Hometown (where you live now): Troy
Job title: Registered Nurse
Where do you work: Soin Medical Center Emergency Department
Describe what your day is like/what you do: A typical day in the Emergency Department is always changing. You never know what is going to be brought through the door or what an ambulance is going to bring in. Since the COVID pandemic, we have had more truly sick people coming in to be seen. Not necessarily people who have COVID, but people whose preexisting medical conditions have become more exasperated or have an infection that has gone untreated. We also have traumas, strokes and cardiac arrests that are coming into our department that we must be on our toes for. One minute I can be administering IV medications, to the next minute I am running to a code and administering chest compressions to a dying patient. My ED family is what makes my job run efficiently so we can take care of our patients to the best of our ability!
Health Care Hero: ‘I became a nurse to make a difference’
What inspired you to get into health care? I knew from the age of 4 that I wanted to be an ED nurse after watching "Rescue 911." The adrenaline rush of helping and saving people always interested me. I was always that kid that wanted to help and fix things that were injured or broke. Also nursing runs strong in my family as my mom and sister are both nurses.
What's a memorable experience you've had in health care? There are far too many experiences that I've had in nursing that are memorable. I will never forget my first code as a new RN. I will never forget holding my patient's hand while they were dying and there was no family there to be with them. I will never forget just being there for my patients and making a scary experience of being in the ED more calming by just talking to them. These are not only memories that have changed me, but they also allow me to learn and grow not only as a nurse but as a person.
Health Care Hero: ‘I really love my job’
What do you want readers to know about your job right now: My job right now is much different than it was three months ago prior to the COVID pandemic. However, it doesn't change my level of care for each of my patients. People are afraid to come to the ED for care for fear that they are "wasting our time" or even "fear of getting the coronavirus." We as health care workers didn't change. We will still care for you regardless of what you're coming in for. We diligently clean every surface to make sure that the virus does not potentially spread. We want to take care of you and help you to feel better. So please, do not hesitate to come and see us if you are not feeling well. You are not "wasting our time!"