USF College of Nursing alum, Hayley Suratt, takes second mission trip to Guatemala

University of South Florida College of Nursing alum, Hayley Suratt, RN, MSN, CRNA, ’12, returned to Guatemala for a second medical-surgical mission trip in spring 2013.

Suratt, who received her Master of Science in Nurse Anesthesia at USF in December 2012, traveled to Guatemala with Faith in Practice, which is a non-profit Christian organization that seeks to improve the physical, spiritual, and economic conditions of the poor in Guatemala through short-term surgical, medical, and dental mission trips and health-related educational programs.

Suratt traveled as a volunteer with 30 other medical personnel to help performed surgeries on 104 patients over one week. During that time, Suratt and the medical-surgical team screened patients to make sure they have good candidates for surgery, set up the surgery suites and pre-op/recovery units, and performed surgeries such as Gallbladder removals, hernia repairs, knee/shoulder scopes, and more.

“I was stationed in the recovery room,” Suratt said. “I assisted patients in the transition from general anesthesia, which included airway management and pain control (IV medications/peripheral nerve blocks). The USF Nurse Anesthesia program equipped me with the knowledge, skill set, and confidence to reach beyond our borders and help people in far-away places – I am forever grateful!”

This is Suratt’s second trip to the Latin country. Last summer, she traveled with the Faith in Practice’s surgical team to Antigua, Guatemala where she helped many patients in desperate need of medical help. They performed an amazing 93 surgeries including knees, shoulders, gallbladders, hernias, and other general surgeries in just one week.

“I traveled back to Guatemala because I knew Guatemalans needed all the help they could get,” Suratt said. “Last year, I witnessed the hurt and joy of so many faces before and after surgeries that I knew I had to go back and help them as much as possible. But, Guatemalans always give way more back to me than what I give to them,” Suratt said. “They inspire and remind me to become more and reach for more through God’s grace and strength.”

Since 1991, Faith In Practice, has been committed to serving the poor in Guatemala. The organization sees more than 20,000 patients annually, according to Faith in Practice’s website. Every year, over 1,000 medical professionals and support personnel from across the United States and world travel to Guatemala, to serve the poor of Guatemala through Faith In Practice.

For more stories about Hayley Suratt click here.