1. Started my shift with 7 patients. 2 passed before the end of my shift.
2. Day 2 of reusing our cleaned and sterilized n95 mask.
3. The ultraviolet light that was once used to sterilize and disinfect rooms that were cleaned is no more.
4. More retesting thinking false positives and false negatives.
5. The hospital is low on oxygen so there are oxygen trucks scattered around the hospital.
6. Back to the 7 patients for 1 RN. this is extremely difficult. I was with one patient age 91 for well over 1 hour. I had to feed, clean, change bedding, clean the room. Just went a take off the PPE, he asked me for water. I suited back up, gave him water and then his roomate had a bowel movement while in bed. So the process started all over again. Wearing an n95 mask in a hot room.
Post a friend made on another board:
After working long days and long hours straight , i finally get a chance to write, I dont know where to start, nor am i a good writer. But i just had to tell my sentiment, coz maybe someone out there would listen.
not a single day that pass in the ER, that we (MD RN RT TECH) need to intubate someone. Its not the physical or mental work that we do everyday, that drains me, coz we are trained to handle and take care of this kind of situation and patients everyday. But hearing the life of each person we intubate, is what puts me on my one last leg.
I had a wife crying of a 28 yr old healthy male
with a 2 mo old baby, Begging to keep her husband alive. A retired MD veteran with copd telling me prior intubation, i don’t want to die yet, i had to blow my cake, my 70th birthday its coming up, i think they preparing a big party for me. A 58 yr old female with cancer telling me that her daughter doesn’t know that shes in the hospital asking if she can see her before intubation because she might not see her alive again. And all i can say is I’m sorry, These are just a few of each person’s story and it hurts everytime. Coz im human.
Everyday in my car, i have to stay still for 30 minutes to decompress and pray, to help this patients to get through this and go home alive, To give us, all the frontliners the strength, courage, strong mind and keep us safe to continue to do what we have to do, to help, scientists to discover a vaccine/ medication to stop this virus, to give us the proper PPE so we wont be running around the department looking for stuff we need, and to go home safe to our family, not scared, hoping not to contract the virus, coz my 6 yr and 4 yr are waiting for me. I hope this dust will all settle soon.
To everyone i had worked with, my high salute to everyone, its always an honor to work with u guys, ur dedication and perseverance are undying.
So if social distancing, washing hands, staying home is the key to stop the spread of this COVID19. PLEASE do