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Resilient SMH nurses and staff continue battle against coronavirus
They work in 12 hours shifts, donning hot and cumbersome personal protective equipment and too many times, are the last person many patients have contact with before being overcome by the coronavirus. For many, the coronavirus is an issue of debate. For the nurses, doctors and staff of Sheridan Memorial Hospital, it’s a battle they cannot lose.
When SMH Physician’s Assistant Kelly Lieb prepares to speak with a COVID-19 patient, she begins by washing her hands. She then puts on her PPE.
Once PPE is donned, nurses speak with the patient, retrieving any relevant information. SMH Emergency Room Registered Nurse Julie Boyd has conducted the initial process admitting patients suffering from the virus.
When nurses enter the COVID-19 wing and perform the task that needs to be completed, many times this involves speaking with a COVID-19 patient, who may be fighting for each breath.
Working intensive 12 hour shifts, wearing PPE for long periods of time and striving to be heard by COVID-19 patients over the sound of a large negative pressure ventilation system are stressors for frontline nursing staff at SMH. But the difficulty each nurse spoke on the most, was witnessing the suffering of their patients and having to turn away the patients’ loved ones, stated clearly by Emergency Room RN Mellissa Ruby.
These are just some of the stressors that each frontline medical worker carries with them everyday during the COVID-19 reality.
In spite of the pressure, SMH staff report high spirits. The vaccine has brought new optimism and hope for the light at the end of a dark tunnel. Families have “adopted” nurses and staff, dropping off healthy food items in coolers to make sure staff have one less thing in a day to be concerned with and offering words of encouragement to keep their body and spirit strong.
SMH leadership has ensured that each team member is taken care of regarding mental health, fully understanding that without them, we will never make it through the tunnel.
