UF in Grenada 2019

My hospital shadowing experience in Grenada was one that I will never forget. I was surprised by the many differences between hospitals in the US versus Grenada. I was on the male medical ward which usually has patients as young as 6 or 7 to geriatric patients because their pediatric ward goes to the age of 5 years old. The wards consisted of an open area with about 30 beds separated by curtains. This is definitely something that we are not used to seeing here. However the most shocking thing to me was that the nurse-patient ratio was 1:15. Although it was a high number, the nurses helped each other with all the patients and they provided each patient with a great level of care using the resources that they had available. I was touched by the patient interaction and the amount of time that the nurses spent with each patient and seemed to know each one very well. There wasn't electronic charting or a ton of monitors and pumps. I believe it was that simplicity and disconnect from technology that allowed the nurses to care for their patients and not just a computer screen. I will cherish and value this experience throughout my nursing career.