Day 4= Los Pilares (Day2)

Today I worked in triage, where I closely interacted with the patients while collecting their blood pressures, height, and weight. It was very eye-opening to see how something as simple as basic vitals makes a huge difference to them, along with the overall care we provided today because they cannot afford medical attention out of pocket. I was also excited to get a lot of practice taking manual blood pressures, which helped me continue developing my clinical skills! Being able to speak Spanish continued to be very helpful because it allowed me to communicate clearly with patients and make them feel comfortable during the process. Today was also our last day working with the Pilares community, and they gave us a very special thank you that was very meaningful. It was a reminder of how important it is to build trust and show compassion when working with communities. This experience has helped me better understand global health and the healthcare challenges many communities face, while also showing the strength and gratitude within the community. I feel very grateful for this opportunity and for everything I was able to learn from the patients, providers, and the Pilares community during this experience!

Location: Panama

Comments

  1. Felecia SernaMarch 25, 2026 at 9:12 AM

    I agree this community was so opening to us, it was humbling. I loved hearing about their day to day lives and am also grateful for the opportunity to get to communicate and get to know those in this community.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Day 7- Taking It Home

Image
This experience in Panama has been very meaningful and has helped shape me both personally and professionally as a nursing student. It has always been a goal of mine to go on a mission trip like this one, so being able to actually experience it has been very rewarding. Throughout this trip, I learned the importance of providing compassionate, patient-centered care while also being culturally aware and adaptable. I gained a better understanding of global health and how limited access to healthcare, resources, and medications can affect communities. It was very eye-opening to see these challenges firsthand, and it made me reflect on how fortunate I am back home to have access to healthcare resources that we often take for granted. Over the course of this experience, I developed stronger communication, teamwork, and clinical skills. Being able to speak Spanish was a very valuable asset because it allowed me to connect directly with patients, help translate, and make people feel more comfo...
Read more

Day 1- Travel

Image
Most of our first day was spent traveling from Chicago to Panama City with a 5.5-hour flight and then about a 2.5-hour drive to our hotel, but it gave me time to reflect on the purpose of this trip and the opportunity we have to serve this community. I want to take ownership of my learning this week by staying engaged, asking questions, and taking advantage of every opportunity to learn! I also want to model professionalism by being respectful, responsible, and supportive to the team and the community we will be working with. I am very grateful for this opportunity because it allows me to grow as a nursing student, learn more about a different culture, and be part of a mission that focuses on helping people who may not always have access to healthcare.  To me, showing up fully as a nursing student means coming with a positive attitude, being open to learning, and being ready to help in any way that I can!
Read more