Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1307977
William Raymundo, RN CHARGE NURSE, COVID-19 UNIT/TELEMETRY/PIU Dignity Health Glendale Memorial Hospital Looking back on this year, what have been the biggest changes in your practice? The biggest changes have been in the use of PPE and having to be mindful of the potentially limited supply. We've had to learn new ways to protect ourselves while conserving equipment like N95 masks and isolation gowns to last the whole shift. Tell us about the most inspirational thing you've experienced as a nurse during this pandemic. I felt most inspired by the appreciation the community showed the people on the front lines, such as when the fire department assembled in front of the hospital to salute the healthcare workers. It also inspires me to see patients recover from COVID-19. Despite the uncertainty of this pandemic, it gives me hope to know that there are patients who fight and survive. It reminds me of the importance of my profession and the ability to make a dif- ference in someone's life. What nonmedical support from family, friends or the general public has been most appreciated? I appreciate all the prayers and encouraging words of my family during this pandemic. Most days, I come home exhausted, but seeing my family well gives me strength to go on. How have you grown as a nurse since you started working in this profession? I feel like I have become more resilient because nursing is a fast- paced field that's always changing. We are often faced with diffi- cult situations where a life or someone's wellbeing depends on our quick health judgment or decisions. Jesse Poon, RN, BSN, CPN PEDIATRIC MEDICAL UNIT CHOC Children's Hospital of Orange County Looking back on this year, what have been the biggest changes in your practice? The biggest changes have been safety-related. We now have PPE nurses to supervise the use of protective equipment and write down the names of every staff member who enters and exits a COVID-19 patient's room, for contact tracing pur- poses. When safety is the prior- ity, it's worth the extra time. Tell us about the most inspirational thing you've experienced as a nurse during this pandemic. When ours became the desig- nated COVID-19 floor, our whole unit held firm. At times, I felt overwhelmed, but anoth- er nurse would graciously ask if they could take a few tasks from me. It has really been a group effort. When I was in a COVID-19 room, one of my clinical associates would offer to take vitals. If we ran out of supplies or had broken equip- ment, our secretaries were on top of it. The EVS team thor- oughly cleaned each room to prevent nosocomial infection. Sometimes, the smallest favors can be the biggest help. What nonmedical support from family, friends or the general public has been most appreciated? My wife continues to be my rock. Although she has had to adjust to numerous changes herself, she continually finds ways to be there for me and the kids. I am so lucky to have her by my side. How have you grown as a nurse since you started working in this profession? I would like to say I have matured over the years, although some of my coworkers may not think so — I still like to joke around when I can. Two things I have learned are that in pedi- atrics, parents are just as crucial to patient care as medicine, and nothing is more important than trust in my coworkers, who are there for me in times of need. November 9–December 14, 2020 30 Working Nurse