RECOVERY ROOM
Previously the patients were sent directly to the wards after even very major surgical procedures. No one except the relatives would look after them. Being mostly uneducated farmers without any medical knowledge they could not contribute a lot, and severe complications were not uncommon.
Therefore it has been a high priority to open a functional recovery unit – a Recovery Room - where the staff would look after critical and newly operated patients. Gradually it has become a major success, improving the quality of our service substantially.
To start with simple stretchers were set up in a room where previously the operating glows had been prepared and packed. We didn’t have any sophisticated equipment – only some sphygmomano-meters (blood pressure apparatus).
One of the most difficult things was changing attitudes. In this country the relatives usually look after and care for the patients -not the nurses. They do the technical things like giving injections and medications, setting up intravenous infusions, changing dressings etc. but the nursing care, such as feeding, observing, washing, emptying bedpans etc. is by tradition done by relatives.
In the beginning it often happened that the staff which was assigned to the Recovery Room would bring in some relatives to look after the patients, and leave the room for some other work. That happens very seldom now.
Gradually we have got the room outfitted with important and very useful equipment. The latest contribution is three brand new pulse oximeters donated by the Danish NGO “Maternity World Wide” – www.maternityworldwide.dk
We can accommodate 6 – 7 adults at a time, and more than the double amount of children since two or three children can share one stretcher. In principle the Recovery Room is prepared and staffed 24 hours around the clock, interrupted only when there are emergency surgeries after regular working hours, since the same staff is assisting at the operations.
All is done by OR Technicians, who are all very clever, but do not have any formal medical training. Most are 10’ to 12’grade students with only practical experience. For the future we are planning to staff the operating department with trained nurses. That is why we are very concerned and determined about sending the OR Technicians two by two to the nursing school (see EDUCATION & TRAINING)
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Recovery Room Video ← Click here to watch video