Nursing in Barrow

I’ve been lax about posting to the blog lately but just discovered photos that I haven’t shared yet that you all might enjoy.  I’ve been here for 14 ½ months, so through a full cycle of the seasons and activities of Barrow.  It all seems so familiar now, as if there’s no point in rewriting about what you read about last year about this time.  I have to remember though that little occasional peeks into life here isn’t the same as experiencing it every day.  I still love most everything about life here, of course except for missing my family in the “lower 48” = ).  The quality of time I’m able to spend with them is much higher though with no job to drive to while there or no classes to attend.  Sometimes I wonder why I’m here and other times I really can’t imagine working anywhere else.   The snow has such a cheering affect.  I walk out the door in the morning and pedal down the dark street, packed hard with snow and ice, and think that this really must be the most wonderful pla

Most mornings I log onto the  NOAA website to see what sort of weather is waiting to embrace the community when we step out our doors to leave for work or school.  Before having looked it up this morning, a voice on the radio announced that the North Slope Borough School District, all North Slope Borough offices, Ilisagvik College, and the City of Barrow were asking employees to stay home because of blowing snow, low visibility and dangerous conditions.   I was a little surprised in that this time of year the weather is normally adverse so people put on an extra layer or two, make sure their cleats are firmly attached to their boots, find their goggles and head out.  My surprise isn't mixed with any disappointment though--it's wonderful to have an unplanned day off.  I didn't get my snow tires put on my bike this weekend, so today's the day.   Our current weather conditions are winds out of the east at 35 mph with gusts up to 40 mph, heavy blowing snow, a base tempe

I feel so blessed to have such kind friends here in Barrow...am back on two wheels thanks to an offer I couldn't turn down...   I wrote about loving to ride the bike I purchased last April in a previous post and in another about it not surviving the summer mud here.  The ball bearings in the crank case succumbed to the infiltration of water and mud and revolted in September, ending our several months of daily outings.   I was truly touched when several friends offered me their bikes or the use of them until I could replace mine.  Not wanting to destroy theirs along with mine, I made peace with walking again.  I'd just gotten used to being on foot when a friend insisted that since I love to ride and she really didn't use her bike on a regular basis, that it was mine if I would just come to pick it up.  It was on her porch under six inches of snow and I couldn't see letting it rust when we could be having some fun together.   The gifted bike is from REI and in looki

With the adverse weather conditions in many parts of the United States, ours here seems unworthy of mention.  My heart goes out to people in many states who have lost loved ones, are stranded, are without power and are fearful of losing valuable crops.   We're extremely fortunate that our low temperatures, although higher than normal for this time of year, are expected, that machines with plows are out on the roads early in the morning, that power outages are rare and that there is nothing that can be harmed by cold weather...no orchards of citrus trees or fields of lettuce like those in California.  Everything here thrives on and depends on the cold weather and winds that bring the necessary ice bergs in to shore.   Just a note to say that my prayers and I'm sure those of many people here go out to those who are struggling in difficult circumstances brought on by the unusually cold and snowy weather to the south.  

Ice can be seen now on the Arctic Ocean off of the northern shore of Barrow and Browerville, but I've been told by Inupiaq people that it's not the ice that they're waiting for.  What we're seeing now is a freezing of the top layer of water on the ocean, but the ice that will increase the chances of spring whaling being successful are the icebergs that extend far into the ocean that are blown into shore by strong winds from the north.  Last year the icebergs were sparse and consequently, so was the whaling, 3 being harvested when 22 were allowed.  The fall whaling is done on the ice if it is stable or on open water if the ice and icebergs have retreated.  It's always hoped that one of these two conditions occur while the whales are migrating past back to the west.   When flying to Kaktovik and back in mid-November, I could see ice on the ocean and believe that it might be the surface ice that's present here in the Barrow area.  Kaktovik is an hour east of Ba

This time of year, blizzards are common on the North Slope of Alaska—it’s just a part of life that one takes into consideration when making plans.     Kaktovik is a relatively small village (approximately 300 people) on Barter Island, east of Barrow and not too far from northern Canada.  It’s a beautiful spot, treeless, but with nice views of the Brooks Range to the south and the mountains of Canada to the east.  I’ve been assigned to travel there three times a year, bringing public health services to the residents.  I did TB testing on all of the school children in the village in September and am scheduled to return in February to do height, weight, BMI, vision, hearing and blood pressure screening along with catching up with children’s immunizations and well child checks.  My third trip was going to be in May, offering some sort of community education as well as continuing to give immunizations and do well child checks.  I’d been concerned that children’s flu vaccines hadn’t

During nursing visits with families, the relationship with parents is weighted with clients being on the receiving end of information about immunizations, developmental stages, nutrition, safe practices and resources.   I always enjoy the appointments and endeavor to make them fun for my little clients as well as relaxing for their parents.   With time constraints in mind,I normally offer warm greetings, assess, give education and resources, immunize, blow bubbles, give stickers and new toothbrushes and when opening the door, say with a sincere smile “I’ll send a post card when the next immunizations are due.   It was really good seeing you all…have a great rest of your day...”   I’ve found parents to be very receptive during visits but somewhat shy when seeing most of them out in the community.   Something has shifted though and I’m being greeted with smiles and eye contact when seeing parents at the airport, at community events and when shopping for groceries.   It’s pretty wonderfu

Last spring, my friend Carolyn, in Edmonds, Washington told me about a Tower Garden that she and her family had, growing prolific amounts of leafy greens and tomatoes on their deck, all without dirt.    We strategized for several weeks about the feasibility of my successfully using one here in my apartment in Barrow.    The cost of the non-organic vegetables sold in the store here are high and organic ones that can be ordered often arrive wilted and spoiled.    I calculated that the cost of the Tower Garden, tomato cage and lights that I’d need would pay for itself in about a year while providing high quality, nutrient dense greens.   The garden was developed by Tim Blank, a man who grew up farming in the Midwest, had a passion for learning and wanted everyone to have the opportunity to grow fresh vegetables no matter what their living space.  Tim worked and learned as Epcot Center’s greenhouse manager prior to founding Future Growing.  There he worked with various ideas and in fi