Day-in-the-life of a nurse during COVID-19
‘This is something none of us have ever experienced’
I wake up each day grateful for another day. I put on some of my favourite music, and get a sweat on in my living room before heading to work. Working out clears my mind. It is one thing within my control right now, and it makes me feel good. I sip on my coffee, and write in my gratitude journal.
When I arrive for my shift, security is at the front door and they check for my work ID. This is to ensure we are keeping people in the hospital safe. Recently our Interventional Radiology team has been broken up into two teams at our two different hospital sites, so that if one team is exposed to COVID19, the other team can still continue to work and care for patients. As per usual, we arrive at staggered start times to maximize our work efficiency.
I join my team and check the case board in our department to see what is scheduled for the day so we can try to plan, but it always changes on the fly. We try to plan to do our “droplet precaution cases” later in the day, if at all possible, since they involve a lot more preparation. We follow a carefully designed flowchart to make sure we are staying as safe as possible, while still providing optimal care for our patients.
Work has been busy since the pandemic started, but we are used to a busy department, as the practice of Interventional Radiology is forever evolving and expanding. Most of our procedures are considered urgent, as many are either emergency-based, or revolve around cancer care.
We insert vital lines for patients who require nutrition, antibiotics, various cancer treatments, dialysis treatments, etc. We insert nasogastric tubes and feeding tubes. We perform various vascular procedures that may help restore blood flow to save a limb, or a vital organ.
We perform embolization procedures by using coils, glue or particles to prevent bleeding, or to decrease blood flow to areas of the body, such as a tumor in the liver.
We perform cancer treatments that target specific organs. Some procedures are performed using radio frequency ablation, while in other cases we may deliver radioactive beads directly to tumors.
We place drains in patients in the hope that they may help resolve infections and/ or offer physical relief for patients with certain medical conditions. We place other types of drains and stents in patients in the hope of helping systems in the body that may be obstructed, or need to be decompressed.
We perform biopsies on patients to help determine the pathology of certain diseases.
We perform clot extractions on patients actively experiencing strokes, in the hope of regaining normal neurological function. These are only some of the procedures we may perform today at work in Interventional Radiology.
We wear lead vests all day to protect us from radiation, and normally we wear gowns, masks, scrub hats and gloves to protect both ourselves and our patients. For patients who are COVID-19 positive, or on “droplet precautions,” we wear more protective gear and supplies than usual, and all those layers are uncomfortably warm. For these cases, we always have a backup team waiting outside the room to ensure everyone in the room is ready, appropriately protected and that we have the equipment we need. We communicate with each other via walkie-talkies.
The patients are prescreened before they arrive, regardless of whether they are an outpatient, inpatient, or coming from another hospital. They are screened again by our department to make sure nothing was missed. If we are to perform a case on a patient who is COVID-19 positive, post procedure we will be allotted time to shower, put on fresh scrubs and allow the room to sit still for a designated amount of time before it can be cleaned and before we move on to our next case.
We go on break one a time — as usual — but we’re limited as to where we can spend our breaks. We are meant to stay within our own circle, as best we can.
We are careful to distance ourselves from each other, all the while trying to keep our morale up. We take turns writing an inspirational quote on our case board. We try to smile, laugh a little, and keep things light. We also have a good news board where we are encouraged to put up positive, feel-good stories, like the geese are back at Sullivan’s Pond, or information about discounts being offered locally for healthcare workers.
We feel very appreciated by various communities right now. I can honestly say that I feel most appreciated and supported when I see people doing their part by staying at home.
For many of us, the pandemic has been filled with a wide range of emotions. I admit — it was scary in the beginning because this pandemic was something that none of us have ever experienced. It is something we never imagined or wanted to see in our lifetime. But it has become our reality for now, and I am proud to put on scrubs each day, and be afforded the opportunity to help people.
From the start of the pandemic, our Interventional Radiology department was quick to develop a “COVID task force team” that worked very hard to put together a COVID19 plan, which has been key to our team feeling prepared. They keep us updated daily on any departmental changes, and as an entire team we touch base weekly via teleconference. We have always worked well as a team, and we continue to do so as we work through the pandemic one day at a time.
Our patients show us every day that they are truly heroes. Many of our patients are immunocompromised and are already fighting on a day-today basis to improve their health, or quality of life. They are our reason to smile. They so powerfully remind us every hour of every day what is truly important in life.
When my shift comes to an end today, I will carefully remove my scrubs and my mask. As soon as I get home, I will take off the clothes I wore into the hospital and put them in the wash.
My apartment will be dead quiet. I have not seen anyone (other than my co-workers) since this all started in early March. But that is nothing compared to the hardships and losses I have seen in my career as a nurse. That is nothing compared to the losses I have seen and heard about worldwide since the start of the pandemic. Perspective is everything.
At times, I experience feelings of loneliness. My boyfriend lives on the South Shore and we are unable to see each other. I miss my family dearly. Everyone on my team and everyone staying at home are missing special people in their lives right now, but I recognize keeping our loved ones safe is of the utmost importance.
Work is busy, so my team members and I are picking up extra back-up call shifts when we’re able. When I am not at work, I try to get outside for a walk or exercise on the balcony of my apartment. The day will come to an end, and I will do it all over again tomorrow.
When this is all over, I can’t wait to see my boyfriend. I can’t wait to visit my mom in Pictou County. It’s her birthday this week, and I won’t be there. I can’t wait for some normalcy to return, and I am able to go to the gym and out for supper with my sister and brother-in-law. I can’t wait to visit my brother and sisterin-law and to give my nieces and nephews the biggest hugs imaginable. I can’t wait to have a girls’ night with my friends and laugh until the point of tears. And I can’t wait to have sand between my toes and feel the waves of the ocean run over my feet.
Working during a pandemic has changed my outlook on life — and I am hopeful it has changed everyone else’s, too. I hope we are all more able to appreciate every day, be grateful for the people in our lives and be thankful for what we have.
I love and miss my family and friends, but right now my team is my family, too and they allow me to lean on them when I need to.
I am proud to be a part of the Interventional Radiology team at the QEII Health Sciences Centre, which includes Interventional Radiologists, Neuro Radiologists, Medical Radiation Technologists, Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses, Porters, Clerical Imaging Assistants, Supply Techs and our Manager and Department Director. Every single person on our team is vital.
I leave you with this final message: We are truly all in this together. We are doing our absolute best. Every day, we continue to care for patients as if they were our own family because we truly care with all of our hearts.