Big Day: Health Assessments for Monks

Today Chelan and Cassidy had the great honour of visiting the temples and assessing the monks. Generally women are not allowed to touch the monks but nursing care is the one exception. We were able to take their blood pressure, measurements, even use Chelan’s personal SPO2 monitor while assessing. We had the most amazing day learning about Buddhism and their culture. The Monks were very welcoming and encouraging to us as student nurses. It was explained to us that people bring offerings of food and drinks to the monks, and they believe if the monks consume the offerings, it feeds their ancestors. The monks do not refuse offerings, which explains why there is an abundance of hypertension and diabetes among their community. This often results in the monks having little control over their own health. As we were leaving, one Monk even gifted us and the other nursing staff bracelets of luck. This was such an amazing gift, and something neither of us will forget. Words cannot express the gratitude we felt during this day.