General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsUpdate from the hospital
I work as an RN on a cardiac step down unit in CA, which basically means we do a lot of what an ICU does minus vented patients. This week has been eerie, all elective procedures were cancelled last week so our census is low. We were informed this week 18 of our 72 beds will be designated as a Covid cohort unit.
Ill admit I was wrong when I was speaking about this virus in earlier posts. Maybe born out of some subconscious fear. But I was blasé at the beginning of this and for that I apologize.
Im not afraid of facing Covid straight on but I am afraid for my patients. They say that if a patient codes (cardiopulmonary arrest), that the chances of survival dramatically increase if CPR and intervention is started within 2 minutes. The more delay, the higher chance of morbidity and mortality. My organization wants us to take full precautions, I.e PPE, before responding to a code as the virus will become aerosolized with CPR and intubation, which is in itself a form of triage because suiting up takes time. Even responding with all PPE sounds terrifying as you will be exposed. I feel that we will lose patients because of this.
Im off for 8 days because I was supposed to be in Hawaii but Ill be home instead with family before I head back to what I assume will be hell by then. My organization is well prepared and we feel very supported. The county is projecting no available beds by 4/6 and the covid rates are rapidly climbing. We were informed we may get vented patients to deal with ICU overflow. I will update all of you on front line I for when I return to work.
But please keep all of us, doctors, nurses and hospital staff in your thoughts and if you pray, please pray for all of us.
we can do it
(12,116 posts)babylonsister
(170,955 posts)SDANation
(419 posts)Blue_true
(31,261 posts)SDANation
(419 posts)FM123
(10,050 posts)wryter2000
(46,016 posts)And I write prayers for my church. So, we'll all be praying.
Hoyt
(54,770 posts)Hekate
(90,188 posts)Leghorn21
(13,520 posts)difference in your morale and ability to - roll with the punches there in the trenches, hopefully
Looks as if youll have to make some tough calls, S, but dammit, that just comes with the nature of this wicked virus - - I wonder if the healthcare people in Wuhan were doing lots of procedures on their patients, without having the slightest clue they were probably infecting themselves in the process -
It a damn sad deal, but we are SO LUCKY to have you on the front lines -
Thank you
SunSeeker
(51,367 posts)Ms. Toad
(33,915 posts)Do what you can to stay safe.
None of us who were predicting this wanted it to be true. I think most of us sounding the alarm bell have strong backgrounds in math and could more intuitively convert the data for the flu over an entire season to comparable data for the short time frame in which COVID 19 was spreading. And exponential curves wreak havok on most non-math people's intuition.
SDANation
(419 posts)soldierant
(6,647 posts)that, early in you post where you write of your feelings being "born out" of whatever, my eye first read it as "burn out." That, and PTSD (which does not require armed conflict to develop) and survivors' guilt are all dangers you will be facing. I hope it may help to recognize that - at least put you on guard for them. You have my prayers certainly.
Karadeniz
(22,267 posts)smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)We all appreciate so much what you all do every day!
2naSalit
(86,031 posts)and your are all in my thoughts, I have family in the profession in a large California city, I worry about all of you.
Enjoy your time off, you deserve to relax as much as you can.
flibbitygiblets
(7,220 posts)We are with you and your colleagues
StevieM
(10,499 posts)MLAA
(17,162 posts)Sending you all good, protective light and energy💫✨!
Juneboarder
(1,730 posts)Second off... San Dieguito Academy?
BigmanPigman
(51,430 posts)I don't know how you can handle it mentally and emotionally.
catbyte
(34,165 posts)littlemissmartypants
(22,417 posts)MFM008
(19,774 posts)And all your comrades .
PA Democrat
(13,225 posts)Please stay safe.
redstatebluegirl
(12,264 posts)Nurses are angels. One saved my life when I was a teenager. Not a doctor my nurse saw that I was having a deadly medication reaction. Please take care of yourself you are valued!
JudyM
(29,122 posts)Very best of luck to you, SDANation!
💪 🍀
Laurelin
(518 posts)I am praying for all of you.
Let us know what else we can do.
saidsimplesimon
(7,888 posts)near what you deserve from our Nation.
My daughter provides support to nurses caring for the elderly.