Wellspring

In This Issue

• From the Desk of the CEO
• Friday Night Dinners: Food for the Soul Church Outreach Allows Physical Therapist to Nourish the Needy
• Neonatal Resuscitation: Saving Babies Around the World, One Breath at a Time
• Around the World, Two Nurse Practitioners Are Welcomed With Open Arms
• ER Nurse Volunteers in Bolivia
• Racing to Help
• Cardiac Cath Lab Makes History With First Laser Treatments
• Sentenced to Serve, Financial Counselor Becomes Safequest’s Volunteer of the Year
• In Grief, Two Mothers Reach Out to Others
• Children’s Network Leader Helps Families in Need
• Twenty Years with Mark’s Learning Center
• RN Rolls Up Her Sleeves in Nicaragua
• Siblings Support a Medical Clinic in India
• Social Worker Volunteers at Oncology Camp
• Mentor Mom: Passing on Parental Knowledge
• Family Bonds: Fund-raising for Muscular Dystrophy
• Clearing the Air for Kids: Coalition Teaches Families About Asthma
• Fancy Food Show Feeds Solano’s Hungry
• Family Finds Strength Working, Praying Together
• Chief Nursing Officer Takes Her Caring Touch to Kenya
• Classical Music, Close to Home
• Engaging Minds: Certified Activity Director Aids Solano’s Memory-Impaired
• NorthBay Adult Day Center – A Needed Service
• Great Wonders, Great Jubilee: Bill Seiden, Solano Wine & Food Jubilee volunteer
• Guild’s New Leader
• Welcome New Physician
• HERO Fund: Employees Help Patients in Need
• Cancer Survivors Day ‘Celebration of Life’ is June 7
• Golden Honors
• NorthBay Center for Primary Care Now Offers After-Hours Urgent Care
• NorthBay Hospice Makes a Vacaville Man's Dream Come True
• Community Support Strong for 2009 Jubilee
• A Life of Service

Chief Nursing Officer Takes Her Caring Touch to Kenya

May 18, 2009 · No Comments

NorthBay Healthcare Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer Kathy Richerson says a trip to Kenya in 2007 with the faith-based E3 Partners restored her confidence that as a nurse, even when you’re not involved in direct care, your core nursing skills and knowledge don’t go away.

“There’s still so much that you can do as a clinician to help other people,” she says.

Kathy got that chance during a 10-day medical mission, in which she was part of the triage team, evaluating patients’ medical needs, giving them basic medication and directing them to the appropriate station for further help.

In that short span, the group – which included two other NorthBay employees, Dan Hartley and Susan Rosten – saw more than 2,400 patients.

“The Kenyan people are very patient and will travel long distances to get help,” Kathy explains. Still, they had to turn almost 1,000 away.

“That’s the part that just breaks your heart,” says Kathy.

Kathy has worked nine years at NorthBay, and while the trip to Kenya in 2007 was the first she’s ever taken, she promises it won’t be the last. It also provided her with a great opportunity to visit her son and his family, who were missionaries at the time in a Kenyan community about 90 minutes away from Njoro.

Tags: Volunteers