in each community... You name it, pretty much I was able to do it. They were so accommodating and wonderful, I learned a lot, and loved almost every minute of those two weeks.

I've REALLY learned to never say never. God must have been having quite a laugh when I said things like, "I will NEVER do labor and delivery. Gross," or, "I will never do pediatrics. I don't like children that much." I wonder what God was thinking when I was trying to give away my patients in my labor and delivery clinicals during nursing school.. Those things make up at least 80% of what I'm doing now. I learn something every day, and I really am enjoying doing a little bit of everything. I must say, though, that labor and delivery is still not my favorite area of nursing. 

Auxiliary nurse, Lorvi, Licensiadas Gloria and Katherine, on our way out to the Cesar in Corante to do some supervising.