For the past five weeks I have been living in beautiful Juneau, Alaska. It is the third largest city (about 30,000 people) in all of Alaska, and the closest to Seattle of the top three. There are no road systems entering or exiting Juneau, therefore the only way in is by boat or plane. At the moment, mid-September, it is rain season and temperatures range from 50 to 60 degrees each day. Locals are already warning me about snow flairs in the near future! The public health center, staffed by approximately 15 people including 8 public health nurses is responsible for a large portion of the Southeast part of Alaska (Closest to the State of Washington). I am currently working primarily in the Juneau Public Health Center with walk-in patients, home visits and teen clinics in the area but also traveling throughout the villages only reached by ferry or bush plane to get a better sense of the distinctive living strategy’s and strengths of the village lifestyle.
My first trip was a three day stay in the rural village of Hoonah. After the trip and soaking it all in, I was really able to sit down with the itinerant nurse and get a sense of the culture. The Juneau public health center presently only has one itinerant nurse who does all the travels and averages one village every two weeks. While only at the villages for a short time, she and I are responsible for working with the Public school systems, City Hall, the Senior Center and as well as partnering with SEARHC, which is a well known non-profit tribal health consortium that serves 18 Native communities in Southeast Alaska. When appropriate and scheduled the itinerant nurse and I will help the local clinic will immunizations, well-child exams and referrals to see appropriate specialists. As well as provide STD screening, pregnancy testing, family planning and other important public health services. While in Hoonah, we held smoking cessation classes in the City hall, blood pressure readings at the Senior Center and met with schools officials about exercise and nutrition. I even led Zumba and Salsa dancing activities at the Youth Center and local hotel. Even during my short visit to this village, I felt very close to the natives and will never forget.
My first trip was a three day stay in the rural village of Hoonah. After the trip and soaking it all in, I was really able to sit down with the itinerant nurse and get a sense of the culture. The Juneau public health center presently only has one itinerant nurse who does all the travels and averages one village every two weeks. While only at the villages for a short time, she and I are responsible for working with the Public school systems, City Hall, the Senior Center and as well as partnering with SEARHC, which is a well known non-profit tribal health consortium that serves 18 Native communities in Southeast Alaska. When appropriate and scheduled the itinerant nurse and I will help the local clinic will immunizations, well-child exams and referrals to see appropriate specialists. As well as provide STD screening, pregnancy testing, family planning and other important public health services. While in Hoonah, we held smoking cessation classes in the City hall, blood pressure readings at the Senior Center and met with schools officials about exercise and nutrition. I even led Zumba and Salsa dancing activities at the Youth Center and local hotel. Even during my short visit to this village, I felt very close to the natives and will never forget.
Other exciting opportunities that I have already had the pleasure to observe and participate in include: Whale watching (got to see humpbacks, killer whales and sea lions!), first ever helicopter ride/tour (future flight nurse?!) - where we landed on a glacier that extend 1500 square miles and hiked up it two miles and first ever bush plane flight to rural villages. I also had the chance to meet the Governor of Alaska at a community picnic, meet a few flight nurses from Guardian Life flight who travel the whole state and hike and mountain bike up the famous gold mining trails. Finally, for the people that know me best, I had to bring my love and passion of Latin/Salsa dancing to Juneau, Alaska where I have started to instruct Salsa and Zumba classes to local youth groups, high schools and downtown outings =]
Love and miss you all.
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