Remembering the “ WHY ”
GMercyU alumna reflects on the last two years as a nurse and how she remains hopeful .
By : Aubrey Cook , RN ’ 17 /’ 18 Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
In March 2020 , I remember going into work and starting my day as normal . Soon , my clinical nurse specialist asked if we had any PAPRs ( Powered Air Purifying Respirators ) on our floor . I remember asking her immediately , “ Why ?” With a concerned face she said , “ Just in case .” At the time , I was assigned the empty negative pressure airborne room , and I soon realized I was at risk for having our unit ’ s first COVID patient .
FACING HER FEARS At first , I was obviously scared . But I knew I was prepared in the best way to face that fear and care for a patient in need . To my surprise , I was not assigned a COVID patient that day , and that room remained empty throughout my shift .
The next week , I found myself being pulled to the COVID unit to directly take care of COVID patients . I felt frustrated because I could not spend as much time in the room with those patients as I would have liked to . Although we were all scared and a lot was still unknown about the virus , I felt like it was my duty to continue caring for these patients .
Fast forward to one week later , I admitted a woman with barely any medical history . She had a fever and
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