Being a nurse during the COVID-19 pandemic has definitely been one of the most mentally challenging moments in my career. I never in a million years thought that my career would turn into a real life horror pandemic movie.
Things changed so drastically and rapidly. We were holding meetings and getting updates every hour about events that were changing at the blink of an eye. With everything closing and more and more people staying home, I was faced with the reality of knowing that I would still have to show up. Show up for all those who are ill and suffering.
Seeing an outside freezer truck been stationed on our hospital property has been the most scary and surreal thing. It is one thing to hear about it on TV, but it is another to actually live it and see it happening in real life; and the trays being unloaded from the back of the truck has definitely been traumatizing.
In the mist of all this chaos and sadness, I am thankful to see that we, as hospital staff, have become the eyes and ears for the families and the main advocates for the patients since all visitors are banned. Also seeing how all the staff has come together to go the extra mile for patients that are all alone and can’t even have their families by their side has been hearth-warming. Patients coding and being on their death bed and to be able to pull off that Zoom or FaceTime call to have the family say their goodbyes at least has been rewarding, yet heartbreaking.
Despite it all, I still know I chose the right profession and I wouldn’t change anything because when you know, you know.
#stayhomesavelives
xoxo
Cathy,
@cathyslayzzofficial
