Guest Lecturer / on call RT

Location: Various

- Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (www.teachinghospital.org.np/‎)

- Kanti Bal Aspital (www.kantichildrenhospital.gov.np/‎)

- BIR Hospital (http://nams.org.np/)

- Kathmandu Medical College (www.kmc.edu.np)

Timeframe: variable

- 1 day - 2yr

- ongoing need

Responsibilities: 

- Build rapport with other local healthcare professionals 

- Conduct lectures on respiratory therapy to medical officers, sisters (nurses) and consultant doctors; 

- Attend doctors rounds with the consultant doctors and sisters (one in AM, other in PM)

- Provide around the clock respiratory care (the incumbent will have a mobile phone and be on-call for all respiratory consultations)

Qualifications:

- RT registered with a regulatory/advocating body in good standing

- Open mind to thrive in different cultures and interest for creative education 

- Demonstrated initiative and belief in the RTWB mission

Compensation: 

- Room and board provided at some sites for those staying for a minimum of 1 month

Opportunity

- Network with leading healthcare professions in Nepal

- Be involved in building the international respiratory therapy profile

- Experience healthcare in the developing world. 

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Full description

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Program Highlights

- be an integral part in building respiratory healthcare capacity for children in Nepal

- experience with launching healthcare initiatives in the developing world

- exchanging knowledge/ideas with local healthcare professionals

Program Structure

This is a highly variable volunteer opportunity. Participants will work with local and foreign healthcare professionals at the host facility. Participants function as a RT consultants with an emphasis on building sustained healthcare capacity by empowering local healthcare professionals. Empowerment of local peoples is a pillar in sustained capacity building. As such RTWB emphasizes rapport building with local professionals. RTs will work in all areas of the healthcare system. Community health initiatives include asthma/COPD education. Acute care initiatives include intensive care units providing teaching and assistance where needs have been identified. You will find that you are welcome in all areas of the hospital (e.g. emergency room, operating room, wards and out-patient department). This is an excellent chance to advocate the role of RTs and be invited to new venture opportunities. RTs have been invited to speak at medical conferences and invited to home villages as honoured guests. Life is very different here. 

As such, we measure success, not by programs delivered, rather relationships built with locals. We have found that once local buy-in occurs, program implementation becomes an organic growth project spear-headed by local healthcare providers. 

RTs have a great reputation in Nepal. This was formed by RTs who have gone in the past and built rapport from the ground up. Participants are expected to maintain that same high quality of education and genuine care for improved healthcare capacity through empowerment of local providers.

Needless to say, this program is volunteer driven. As such, the participant's experience will be a product of what they put in. 

Participant Expectations

- follow up on existing programs

- round on all ventilated patients on the hospital and guide local staff through best course of treatment

- educate locals through creative and relevant teaching sessions

- uphold the goals of the proposed project upholding RTWB values (ie. integrity and innovation) 

- maintain a professional work ethic (e.g. punctual, proper attire, positive attitude)

- work an open mind and flexibility within the constraints of the environment

- exercise innovation in addressing life/medical issues that arise

- ask for help as required (e.g. utilize country representative as required)

- have fun!

- upon return, we ask for a short summary of your experiences. However, we would like to encourage you to share your experiences to inspire other RTs to consider how they can be giving back.

Country Representative Expectations

- support participants remotely in trip preparation, while on the ground and on re-entry (via email, skype, mobile)

- ask for help as required (e.g. RTWB advisors)

Application Process

1. Complete online internship application

2. Email your cover letter and curriculum vitae to the country representative (eric@rtwb.ca)

*You will be contacted within 14days of your email.

Project publications

A Passageto Nepal- Volunteering with Respiratory Therapists Without Borders

Michener Magazine. Winter 2013. 

OxygenWithout Borders: Respiratory Care for the World's Poorest

The Lung Association Ontario Respiratory Care Society Update. 

Vol 28 (2): Spring/Summer 2012.

Nepal: an overview, Dr. Sunil on RTs and pediatric healthcare

2011 projects: Eric's trip pre-brief

Bubble CPAP: English demonstration, Nepali teaching demonstration, English (with oxygen tee-in), KMC demonstration

How to make a spacer: English version, Nepali version

Inhaler technique: Nepali version