With Friday night’s stressful events, I wanted to allow the students an easy day with no big time constraints and some fun. They slept in, and after offering a few activities, it was decided that we would visit Robert’s Prairie Dog Town in the Badlands; Wall Drug (everyone’s favorite tourist trap); and then have a decent dinner that offered a bit more nutrition than our usual. Everybody seems to be in good spirits-they have bounced back very quickly from the stress of the night before. I am eternally grateful that we have a resilient group—they will certainly need this resilience as nurses. And even more grateful that the group is safe, and no one else was injured. We’re not the only one’s who are resilient. The pow wow activities continue with increased security, including metal detectors.
Sunday was the much anticipated Relays, my favorite extreme sporting event. S. And E. Went with us which added to the fun. The blistering heat continues-106 degrees and SO dry and dusty. Thankfully it clouded up, and we got a decent breeze. With the breeze, it was difficult to keep the canopy anchored, but we made it work. We also got the prime spot just next to the starting/finish line.
Screenings were slow today, but still some great interactions and fun withe kids. We gave away the rest of our booster seats and the majority of our diapers. We also gave away IUS and Red Cross T-shirts, and when I asked a group of school-age boys on bikes if they wanted a T-shirt, I got a hug as thanks. Again, it is the little things.
The races were exciting as always. I warned the students that I might be embarrassing with my cheering and yelling. Just like the pow wow, I recognize familiar faces, including Parker, who we first watch ride in a race at the age of two. He must be about 8 or 9 now and quite the rider. It finally got to be main event time-championship race of the relays. Unfortunately, a rider got injured on his first horse exchange. He had to stay on the track until the race was over, and then was carried out by two of the staff. The three nurses, S., E., and I, provided some simple care until EMS arrived. They sat him in one of our chairs and we applied ice to his knee. We talked to him and tried to keep him calm. From the sounds of it, he likely tore a ligament in his knee when he landed with his knee bent under him. The ambulance arrived fairly quickly from the pow wow grounds, and off he went. Another eventful day at the races doing whatever we can-plenty of little things that hopefully add up.
Nursing Students at Pine Ridge 