Ten months into a global pandemic and the world has yet to adjust to our new normal. Schools continue to teeter totter from in-class to virtual learning. Live concerts and shows remain cancelled. Life as we knew it, simply doesn't exist. Healthcare, however, has found a way to adapt, improvise and overcome.
Meet Jesse Cooper and Shawntae Brewer. Both are registered nurses and assistant nursing care managers on their respective units at Union Health. Cooper has just under four years of nursing under his belt, while Brewer has served more than two decades in the Intensive Care Unit. Both have witnessed first-hand what COVID-19 is capable of and how it's changed the current landscape of healthcare.
"We have the supplies that we need, however, it has changed the dynamics of how we care for our patients," Brewer said. "Before, we needed to make sure we had the proper medication supplies, IV tubings, etc. Now, we need to make sure we have adequate PPE outside every room.
Month by month, day by day and even hour by hour, those on the frontline have had to conform as the world learned more about this disease. In fact, Cooper and Brewer both say communication has been one the biggest takeaways and improvements.
"It is very challenging because you are caring for these patients the best way possible, but you are also holding their hand while they are struggling with COVID," Brewer said. "While family members cannot be here with them, we are doing everything within our power to be their everything. It is emotional, but this is what we do. This is what healthcare looks like today. This is what we do for our patients."
"You learn in school that you not only take care of the patient; you take care of their families as well," Cooper said. "It's been a really difficult time for the families due to the nature of the pandemic and because of the increased visitor restrictions. So, a lot of times, we are the only communication for families and patients. I think, if anything, this has strengthened the type of compassionate care we provide our patients. It really brings out the human in each one of us."
On top of the enhanced communication efforts, teamwork is making tremendous strides.
"It's remarkable really. Everyone leans on each other," Cooper said. "We try to help each other out as much as we can. It very much is a team response. You are in the trenches with each other. It definitely forms a tighter bond and I do think this will make us appreciate the type of work that we do – especially when this [pandemic] ends."
COVID-19 has and continues to leave a monumental impression, both negatively and positively, on a global, regional and local scale. For those working the frontline, these are unprecedented times.
"It's part of it. You take an oath when you leave nursing school to do no harm and do the best you can for your patients," Cooper said. "That part doesn't change. Whether you are a nurse, respiratory, tech; all these different departments come together for the same goal. Unfortunately, we are in the middle of a pandemic, but you sign up to do this job no matter what. We need our trained frontline staff."
"I am extremely proud of our nursing staff and respiratory therapists," Brewer said. "It has been challenging. It has made us stronger individuals and professionals – probably even more so than we ever thought we would be. We have all improved our methods in which we care for our patients and we hope it continues past COVID, because our patients are getting a higher level of care."
More than 1,000 nurses are employed across the Union Health system – most of which have dealt with the pandemic in one way or another.
"I am thankful that we have been able to help so many," Brewer said. "When we have patients that are being discharged after having COVID, it gives us more inspiration to keep fighting every single day. We are so incredibly thankful that they get to go home to their families."