Frontline Workers

Our goal is the same: to keep everyone safe. Managers and employees from the nurse treatment room, lab, radiology and pharmacy worked together and kept making refinements to meet our patients’ needs. For example, we moved COVID-19 testing into the nurse treatment room when it became apparent that patients needed additional services from lab, pharmacy and radiology. It helped that we had a strong foundation in the Partnership and the tools of unit-based teams. We all faced the challenge from a different perspective, and we came up with a resolution pretty quickly. It was the epitome of collaboration; it was fantastic! Joy in work for me is my motivation to turn a patient visit into a better experience through empathy and connecting with the patient.

I’ve been very proud of how well the Airport Way Regional Lab has handled this situation, and how all the departments are doing their part. My group is preparing totes for the EMTs to do onsite testing in nursing homes. I feel safe that my health is not jeopardized, and Kaiser Permanente is doing everything it can do to maintain safety. When this first started up, the director walked around and asked if people were feeling good and safe. I do miss seeing my grandkids, going out in society and going to church, but I stay optimistic. This country has been through a lot of tough times, and we will get on the other side of this.

I go to work every day in fear of getting sick and in fear of seeing patients decline. But I care so much to be present for the patients and my co-workers. Seeing patients get better and go home is fulfilling. In times like these, the teamwork I have with every member of the health care team keeps me going. We show up to work to support one another. Not only nurses, but Environmental Services and lift technicians are vital to our unit. The staff and I always find ways to laugh through the stress. We’re all in this together and we will get through it.

It's not really just one moment, but various moments that highlight the successes and difficulties during this time. I've spent much of my time in the ICU, and the special moments for me are when I've had the privilege of helping patients get better and, ultimately, be transferred off the unit. Conversely, it is always trying when patients we work so hard to save don't get better.

I find the ‘normal’ conversations I have with patients and co-workers that don’t involve COVID-19 are what bring me joy. Something as simple as hearing about someone’s family or their pet renews me and makes everything feel better. I was pretty terrified when we first started swabbing patients. We’re a lot less tense now. The first thing I do when I get home after work is shower. I haven’t been able to see my elderly father with dementia for weeks, and he does not understand why. It’s been incredibly difficult, and I miss him terribly. Our nurses support each other. Sometimes we have mini-meltdowns when someone has a bad day, but we’re there for each other.

We got an urgent message about the Magnolia Rehabilitation and Nursing Center. They were short-staffed and needed nurses. I said, ‘OK, let’s go.’ It’s a little thank you in return. I was an LVN there while my kids were little. I was scared at first and didn’t know what to expect. But once we saw all those elderly, vulnerable people needing help, all those fears went out the window. Some of them hadn’t eaten or dressed. We worked as fast as we could and got them comfortable and gave them a keepsake — a teddy bear or photo of their loved one. We knew that this was their home. It brought back memories of my dad. Before he passed away, he told me, ‘You’re going to be a nurse. You have the love and personality to be a nurse.’ That stayed in my mind for a long time. Yesterday, I was like, ‘Dad, I did this.’ It reinforced my love of what I do for a living. It’s not going to work, but going to what I love to do.