RUSSIA: Exploring medical care in Krasnoyarsk

. DICKINSON, North Dakota (The Dickinson Press), August 30, 2008: By Linda Sailer, The Dickinson Press Dickinson State University nursing faculty and students spent a week this summer learning about Russian health care and nursing education at the Krasnoyarsk State Medical University (KMSU) in Krasnoyarsk, Russia. This was the third time DSU sent a delegation to KSMU, while personnel from the Russian university visited DSU twice in a partnership between the two institutions that was formed in 2006. Those attending were DSU Department of Nursing assistant professors of nursing Cheryl Lantz and Janice Neumann. The four nursing students are Kourtney Hanley, Whitney Naumann, Nancy Nyongesa and Tina Peterson. Lantz said the Russian nursing program also has collaborations with Italy and Japan. “They are reaching out to the world to improve their health care system and to learn from the best other systems have to offer,” she said. “They are very proud of their international collaboration with three countries.” She said the Russian university personnel were interested in the theory behind the American methods of teaching nursing. “Their teaching style is more of a professor at the lectern. They don’t incorporate critical thinking. The master teaches the students,” said Lantz. “The techniques of teaching in America involve interactive strategies so our students can interact, not just memorize.” Lantz said both partners in the collaboration are open to new ways of thinking. “We are learning from them alternative therapies, pain management theory and proactive care for the elderly,” said Lantz. In turn, the Russians are interested in the way DSU educate its nurses, its equipment and its system of governing nursing, she said. At Krasnoyarsk, the students are educated to become nurse managers and leaders in the nursing profession. “We were working with their advanced nursing program,” said Lantz. “We taught the students and we taught the faculty. It was surreal to be in a room of professors,” added Neumann. “They were medical school professors who came to hear about teaching theory and techniques,” said Lantz. Lantz explained the Russians take care of their elderly in the home, but have the opportunity to enroll in a geriatric care program focusing on preventive health care. The programs include healing massages, nutritious meals and social gatherings. The ages of clients may vary from 50-70 years. “It’s everything they need to keep them healthy and then they go back home again. They don’t have an illness focus of long-term facilities as we do. They are very proactive,” she said. Lantz said the Russian visit was an opportunity to explore other ways to care for the whole patient. Alternative medicine included the use of massage, oxygen baths and hydrotherapy. “They are very focused on the whole person,” said Lantz. “The other thing that impressed me was they have so much pride in what they do have,” said Neumann. In regard to pain management, nurses don’t reach for pain medicine at the first onset of discomfort or medical procedures. This reduces the need to monitor for side effects, she said. “We’d like to learn more about their theories. We’d like to understand more,” she added. Neumann received a massage, which she described as “wonderful, so relaxing.” “They train blind people to do massages because they easily can feel the knots,” added Lantz. Several of the students were treated to Fita Sauna barrel treatments, which were combination of sauna heat, oils and herbal teas. “My skin was soft for days. I’ve never slept so well,” said Lantz. Lantz said the visit to Krasnoyarsk was a privilege. The city of 1 million people was a closed society until 10 years ago because of its missile production plants. “It’s a big deal that Americans were in Krasnoyarsk,” said Lantz. “They treated us like royalty,” added Neumann. Upon first arriving in Russia, the nurses visited the Children’s Hospital No. 1 at St. Petersburg for three days. Although the building was dated, the nurses observed the pediatric cardiac intensive care unit had adequate equipment. Dr. Vadim Lubomudrov, director of cardiac surgery, said some of the equipment was donated by America and other countries. However, there are not enough hospitals to serve the needs of the population. “Dr. Lubomudrov explained that for every one child who has surgery there are probably 7-10 that die. It just tears my heart apart,” said Lantz. “We saw patients bringing their own clothing, their own utensils — cups and spoons. They don’t have hospital gowns, patients wear pajamas. Because of staff shortages, mothers come to care for their children,” said Lantz. “It’s a very different way of doing health care and it opened our minds up to different things,” she said. While the way of treating patients were different, Neumann said the medical providers of both nations have the same goal of providing quality health care. “We all agreed it was life-changing and inspirational to think about health care in the world. We are breaking down the barriers between the countries,” said Lantz. “Nurses are nurses no matter where you are in the world. We all got along and are very excited to share what we know and what we do,” she added. While in Krasnoyarsk, the students — all licensed practical nurses — had the opportunity to assist in surgery. Kourtney Hanley assisted in two surgeries while Naumann and Peterson each assisted with one. Naumann said the experience was an opportunity to see nursing through another country’s eyes. She also enjoyed the opportunity to assist in surgery. “We participated in getting sutures ready and seeing how they did things. Things were different from America, like two surgeries were going on in one room. The X-rays hang on windows for light. At one point the window was open for air,” said Naumann. “It’s 100 percent different from what America does. It was neat to see how they do things. They make the best of what they have.” Naumann felt the bridge between the two countries was the desire by nurses to do what was best for the patients. “We are both doing what we can to give the patients the best care,” she said. Naumann said the American students spent time with the Russian nursing students. “We met a lot of nursing students who came to hang out every single night. They greeted us with open arms,” she said. Kourtney Hanley enjoyed learning about the alternative methods of nursing. “We actually participated in a Fita barrel. It’s like a sauna. They put herbs from Siberia on you. We even drank an herbal tea,” she said. “It was so relaxing, it was amazing.” She observed other kinds of alternative treatments including hydrotherapy, oxygen baths and massage therapy. They observed the use of leeches to relieve hypertension in one case and to increase blood flow to a shoulder muscle in another. “It gives you a new appreciation for another culture,” she said. Further collaboration between the two universities is planned in October with a visit to DSU by KSMU faculty and students. Research projects and conferences also are in the works, said Neumann. “We are planning a collaborative international research project on family health issues, plus planning for teleconferences to share knowledge,” said Lantz. © 2008 Forum Communications Co. Fargo, ND