- There's so much that goes into being a nurse.
And I mean, I knew that but I didn't really appreciate it
until this year.
We do, sounds like conceded,
but we do so much for these people.
- [Newsman] There's no arguing the biggest heroes of 2020
are healthcare workers.
They endure the most challenging environments
for long hours to help others survive the pandemic.
- [Newswoman] Most people included working from home.
Nurses have continued to go above and beyond
to help their patients during a time
that is unfamiliar for everyone.
(emotional music)
- What has been your greatest challenge
since the beginning of this pandemic
- and what did you do to overcome it?
- Our patients needed us the most at this time.
So not only for us to provide care to them
but some of them just want to talk.
Some of them just- - Oh girl, yes.
- That's what I wanna- - The connection
- Yes. They wanna talk. - Yes, the human connection.
- I don't know.
I feel sometimes, you felt you wanted to be like
that person who could do everything like Superman.
That maybe if you left maybe people wouldn't see you
as that or something.
- I think the biggest challenge is not bringing work home.
It's so mentally exhausting to see people day after day.
- A lot of times, it crossed my mind like
is this job even worth it?
- Trying to identify what was the biggest priority
for me and putting that first.
- Seeing you lose your passion in healthcare.
That was super heartbreaking.
When you were on the couch
and you're just saying like, "I want to quit."
I was like, what?
You were one of the most passionate people,
one of the most passionate healthcare providers
I've ever met.
- What have you learned about
- Your job and yourself this past year?
- Oh girl, this one is heavy.
- Once a nurse, always a nurse.
When you're a nurse, you're a nurse 24/7.
And you hold that to a high regard.
You're always happy to help those in need
especially our loved ones
but it affected you so much.
You didn't take care of yourself.
- So when you go to residency they'll tell you,
eat when you can,
sleep when you can,
shit when you can.
That philosophy, that gets ingrained
in young doctors minds.
- I feel people always say,
"I couldn't do what you do. How do you do it?,"
and I'm like, it's a mental game.
You'll realize you have to put in the work
to stay positive 'cause it's hard.
- And I was just like, man, you're sleep deprived.
You're not feeling well.
You're not eating on time.
These people are wrapped around the building.
And on top of that, no one has mercy on you.
You'll think about what you're going through.
Everyone just wants to like, "Hey, COVID swab.
Test me. Give me this."
- So quitting would have been the easy part
and that's not really why I cried, why I broke down.
It was really knowing that I can't quit.
If I were to quit,
who else would be better in this position?
(sniff crying)
- You just got to remember
why you got involved in nursing sometimes.
We're going to provide care
via the highest quality of care we can
but it's just more than just passing medications.