A story all too often heard these days within the chatter of nurses or healthcare professionals, many speak of change of interest or seeking another avenue within the healthcare field or that word “Retirement”. Also, is the recollection of how each individual contracted COVID and furthermore from a patient whom they were caring for. During the COVID pandemic the current position held as a nurse was within Behavioral Health, to which we were advised our unit did not warrant the N95 mask and PPEs due to concerns of shortage, nor was it the facility protocol to test certain populations during admission. The repeating response from management was “The type of patients received within Behavioral Health are already screened before they enter the unit”.
After testing random symptomatic patients with lack of PPEs, COVID was contracted via a new admission. The night nurse who received the patient was a knowledgeable nurse who appeared off their game during the previous shift. Prior to a change of shift report it was always a habit to view the patients assigned for red flags. As the report began from the night nurse the words “fever” and “Administered Tylenol” appeared. So, WHY? The response received was “I don’t know” and “Didn’t want to call the doctor and wake them up”. The report was paused, and the call was made to the physician for the COVID test. In an attempt to protect the remaining patients and co-workers the patient was asked to please stay in their room. With the assistance of a patient care technician this was accomplished with much difficulty. Secondly, a request was made to management to remove a second patient care technician from the unit due to being pregnant and possible risk of contamination; to which it was denied.
With the blue standard mask, gloves and reading glasses the COVID test was completed with the very intrusive patient sneezing and coughing; a gut feeling equaled COVID. In surprise, by 10:30am the COVID test presented as positive and in the camera views it was evident the manager was carrying a stack of PPEs for the workers which were required previously but not warranted. The patient care technician was advised by the nurse to leave the unit and management will have to tend to the staffing issue. Due to protocol the patient was quickly transferred to the appropriate unit and as the unit nurse the COVID testing was completed on all remaining patients to include the co-habitating patient on CPAP. Of course, all were negative as the incubation period had not run its course. The co-habitating patient on CPAP was quickly discharged to prevent future blame on the facility if they also became COVID positive.
Three days later the fever and chills began with increased anxiety of the unknown: COVID positive. The following two months on bedrest at home being accompanied by the spouse who also presented as COVID positive as well six days later was full of regret for not saying “No” to testing patients without the proper PPEs. The experience included hallucinations, lethargy, shortness of breath, utilization of nursing interventions to prevent hospital administration and resulted in the use of an inhaler during recouperation for the next two years intermittently.
Upon returning to work mandatory training was scheduled which included physical contact with fellow co-workers. When the instructor was asked if this training was appropriate regarding close contact and presentation of COVID throughout the facility and workers, the instructor abruptly responded that the training was mandatory and further called a meeting to the side during break stating “As a nurse do you think you acted appropriately for speaking out like that?” The response was “Of course, if I am going to be a Board-Certified Patient Advocate, shouldn’t I also be an advocate for myself?” This left the instructor speechless as if there was insubordination and so it began Charge d’affaires Advocacy.
留言