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SDANation

(419 posts)
Thu Mar 26, 2020, 10:52 PM Mar 2020

Update 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.

I’ll 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.

I’m 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.

I’m off for 8 days because I was supposed to be in Hawaii but I’ll 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.

32 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Update from the hospital (Original Post) SDANation Mar 2020 OP
❤️Be safe and thank you❤️ we can do it Mar 2020 #1
the virus will become aerosolized with CPR and intubation babylonsister Mar 2020 #2
Yeah! Scares the crap out of me, if I have to respond to a code SDANation Mar 2020 #5
How many Nurses are in your unit per shift? nt Blue_true Mar 2020 #14
Fully staffed 10 per each floor SDANation Mar 2020 #16
Thank you for all you do. FM123 Mar 2020 #3
I am praying for all health care professionals wryter2000 Mar 2020 #4
Thank you so much. Hoyt Mar 2020 #6
Stay safe Hekate Mar 2020 #7
So glad to hear that you feel well prepared AND very supported - that will make such a Leghorn21 Mar 2020 #8
You guys are all heroes. Stay safe! SunSeeker Mar 2020 #9
I would not be surprised if you were called back early. Ms. Toad Mar 2020 #10
Yeah I'm expecting it. SDANation Mar 2020 #12
I had the same thought. And I feel I must say soldierant Mar 2020 #22
PTSD: Prez Trump Stress Disorder Karadeniz Mar 2020 #30
Thank you and stay safe! smirkymonkey Mar 2020 #11
Thank you for all you do 2naSalit Mar 2020 #13
Thank you for all you do SDANation flibbitygiblets Mar 2020 #15
Thank you for all you are doing. Stay safe. (eom) StevieM Mar 2020 #17
Thinking of you and your colleagues MLAA Mar 2020 #18
First off... THANK YOU! Juneboarder Mar 2020 #19
Do they have mental health days set aside for you guys? BigmanPigman Mar 2020 #20
Thank you. catbyte Mar 2020 #21
Thank you and please be careful, SDANation! Don't take any unnecessary risks. ❤ nt littlemissmartypants Mar 2020 #23
Thank you MFM008 Mar 2020 #24
Thank you to you and all healthcare workers. You are true heroes. PA Democrat Mar 2020 #25
Stay safe! redstatebluegirl Mar 2020 #26
Good that you're getting a break to rest up and be nourished by your family before diving back in. JudyM Mar 2020 #27
Stay safe Laurelin Mar 2020 #28
SDANation, I thank you, it's no where saidsimplesimon Mar 2020 #29
Thank you for all you're doing!❤ Karadeniz Mar 2020 #31
Stay safe, we appreciate all of you. BeckyDem Mar 2020 #32

babylonsister

(170,955 posts)
2. the virus will become aerosolized with CPR and intubation
Thu Mar 26, 2020, 10:58 PM
Mar 2020
Never thought of that, so there's another layer of danger.

wryter2000

(46,016 posts)
4. I am praying for all health care professionals
Thu Mar 26, 2020, 11:02 PM
Mar 2020

And I write prayers for my church. So, we'll all be praying.

Leghorn21

(13,520 posts)
8. So glad to hear that you feel well prepared AND very supported - that will make such a
Thu Mar 26, 2020, 11:14 PM
Mar 2020

difference in your morale and ability to - roll with the punches there in the trenches, hopefully—

Looks as if you’ll 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

Ms. Toad

(33,915 posts)
10. I would not be surprised if you were called back early.
Thu Mar 26, 2020, 11:17 PM
Mar 2020

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.

soldierant

(6,647 posts)
22. I had the same thought. And I feel I must say
Fri Mar 27, 2020, 12:56 AM
Mar 2020

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.

2naSalit

(86,031 posts)
13. Thank you for all you do
Thu Mar 26, 2020, 11:39 PM
Mar 2020

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.

BigmanPigman

(51,430 posts)
20. Do they have mental health days set aside for you guys?
Fri Mar 27, 2020, 12:44 AM
Mar 2020

I don't know how you can handle it mentally and emotionally.

redstatebluegirl

(12,264 posts)
26. Stay safe!
Fri Mar 27, 2020, 08:42 AM
Mar 2020

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)
27. Good that you're getting a break to rest up and be nourished by your family before diving back in.
Fri Mar 27, 2020, 10:00 AM
Mar 2020

Very best of luck to you, SDANation!

💪 🍀

saidsimplesimon

(7,888 posts)
29. SDANation, I thank you, it's no where
Fri Mar 27, 2020, 03:49 PM
Mar 2020

near what you deserve from our Nation.

My daughter provides support to nurses caring for the elderly.

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