“I am incredible grateful for the experience that NICCER and the hospital has given me, as I have been able to expand not only my professional knowledge but my educating skills.”

Beth Wiggins, RN, ICU Nepean Hospital (March 2023)

I was fortunate enough to be sponsored by NICCER to travel with a team of Intensivists, Doctors, and Nurses to teach a Ventilation and Sedation workshop in Vietnam. This workshop took place at The Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Ho Chi Minh City. I applied with an expression of interest advertised within my intensive care unit, to share current knowledge and educate both junior doctors and nurses about ventilation modes, difficulties of ventilation, reasons for intubation, and sedation techniques. I felt that my practical experience with airway management, mechanically ventilated patients and COVID 19 provided me with knowledge that would support fellow healthcare workers in a foreign country.

When arriving in Ho Chi Minh City myself and fellow colleagues, in the ventilation team met with the RACE team who accompanied us at the hospital throughout the week teaching. The workshop we provided to junior doctors and nurses included both theory and hands on practical sessions each day. The first day consisted of teaching different modes of ventilation, how to manage difficult ventilation, and basic airway management. Later in the afternoon the practical sessions included Intubating a patient, Basic Life Support and ventilator set up. It was a real eye opener for us to hear the different techniques our fellow doctors follow to intubate their patients and what choice of sedation they use due to the limited resources available.

Our next day consisted of non-invasive ventilation modes, analgesia, sedation and proning. When discussing analgesic and sedative choices they explained the reason why they choose midazolam over propofol as a sedative due to the cost and availability of the drugs. We are fortunate enough in Australia to have our medical needs funded by the government under Medicare, however the doctors at the hospital explained how a lot of patients must help pay towards their care provided. A conversation also evolved about the immediate response to the COVID 19 outbreak and how they received more resources such as High Flow oxygenation devices and transport ventilators. During our proning workshop some doctors were confident in the proning techniques whilst others benefited with some education on better techniques.

All the doctors who participated in the workshop were extremely grateful for the sharing of our knowledge and skills. They have invited us back for the year of 2023 and cannot wait to expand their knowledge. I am incredible grateful for the experience that NICCER and the hospital has given me, as I have been able to expand not only my professional knowledge but my educating skills. Everyone involved in the trip was so supportive of each other and I look forward to applying again for this year.