The three days that we spent in Cherokee were wonderful and
opened my eyes to a new culture and almost a new world because of the lifestyle
and things seen while visiting. There are a few critical issues that the people
of Cherokee face daily from poor management of diabetes and hypertension to the
dangerous world of drug and alcohol addiction, use and withdrawal. I feel that
these medical issues are related to deficient knowledge and health maintenance.
I feel deficient knowledge because Cherokee
children are not encouraged or taught the good that can come from working hard,
trying and taking care of themselves. Many Cherokee children have grown up
watching the parents, families and elders not taking care themselves, using
drugs or alcohol and spending money on unnecessary or harmful things more often
then they see them succeed and work hard to make their lives better. Typically,
in situations like this it is the Nurses role to educated and show them the way
to be health. However, I feel from what I saw this week the education about
medication, side effects, long term effects and goals is lacking. Several times
this week I have heard and saw patients that decided to take themselves off their
medication and no one educated them on the risks or side effects of not taking
the medication. Overall my experience at Cherokee was wonderful and cannot
fully be displayed in my blog postings. Everyone we met, interacted with,
listened to opened my eyes to the beautiful Cherokee culture and taught me lots
about patience, understanding and realizing that you never know someone story.
"You know my name,not my story.You've heard what I've done, not what I've been through. Try walking in my shoes before you judge me"--Unknown