Vanessa Cadime
CNA, Marlborough Hospital / Granger 1 & 2, 5/7/20
“We do our best to lighten the load for each other . . .”
I’m doing ok. I am hanging in there alongside the rest of my co-workers. Despite the major changes and added difficulties due to this world-wide crisis, I believe it’s important to stay calm and optimistic as we are all in this together!
Ever since the crisis began, many things have changed around the workplace. For starters, we were so used to seeing visitors coming to visit their loved ones, bringing them meals or dropping off extra clothes. Now those patients who have sadly contracted the virus have to rely on FaceTime to see and hear from their family members. Oftentimes, it’s not the best circumstances, especially if they experiencing more severe symptoms, as nobody can really predict outcomes. We have been doing our best to console and comfort both patients and families during these unprecedented times. I had a patient not too long ago who was considered CMO (comfort measures only) — not COVID-19 related, but it was known he did not have much time left. A few other nurses and I surrounded his bedside, keeping a close watch while trying to comfort him as much as possible. We had the family on the phone and held it to his ear. Even though he could no longer speak, I know hearing their voices made it that much more special and reassuring for him. They spoke about all their great memories and how much they loved him. It was truly an emotional experience. We were all basically in tears! While trying to fight as long as he could, I believe he was able to pass in peace hearing the loving words of his family!
With the current circumstances we face nowadays at work, it’s easy to feel more nervous or frustrated with heavier workloads. But I’m truly amazed at the incredible support and teamwork we’ve established within our department. We are so quick to help one another, despite being short-staffed or having tougher assignments. We do our best to lighten the load for each other. That truly says a lot about our devotion as healthcare professionals to make sure everyone is doing ok, whether it be our patients or co-workers! We call one another to check up on those who unfortunately tested positive. As I said before, we are all in this together and it couldn’t be more true! I’m grateful and proud to work alongside some truly special people! #GrangerStrong, as we like to say!
For me personally, I can’t help but wonder about the time I came down with flu-like symptoms back in February (just before the announcement on the news of this novel coronavirus). Was I possibly already exposed to the virus? I contemplated this because, at the time, I had just finished working four consecutive shifts at work. By the following morning, I knew something was off and I didn’t feel like myself. It took me by surprise, as I’m generally healthy and rarely catch colds. I had a lot of the typical symptoms: a fever that spiked to 103F, general weakness with body aches, the chills, and a lingering cough that turned into what almost felt like bronchitis as it became painful to cough at times. Even more convincing was when my flu swab came back negative. My symptoms lasted almost two weeks until I started feeling some relief, as I stayed home and tried to rest up as much as possible. I would be curious to know. I would like, at some point, to be tested for antibodies.
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Since the pandemic, the dynamics of day-to-day life have changed dramatically. Social distancing and stay-at-home advisories have become the new normal. Businesses, restaurants, gyms, hair and nail salons that we are so accustomed to have been closed for months now. More home-cooked meals, daily improvised home workouts, Zoom meetings with friends and family, and the constant cleaning of surfaces and hand washing have never been more prevalent.
Like everyone else, I’m most concerned about my parents and my 93-year-old grandmother. We’ve all been taking necessary precautions to ensure everyone is staying safe by wearing a mask and using gloves if there is a need to get out to buy groceries or get gas. I’ve had to adjust to more phone calls over personal visits as I’m trying to keep my distance as much as possible for the sake of their health while I’m still at work. 2020 has been a roller coaster of a year to say the least. I just hope and pray that this crisis ends sooner than later.