In early 2024, Rosie Gale, a Registered Nurse from Orange Health Service, participated in our Nurses in Action program in Kenya. Her time there was filled with memorable experiences that not only touched the lives of the people she served but also profoundly impacted her as a nurse and individual.
Rosie’s most cherished activities involved community home visits. She was moved by the opportunity to see people in their homes, address their health concerns, and offer assistance, even with limited resources. These encounters, coupled with school visits where she educated the younger generation on crucial health issues, were among the most rewarding aspects of her volunteer work.
One unforgettable memory for Rosie was the chance to deliver a healthy baby boy at the Odede Health Centre. As someone who isn’t a midwife in Australia, this experience was both emotional and empowering. Rosie recalls “I had tears running down my cheeks. It was a bittersweet moment and such a joyous moment of my nursing career. I may do Midwifery…”
Rosie believes that providing quality healthcare to these communities is vital for empowerment, education, and support. She feels that just by being present and addressing the health needs of the community, she and her fellow volunteers made a meaningful difference. “Every day we put our scrubs on, we were helping that community. We might not have made a massive difference. But by being there, seeing them in their home, attending to their needs it is so important and we have helped make a difference.” The opportunity to educate and empower the community left a lasting impact on Rosie, shaping her outlook on both her professional and personal life.
Rosie has already been encouraging her colleagues to join the Nurses in Action program! She describes it as a life-changing opportunity that challenged her beliefs, compassion, and empathy. “There were some elements of the program where my care, beliefs, compassion and empathy were stretched and I had to overcome some challenges in seeing poverty first hand. (Some) Families (are) unable to afford to give their loved ones oxygen while they are in hospital, a lack of resources and trying to understand a very different health system. (When) witnessing this sometimes I had feelings of failure like I wasn’t helping enough, however these challenges have only enabled me to be more resilient, less wasteful and more appreciative of what we have in Australia not only professionally but in day to day life as well.”
Rosie mentioned she is already thinking of when/where she could go next time to do volunteer work.
Experience a journey like Rosie’s by applying for a Nurses In Action Program today. Learn more: Nurses in Action | World Youth International
