“The hardest part was dealing with injuries to people, especially children. The wounded soldiers also left a strong impression – their eyes, their looks, the realization that a person who had been fighting for their country’s freedom not long ago faces a long and complicated recovery. Emotionally, the hardest part was not the injuries themselves, but the thought of what consequences they would have on the lives of young people,” says K. Dapkutė.
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The internship for KU students was organized by the Center for Emergency Health Situations under the Ministry of Health. The internship was coordinated by Vaiva Jankienė, who completed additional nursing studies at KU. K. Dapkutė learned about the opportunity to participate at the Klaipėda Children’s Hospital, where she works.
“This internship was a unique opportunity to see up close and learn about things I would most likely never encounter under normal circumstances. The thought of going to a war zone caused anxiety, but the desire to learn was stronger. I wanted to understand how medical professionals work under extreme conditions and what lessons I could bring back and apply in my work as a nurse,” the student says.
The most important thing was to integrate into the team
The role of Lithuanian medics changed depending on the situation and where extra hands were needed at the time. They performed various support tasks and assisted local medics. At the stabilization point, K. Dapkutė, together with volunteers working there, participated in evacuating wounded soldiers to hospitals in larger cities. During the trips, she monitored vital signs, tracked patients’ conditions, and acted according to the instructions of local medics.
“It is very important to understand that we primarily went there to learn. Ukrainian medics are a well-coordinated team, so our task was not to interfere but to integrate as much as we were needed and useful at the time. Sometimes the greatest help is simply to be nearby, observe, learn, and do what is needed from you at that moment,” emphasizes K. Dapkutė.
At night – drones and missile attack
The most vivid memory for her was one night at the stabilization point near the front.
“I was supposed to go on a night evacuation, and a few colleagues from Lithuania came to see me off. At that time, drones appeared above us. In such a place, you never know exactly what you are seeing or what to expect. Later, while we were already driving to the city hospital, a missile attack began,” recalls K. Dapkutė.
Since there was no communication, it was impossible to find out if anything had happened to colleagues left at the base. However, what shocked her most was not the fear experienced but the realization that this is the everyday reality for Ukrainians.
The calmness of Ukrainian medics left the greatest impression
According to the student, more than 300 children had been treated at the visited children’s hospital from the start of the war until K. Dapkutė’s internship. However, even when faced with a huge flow of patients and severe injuries, local medics remained calm and focused.
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“The calmness of Ukrainian medics was astonishing. Critically ill patients are brought to hospitals, yet work proceeds very disciplined and organized. I admired their ability to stay focused, communicate with each other, and maintain respect for one another in the most difficult situations. Despite the war and enormous workload, every patient is important to them,” says the KU student.
KU studies helped understand what is happening with the patient
During the internship in Ukraine, K. Dapkutė relied on the knowledge gained during her KU studies. However, theoretical knowledge is only a solid foundation.
“The knowledge gained during studies was useful in assessing the patient’s condition, monitoring vital signs, understanding what is happening with the patient, and why certain actions are performed. However, during the internship, I quickly realized that theoretical knowledge is just the foundation. I learned a lot by observing other medics’ decisions and work organization,” she says.
During the internship days, there was no time to feel tired, says K. Dapkutė: much time was spent in hospitals, little sleep was had because she wanted to see and learn as much as possible.
“Only upon returning do you realize that the emotional fatigue is very great. Everyone who has faced the cruelty of war returns a little changed – maybe you don’t feel it immediately, but later you start to value freedom, safety, and the ability to return home peacefully after work differently,” says K. Dapkutė.
“I would like to return already now”
Despite the experienced tension, the student says she would go again without hesitation. She encourages future nurses to take advantage of opportunities to learn from colleagues in other countries.
“If you have the opportunity to go on internships, missions, or learn from colleagues in other countries – go. Such experiences expand professional knowledge and help you grow as a person and specialist. The more of us see and understand the reality of war, the better prepared we will be if such knowledge and skills are ever needed in Lithuania. I would definitely go again myself. To be honest, I would like to return already now,” says K. Dapkutė.
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