The San Antonio medical team, led by Dr Mike McCord, traveled to Uspantan, Guatemala on July 11-22.  The 80-member team included an instructor and five baccalaureate nursing students from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.  The students were fulfilling requirements for the program elective "Primary Health Care in Global Community: An International Experience." Their learning path was strikingly similar to the mountainous hairpin curves that wind from Guatemala City to the hospital in Uspantan, and just as awesome as that first view of the countryside from the bus window. The many "firsts" that the students experienced left long-lasting impressions.

Before even leaving San Antonio, the students learned how to inventory supplies, a unique experience that broadened their thinking beyond the usual assumption that things just magically show up when and where needed.  Who knew that Q-tips had expiration dates?  Pre-mission prep included learning about cultural and healthcare system differences and getting to know team members.  The "firsts" continued in Guatemala, including learning how creativity can trump planning when medical bags don't show up.

At the hospital, under doctors' supervision, students followed patients through the entire care process, from initial clinic triage, through discharge after surgery.  The seasoned veterans watched with sheer pleasure as they witnessed the students' many "firsts".  From eyes wide open in amazement of the masses of patients seeking care to the look of awestruck wonder as the students journeyed with their patients into the OR, and then joined in as caregivers in Post Op, the palpable excitement of learning was hard to contain. Each day brought revelations of surprise and confidence as the students gave account of their newly acquired skills.  The emotional high from the first successful IV start made it Christmas in July for everyone!  

A student's job is to learn, and learn they did.  The overall consensus was summed up by one student: "I learned more in this one week than in the entire past year!"  To see how much they could make a difference in the lives of the Guatemalan people was rewarding beyond comprehension, and hopefully the first in a long stream of personal rewards to come in their chosen profession.