Day 7- Traveling home and shopping

 

This experience has helped me realize that nursing is about much more than just treating illnessess.  It is about understanding the environment people live in and the challenges they face every day.  Being in Panama showed me that healthcare can look very different depending on the resources available.  It reminded me that compassion, flexibility, and understanding are just as importmant as clinical skills.

One habit I want to cary home is being more patient and understanding with people from different backgrounds.  I also want to continue practicing good teamwork and communication because those were very important during the clinic.  Another habit I want to keep is being open to learning and asking question so I can continue growing as a nurse.

After seeing the challenges people face with access to healthcare, I think I will advocate more for patients who struggle with resources.  I will try to be more aware of barriers like transportation, cost, or lack of education about health.  Instead of assuming patients can easily follow a treatment plan, I want to better understand what challenges they might be dealing with.

I feel like I now carry the responsibility to remember the lessons I learned here and apply them in my future practice.  Seeing how grateful people were for even small things reminded me how important healthcare can be in someone's life.  I want to carry that perspective with me and not take the resources we have in the United States for granted.

First, I want to continue improving my Spanish so I can communicate better with patients who speak different languages.  Second, I want to learn more about health disparities and how they affect different communities.  Third, I want to keep reflecting on experiences like this so I can continue growing both personally and professionally as a nurse.