(contemplative music)
I'm a Scripps cardiovascular ICU nurse.
We primarily take care of heart surgery patients,
patients that have had heart attacks
outside of the hospital.
We recover them, and we send them on their way
to hopefully home to be discharged.
And now after the COVID pandemic,
we take care of COVID patients,
and I'd like to say that our unit
is probably half COVID patients, if not more.
We are doing our best
to safeguard our health and wellness against them,
and we are making sure they're safe
and the hospital staff is safe
by using PPE such as masks, eye goggles
and face shields just as an added layer of protection
because a lot of us have families
that we wanna protect when we go home.
(contemplative music)
We want people to know that it is always a team approach
when it comes to taking care of any patient,
whether it's heart surgery patient or it's a COVID patient.
We are the patient's extended family.
From the pharmacist to the physical therapist,
to the nurse to the doctors, we're there for them 100%.
For the COVID patients,
we've been implementing safe lifesaving devices
that allow more oxygen to reach the blood
and to be returned back to the patient.
That allows the lungs to rest and recover.
We also place patients on their tummy for "tummy time".
And that allows a patient's lungs to expand
and to oxygenate.
But whatever your reason is for being in the hospital,
whether it's COVID or heart surgery,
we want you to know that we're here
to take care of you as we always did,
with compassionate excellence.
(contemplative music)
Community support has been overwhelming.
It has been so phenomenal to be at the receiving end of it.
We have organizations and various businesses reach out,
local businesses, too, for catered meals, drinks, treats,
and we're so thankful for them.
We had a makeup company
that actually donated a box of mascara
because they knew that our faces are covered
and hidden behind the masks,
and they knew how important it is
for us to speak with our eyes.
We have thank you cards and letters
from childrens and families that are handwritten,
so thoughtful, and they're all plastered
all over our unit.
And so it's nice to see them every once in awhile
in the middle of our day,
just to get an uplifting and calmness from them.
(contemplative music)
Working in the ICU is stressful to begin with.
However, with this COVID crisis,
our anxiety and stress levels have peaked at a new height.
Our unit has actually opened a new room
called the tranquility room,
and it has aromatherapy.
It has a lot of space so we can maintain
that six feet of social distancing.
We take our breaks there.
And then after my shift,
I take a shower here in the hospital.
I remove all my dirty scrubs, and I double-bag it.
That way I know when I go home,
I am protecting my 11-month-old and my husband
because I have to take responsibility
of protecting my family.
(contemplative music)
A heartfelt moment was recently
when we had a patient with COVID.
He was with us in the ICU for 60 days.
And he just got worse and worse,
and we tried everything.
We tried all the meds, the lifesaving devices,
and it seemed like he was at death's doorstep
a handful of times.
But one day he took a turn,
and he just got better after that, day after day.
And he was a miracle.
He started to communicate with us.
He started to communicate with his family through iPad.
From being bedrest for 60 days,
he took his first steps with physical therapy.
He was able to walk out of his ICU room,
and he was able to get discharged.
And the days leading up to that,
we were finally able to meet the person
behind all the meds, behind all the labs,
behind all the procedures.
And he's got a great personality.
He's funny, he's witty,
he's sharp, and he's so insightful now.
And this makes it all worth it
to know that we are saving lives,
making a difference during these times.
(contemplative music)
It's an honor for me to take care of patients
because this is what I signed up for.
From nursing school over a decade ago to now,
I had no idea I was gonna be taking care of patients
in this capacity, but to be there almost at their death bed
to hugging them and shaking their hands
on their way out being discharged makes it all worth it.
(contemplative music)