Sep 27, 2021 | Grit
When COVID-19 first hit Windsor I was employed by Sun Parlor Nursing Home as a personal support worker while completing my second year of my Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) degree. Many agencies and organizations needed help as they anticipated the effects of this pandemic so, as summer was arriving, I applied to a position at Erie Shores Heath Care (ESHC) and was hired as a screener. Throughout the summer I worked long days as a screener and doing outreach work with ESHC. This included going to the farms and testing the farm workers. This was such a humbling experience and one that I will never forget. The long, hot days of wearing layers upon layers of PPE came with exhaustion for us, however, it did not outweigh the fear that the farm workers had about getting tested, getting sick and dying alone without their families and loved ones. As a screener I was the gatekeeper for visitors and loved ones who could not enter the hospital. It was an impossible task to turn away those that were filled with worry and sorrow. The importance of family centered care and an accountable support system vanished initially to protect our communities but, just as it saved many lives’ it also caused distress in the community. Victims of COVID-19 died alone, first time mothers had appointments alone, children were only allowed one parent to accompany them but, we continued to learn, and we continued to find innovative ways to provide the best care in the safest ways. A world that feared a future of technology suddenly became dependent on it, the elderly navigated iPads and iPhones, communities were connecting from around the world, game nights, movie nights and trivia nights were occurring in thousands of places at the same time. We were able to adapt and change just as we always do, and we did it with a sense of understanding and hope. When September came, I began my third year and ESHC was able to fill the positions for screeners with individuals that had varying education backgrounds. This is when Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare (HDGH) was looking for trained individuals in the nursing field to assist in caring for patients during their recovery and rehab. As a nursing student I felt I needed to go where my skills could be best used and as I started my last semester of third year, I also started my position at HDGH as a member of the Patient Care Team. This came with more valuable experiences and even more challenges to overcome. As the waves of COVID-19 rolled through Windsor-Essex each came with protests, anti-maskers, more confusion, hopelessness and anger within our community. It wasn’t easy, it still isn’t easy, and nursing will never be easy however, there is no field that I would rather be studying. I often struggled to look above the waves and remember why I chose this field. As I was buried in exhaustion, stress, anger and hopelessness I would often look around and there would be one patient, one co-worker or one loved one that would help me swim again. The ability to care for and be of service to others is one of the most rewarding positions to be in. I was able to care for patients that were healing, growing and learning just as I was. We shared laughs, tears and many stories. I stood on the bedside of those who were passing, and I encouraged those who were healing. I was able to stand beside my team when we were strong, and I stood behind them when they needed support just as they would stand behind me. Every experience, every person and every day helped me to recognized how I am truly blessed to be a part of this community that cares for the wellness of other humans, regardless of beliefs, race, gender, abilities or age. It has been a fast paced, humbling time full of opportunity and new knowledge. There have definitely been hardships, but I have watched so much love, support and hope grow in the past year and a half, it is impossible to focus on just the bad. As I prepare to complete my final year as a nursing student, I am excited to be a part of such an incredible and supportive community as a nurse. Stay safe, be kind and check in on one another.