December 2021 • Volume 15, No. 12
From the Editor
As none of you need to be reminded, it’s been a weird year.
After last year’s confusion, fear, loss, isolation, strife and—albeit with creativity, humor and hope sprinkled in among the difficulties—it looked this past spring as if we might be starting to get back to life as we had known it pre-pandemic. Friends, activities, travel, mask-free work, and so on. Now, not so much.
Nevertheless, our troubles look tiny when compared to those without enough food or clean water, people in war zones, people without access to medical care.
With that in mind, we once again devote our December issue to the charity NIFA has been supporting for many years, Mission to Heal (M2H): a nonprofit global medical missions agency that heals underserved people and trains local practitioners in the most remote and needy areas of the world. Many of you have met their founder, Dr. Gleen Geelhoed, who is also an instructor for NIFA, and some of you have even participated in past M2H missions.
Although M2H has been affected by the pandemic, they have steadily been laying the groundwork for future trips; we provide an update below.
Our Student in the Spotlight is Daniel Hale, FNP-C, of Alexandria, LA. Scroll down for jobs we’ve collected for you and NIFA’s favorite links.
Hang in there, and our best wishes that you may find satisfaction and delight in the new year.
Scroll down for jobs we’ve collected for you and NIFA’s favorite links.
Enjoy!
Julie Lancaster, Editor
Photo: (above) Dr. Glenn and local physician Dr. Florence Achanit, in Uganda
Report from Mission to Heal
by Samuel Jangala, Mission to Heal
Year 2021 has been tough for everyone, and this is true for Mission to Heal. We had to suspend our missions in Africa.
As a result, the M2H Mobile Surgical Units [military-grade vehicles outfitted as operating suites] were idle in Uganda for over a year. In October Dr. Glenn went to Uganda to check on the units and meet with our partners in Uganda for a possible mission at the end of the year.
This trip got the ball rolling for planning for the upcoming mission trip and to make sure the mobile surgical units were in working condition after a year. This trip also functioned as a scouting mission to identify a location for the upcoming mission. Dr. Glenn, along with our local partner Dr. Florence, decided that the sub-county of Gogonyo was the ideal location for the mission, and dates were set for December 26, 2021 to January 10, 2022.
Other updates for the year 2021, include creating a Mission to Heal Latin America organization as we look to expand into Mexico and South American countries.
Planning missions has been hard because of COVID-19 but we are working hard to set up a mission in Kenya for February 2022. We also hope to be conducting missions in Mexico and Ecuador in the second half of next year.
If you are interesting in participating in future missions, or would like to make a donation to help support these important medical teaching missions, please visit us at www.missiontoheal.org!
Photo: (above, left) Dr. Glenn opening the door for more surgeries
(above, right) The M2H crew cleaned, serviced, prepped and stocked new supplies in the Mobile Surgical Units in preparation for their return to service
Student Spotlight: Daniel Hale
Credentials
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP-C)
Student Status
Current student in NIFA’s RNFA program
City & State
Alexandria, LA
Current Position
I work as a nurse practitioner for a CV surgeon (inpatient rounds, outpatient, training with NIFA for First Assist)
Where did you get your RN degree?
Louisiana State University at Alexandria (LSUA)
How did you come to choose perioperative nursing?
Six years working in a surgical ICU. I have worked with current CU surgeon for 6 years and he asked me to join his practice and train for First Assist.
What is the funniest moment you’ve ever seen at the table?
CU surgeon was trying to cut plaque off upper internal carotid and it kept peeling upwards and was almost unable to resolve. Was a good outcome, however.
What is one technique or RNFA trick you’ve learned from NIFA that you will use for life?
All info has been helpful and staff have been amazing at helping to understand techniques and protocols.
How do you feel having your RNFA will impact your life/career?
It will help my value as an FNP with increased skills and give me invaluable resume experience.
Jobs Front
Click here for the RNFA job postings we’ve collected for you this month.
NIFA – Office Hours
Monday-Thursday, 8:00am – 5:00pm
Friday, 8:00am – 4:00pm
Practice Resources
Here are several of the most-in-demand sites for our students, prospective students and grads:
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this newsletter are strictly those of their respective authors and do not necessarily represent the views of NIFA. NIFA does not give any express or implied warranty as to the accuracy of statements made by our contributors and does not accept any liability for error or omission. It is the responsibility of all perioperative personnel to work within and adhere to their facility bylaws and individual scope of practice.
