Northwest

Our staff has had some real fears. The communication that the staff was receiving was not being delivered in a way that resonated with them, so we turned our break room into a mini-command center. We broke down some of the information and clarified processes by mapping them out on a white board.  We are also setting up a ‘thank you’ board so we can recognize each other. We learned the correct way to don a mask — it’s these little details that were contributing to the fear. Our team has been cross-training prior to this, and they’ve really stepped up and covered where they’ve been needed. I’m really proud of all of our staff.

I have been surprised by some people’s reactions to the pandemic. I have been on the phone with people who have cried, who were angry, fearful, or annoyed I was calling them. I have had myriad emotions. I’ve had moments when I’ve been proud, and crappy moments that I’ve had to ‘put it in my pocket.’ At the end of the day we wrap around each other and move forward. One of the lessons I learned was to work earlier with labor leaders to find solutions as we worked together to redeploy staff. I believe some of the best Partnership collaboration has come out of this.

I’m OK with the chaos and change of this situation — that’s the environment I thrive in. With all the changes that have come, we’re doing a great job. People are adjusting in the moment and really showing up for our patients. When you know that, you can’t be mad at anybody for a decision that’s made or a change that happens. Managing through the fear has been the biggest challenge. Some of our non-clinical staff rely on information from the media, and it’s confusing and has mixed messages. The best I can do is help alleviate the fear with the facts we receive from trusted sources in health care. I’m really proud of the way our staff have stepped up.

I walk into work these days at Urgent Care with my fingers crossed that I don’t get sick. We are working hard to protect our patients and our staff. What keeps me going in times like these? My co-workers. I love and trust my fellow nurses, providers and support staff. Lately at the end of shift, we find a dance video and we just dance for 15 minutes. There’s laughter, jokes and camaraderie. It’s just a stress reliever before we head home, and it’s fun!

Nothing prepares you for the loss of a loved one. The pain never really goes away; it just changes from year to year. In 2011, I lost my boyfriend to suicide. I thought I was going to spend the rest of my life with him.  The feelings of grief and sadness were overwhelming. I felt anger, guilt and loss all at the same time. As I struggled to come to terms with the mental illness that led to his death, I had a lot of support from his family and mine. I accessed Kaiser Permanente's Employee Assistance Program and found compassion and insight that helped me come to terms with the loss. I also became more physically active. I joined a gym and started taking Zumba classes which was really fun. I’d ask friends to go on hikes and discovered new parks and trails around town. I also practiced meditation and became more introspective about my feelings. Some of my friends didn’t know what to say to me so they said nothing. I didn’t think they cared, but I realized I was wrong. They were just trying not to upset me. My advice is be kind to yourself, talk to a professional and stay busy. 

If you or someone you know is in distress, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Telephonic crisis counseling is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Employees also can access Kaiser Permanente’s Employee Assistance Program.