BY HAILEY CHAPMAN
The Fort Hays State Nursing Program recently returned from a trip abroad in the Dominican Republic. Ten students embarked on a journey for two weeks alongside Medical Ministry, where they provided medical aid to citizens of San Jose de Las Matas.
Fort Hays State nursing students prior to departure to the Dominican Republic. (Back row, left to right) Jordan Wilkerson, Tyler Irwin, Melanie Tilton, Anna Olsen (Front row, left to right) Kathleen Ward, Madelyn Norris, Darby Hirsch, Jeni Mohr, Marita Mays, Hailey Princ, Hannah Heinz.
While abroad, students helped with many procedures including a breast reduction surgery, hysterectomies, tubeless, as well as many parasitic infections that required special treatments. The most common illness within the Dominican Republic is hypertension; this is common with the hard labor that goes into citizens’ everyday lives.
Jenelle Mohr, a senior in the nursing program, was able to form a bond with a young girl named Camila. Camila was admitted to the hospital for a throat mass removal at the age of 2. Mohr shared the touching bond they formed as she was given such a serious procedure.
Jenelle Mohr blows bubbles with a young patient in between treatments in a waiting room. Photo courtesy of Jenelle Mohr
“She was such a precious young girl, and I had the opportunity to build a therapeutic relationship with her through play because of the language barrier,” Mohr said. “I blew bubbles and played with stuffed animal. I prayed with her before surgery and cared for her after surgery as well.”
Alongside their experiences in the hospital, the students were able to experience different aspects of culture within the country.
Jordan Wilkerson, a nursing major minoring in Spanish, said the trip was a perfect opportunity for him to gain experience in both aspects of his studies.
“Each day, we would either go to the hospital or clinic, and follow/work with a patient preoperatively or teach patients about their medications and illnesses,” Wilkerson said. “Each day also consisted of a test of my Spanish skills. Working in the Dominican came with a language barrier, and being a Spanish minor forced me to get out of my comfort zone and practice Spanish.”
Jordan Wilkerson smiles for a photo alongside a preoperative patient. Photo courtesy of Jordan Wilkerson
Outside of clinical care, the students would wake every day at 6 to the sound of 91-year-old native Paco, carrying a speaker playing a song titled “One Day at a Time.” They frequently prayed and sang as the natives stressed the importance of love and passion in all that they do.
Both Mohr, Wilkerson and their peers explained how beneficial the trip was to improve their skills and gain confidence in their field. The personal connections and passion they were able to emote also provided them with lifelong memories.