China is a long way from Tipperary And from PCR, too

China is a long way from Tipperary
And from PCR, too

In the April issue of Timely Topics we reported on PCR's new mentorship program, noting that Liz Hiltabidel generated its spark by volunteering for the program that was started by Jo Ellen Miller, vice president of PCR and coordinator of the mentoring program. We also said that in May, Liz would be traveling to China to help Hu Hong Yang, also known as Heidi, with developing an ET program. What follows, then, is a capsulated version of that voyage, which lasted the whole month of May. The Trip: Unless you live in China, it is hard getting there from anywhere else. Liz Hiltabidel and her husband, Greg, along with their three children Kelley (13), Jefferey (17) and Scott (15), made up their collective minds to travel more than 15 hours by air to Beijing from Los Angeles. Why would they endure such a long and laborious trip? It all has to do with Liz’ s promise to visit Heidi, whom she mentored at Loma Linda University Medical Center last year. If you recall, her employers at Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital sent Heidi, an American name she adopted while she worked here in the USA, to Loma Linda to study wound, ostomy and continence care for three months. Loma Linda partners with Sir Run Run Shaw, a 400-bed hospital, located 200 miles from Beijing in Hangzhou, China. Loma Linda financed the trip for Liz. Since it was going to be an adventure of a lifetime to visit China, Greg and children went along for the ride, Dutch treat. Why Did Liz Do It: If you ask Liz just why she traveled to China to visit Heidi, she'll explain she did it to educate Sir Run Run Shaw nurses, physicians, managers and pharmacists regarding the WOCN specialty. She also introduced new products and educated staff as to their use. But we are proud of Liz, as well, for bringing the art of mentoring to a new level. Liz's trip to visit Heidi more than 6,000 miles away in order to follow up on Heidi's ET training is exemplary, don't you think? Hu Hong Yang ("Heidi") was selected by Sir Run Run management to travel to its sister hospital, Loma Linda, because they wanted her to learn up-to-date ET practices. The Chinese medial management staff and RN's still refer to WOC nursing as ET nursing. Wound, Ostomy & Continence Nursing is a new phrase for them. Heidi was indeed honored by this, and decided to make the trip despite being newly pregnant. Heidi, being in her late 20’s, caused an uproar when she was selected over other, more senior, nurses. The senior nurses were upset that Heidi got to go to the USA, and they didn't. We’ll never know Sir Run Run Shaw management’s rationale for its selection, but Liz agreed that it selected the perfect nurse for the job. And Heidi’s personal charm and intelligence is likely to win over any animosity the older nurses have regarding new WOCN techniques and products, thereby furthering the cause of WOCN. We’ll make a point here to note a few observations Liz made while working at the hospital: Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital does use products we are familiar with, such as 3M, ConvaTec and Coloplast, but they use many more "knock-offs." The Chinese use sterile techniques, while we use, as you know, the clean technique in wound care. (This is true story, according to Liz: The MD's do the dressings, but since gloves are expensive, the MD’s do not usually use them. However, the nurse does the wound care and if the wound gets infected, the nurse is blamed. Gloves are kept under lock and key by nursing supervisors, since it is they who are responsible for budget control, thus the bottom line. Liz’s goal, by the way, was to lobby for the nurses to do the dressing changes, but she decided against it when she learned that the nursing patient ratio is 1 to 12. Remember, China, with over a billion people {sic}, is the largest populated country in the world.) Liz made a point to note that there is a lower incidence of pressure ulcers at Sir Run Run Shaw compared to the States due to heavy family involvement. Families help care for their loved ones while they are in the hospital, so they assist with feeding, bathing and the turning of the patient. The hospital's gift store in unlike ours by a long shot: It is similar to a bodega, that is, a small grocery store, stocked with fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as other things families need to help and care for their relatives. By the way, Liz's WOCN lectures increased referrals significantly for ET consultations in various hospital units, which, in turn, supported Heidi's new role. As far as Liz knows, Heidi is the first specialty nurse in this hospital. She had such a great experience in China, Liz can't wait to back next year. "The Chinese were so appreciative of what I was able to help them with that I left with feeling wonderful about our profession and about life in general," Liz said. "If you would like to come along with me next time to Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, send me an e-mail. I would be happy for you to come along, and so would the staff and patients of the hospital. You wouldn't regret it, and you would be working in a mentoring program second to none, I guarantee it." PCR's MENTORING PROGRAM: At this point we will ask you a few questions that we posed in the last issue of Timely Topics: Is there any aspect of your practice you need to know more about? Are there changes in your professional life, which you are uncertain about, such as being in charge of a new program or a clinic? Would you like to talk with a CWOCN with a similar experience you could benefit from? Gayle Clayton, who is the coordinator of our mentoring program can answer these and other questions. You can e-mail her at etgayle@msn.com or call her at 559-449-3456.