“When you see information on the screen or hear numbers, you perceive the disaster quite abstractly. But when you see a specific person in front of you, their family, their fear, and how their life has changed in a very short time, everything becomes very real. Then you understand that the scale of the disaster cannot be measured by numbers alone. Behind every number is a person, a family, and a very specific story,” says D. Buividas.
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D. Buividas initially worked as one of two medics in the Lithuanian Search and Rescue Team (LERT), later joining the Lithuanian Mobile Emergency Medical Team (EMT). In the field hospital set up near the capital Caracas in the La Guaira region, medical assistance was provided to about 230 patients.
The plan had to be changed three times before noon
Upon arriving in Caracas, D. Buividas was first struck by the contrast: on one side – a large, lively, and intense city, on the other – people’s anxiety, uncertainty, and signs of a recent severe shock. The true scale of the disaster became clear when working with patients and their families.
“My job was what you would expect from a nurse in an extreme situation – to take care of patients, help the team, and be prepared for the fact that the plan you had in the morning might have to be changed three times before noon. In emergency medicine, this is almost a tradition,” says D. Buividas.
In field conditions, the team had to adapt to limited resources, lack of time, and constantly changing circumstances. According to the nurse, it was difficult not only to treat physical wounds but also to witness people’s psychological shock – some lost their homes, safety, or loved ones in a matter of moments.
“Professional calm does not mean you have to become insensitive. You see a person’s pain, feel it, and understand it, but at the same time, you know that your main task at that moment is to help. Emotions do not disappear – they just sometimes have to wait. First, you help the patient, and you can deal with your own emotions when the work is done,” he says.
Humanity knows no borders
D. Buividas was shocked and at the same time impressed by the spiritual strength and gratitude of the local people. He especially remembers an elderly woman who, having nothing herself, after receiving help
insisted on sharing her last remaining fruit. “Such moments prove that humanity and warmth have no borders or language barriers,” recalls the nurse.
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For their significant contribution to helping people affected by the natural disaster, members of the Lithuanian team were awarded the “Heroes of Venezuela” medals. D. Buividas primarily sees this award as recognition of the collective work.
“In such missions, there is no one person who does everything. Some treat and care, others organize, plan, take care of logistics, communication, and help each other. You can put the medal in a drawer, but you cannot put the experience, people, and stories you bring back into a drawer,” says D. Buividas.
The mission strengthened the decision to continue studies
The experience in Venezuela strengthened D. Buividas’s decision to continue his professional path at Klaipėda University – he will study for a Master’s degree in Advanced Practice Nursing.
“In extreme situations, you clearly see how much depends on the professional’s competence, ability to think critically, and make decisions when there is not much time for consideration. A nurse’s work today is much broader than just performing procedures – it requires clinical thinking, the ability to assess the patient’s condition, make decisions, and work in a team even under very difficult conditions,” says D. Buividas.
He sees the Master’s in Advanced Practice Nursing as a natural next step in his professional career. In the future, D. Buividas would like to continue working in the clinical field, strengthen his competencies, and, if possible, contribute to emergency and critical care medicine.
“For now, the plan is simple: to learn as much as possible, help as much as possible, and not lose the sense of humor. Because in medicine, sometimes you need not only good clinical thinking but also the ability to remain human,” concludes D. Buividas.
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