 |
| Melinda Zimmer-Rankin at work in the ICU at New York Presbyterian Hospital |
Although
no one gets to escape the challenges we face these days - nurses, doctors, and
other health care employees are experiencing a new level of stress, tension and
exhaustion as they care for COVID-19 patients.
Raymond Nurse Anesthetist Melinda Zimmer-Rankin is currently working at New
York–Presbyterian Hospital in New York City
and Windham Registered Nurse Deb Akerley works in the ICU COVID-19 unit at
Maine Medical Center in Portland. Both medical professionals took time out of
their 12-hour workdays to share their stories because they believe what they
have to say will help provide education on the seriousness of the coronavirus
that puts our lives and businesses at a stand-still – and permanently ends life
for many others.
Akerley has worked as a Registered Nurse
for nine years, beginning her career as a Certified Nurses Aid for three years.
Both positions, a total of 12 years, were at Maine Med’s Intensive Care Unit.
Although she states she is good, for the most part, at compartmentalizing the
emotional toll that goes with being an ICU Nurse, she admits these last two
months have challenged her usual level of energy. “I have realized that by the
third 12-hour day, I need a break,” she said.
The good news is the number of COVID-19
patients at Maine Med have remained lower than what the facility and medical
staff have prepared for. However, every life is important, and one COVID-19 death
is one too many. “By the time people reach the ICU, they are in a very serious
condition and must be put on breathing machines,” Akerley explained. “They are
usually intubated for two to three weeks and from there, they move onto
intermediate care, often requiring various forms of physical, respiratory and
occupational therapy – for quite some time.”
Akerley explained that the COVID-19 virus
has been a revolving door of learning experiences. “When we discovered that the
virus attacked the respiratory system, it wasn’t long until we then discovered
it was also compromising other organs and it’s possible that people
will eventually develop blood clots due to their lack of mobility from lying in
bed so long (despite working with Physical and Occupational Therapists and
being turned in bed every two hours)”.
Most of the individuals who are under Akerley’s care have deficient immune systems. Although
there are a few young patients who are currently struggling in the ICU, most are
over 60 years of age. And, unfortunately, Akeley has witnessed those who have lost
their battle against COVID-19.
 |
| Deb Akerley at home on one of her days off. She stated that she feels lucky to have co-workers who feel like family. |
But perhaps one of the greatest challenges
Akerley faces is not while she is working at the hospital. “I haven’t hugged my
parents or have had dinner with them, for over two months.” Her father is 84
and her mother is 76.
When asked her perspective of the current
COVID-19 situation and prevention, she hopes that people do not stop social
distancing. “I hope people do not think that everything is fine. It is far from
it and we need to take this virus seriously.”
She does feel fortunate that we live in a
state that is not too populated and most likely will not see a peak in
aggressive cases if people continue to social distance.
The very populated New York City, on the
other hand, has seen more aggressive cases than one could have ever imaged. “Over
12,900 people have died in New York City as of April 28th and over
160,000 confirmed cases. This does not include those who have not been
confirmed due to limited testing. “stated Zimmer-Rankin.
The good news is the numbers and
admissions are slowly receding but it’s still overwhelming and there are still
very sick people who are trying to survive. “There are still 100s, and 100s and
100s and 100s of people surviving on ventilators in New York,” she said. “It
still feels like I am in a war-zone”.
Zimmer-Rankin who works full-time in the
operating room at York Hospital in Maine, recently took a leave of absence
without pay. Since elective and non-essential surgeries are being temporarily
discontinued due fear of COVID-19, and work was not available at the hospital -
she felt compelled to continue working. “I could have stayed at home and got
paid but I am aware of what the financial backlash for the hospital will be
once this is over, so I began looking to see where I could be best utilized in
New York City.”
She applied for a nursing position at a
traveling nurse organization and was hired immediately, along with 70 other
nurses from around the U.S., at Winthrop University Hospital on Long Island,
NY. “I would have loved to stay at home but since I already have a studio
apartment in New York, I just believed it was something I was called and should
do.” Long Island was considered the “hot spot” for COVID-19.
Her beginning experiences on the
coronavirus frontline were difficult and taxing, to say the least. The first
three days were spent in virtual training. Training, she said, that was inadequate
and did not prepare the nurses for beside orientation such as computer access
and where needed medical items were stored within the hospital.
“My assignment was in the COVID positive
unit,” Zimmer-Rankin began. “I oversaw 16 patients that were in a conference
room converted in an intensive care unit. All patients were intubated and in
serious condition. One of my first patients, a man in his early 40s, was the
first person I checked in on. I checked all his vitals and they were fine - and
he was following commands appropriately. Within an hour, I was doing CPR. He
passed away a half hour after that.”
In addition to the stress associated with
losing a patient 1 and ½ hours after starting her first shift, other challenges
included not being about to sit down during her 12 hour shift, having only a
few minutes for lunch and rarely having time for restroom breaks. “What the h…
was I thinking,” she wrote on her personal Facebook page three days after her
assignment.
Feeling she needed more of a supportive
environment, she accepted another job offer from the same organization – this
time as a Nurse Practitioner at New York–Presbyterian Hospital. This hospital
was closer to her studio apartment, requiring less travel time.
Although still stressful and traumatic for
all medical staff, Zimmer-Rankin states that she received more adequate
training at the well-known research hospital and now works with the same
medical team, often caring for the same patients for three days in a row, all
of which makes the job less nerve-wracking. Additionally, the tasks now
required of her are much more manageable. “My responsibilities are to assess the patients, look to see
if there's been changes within the last 24 hours, manage the vents, the drips,
put orders in for everything and make consultations.”
But even in the midst of this
harrowing crisis, Zimmer-Rankin has experienced some charming moments within
the past six weeks. She recalls the day not long after she began working at New
York Presbyterian, she decided to walk home from work. “Rite-Aid had placed
flowers outside their doors, and they were free to anyone who needed something
to lift them up. I chose the most beautiful orchid because orchid flowers tend
to keep their bloom for a long time,” she said. That orchid now sits on her kitchen
counter in NYC to remind her that beauty still exists in the world.
Zimmer-Rankin also has her very own,
dedicated NYC Uber driver to take her to work in the mornings. “I could easily
walk to work, but I like to arrive early – at least by 6 a.m., to study my patients
and go over all the charts before my shift begins,” she explained. “My Uber driver
speaks little English, but we manage to communicate. He told me that he needs
gloves and facemasks to give to his passengers who climb in for a ride and do
not wear any protective gear.”
She continued, “He has a young
family and wants to keep them safe – while at the same time, making the money
they desperately need. We’ve made an arrangement that if he picks me up at the
same time every day, I will reach out to my friends who make masks and provide
him with those. Only once he was late, and that was because he was wiping down
his vehicle from the last drop off. It’s been a perfect passenger/Uber Driver
relationship. Last week, I was able to give him six homemade masks.
So, he only
charges me $10 rather than the normal $30 ride that only takes about five
minutes.”
And then, of course, there is the
food. “There is plenty of food being donated from fabulous restaurants to
hospital staff so, needless to say, I'm eating well.”
Although Zimmer-Rankin is still compelled
to help others, she admits she is not a savior. “My expectations are that I'm not going to save everyone, but
I’m here to provide care in the best compassionate way I am capable. That’s all
I can do.”
As for her perception on social
distancing measures, she encourages people to self-isolate as much as possible.
“Continue to wear a mask and avoid public places where there are large crowds,”
she said. “If and when things do open up, continue to use caution and wear a
mask – especially for those who have autoimmune disorders, diabetes, asthma,
COPD or any other chronic health conditions. I also encourage people to listen to the
advice of Dr. Shah of the Maine CDC.”
Thank you, Melinda Zimmer-Rankin and Deb
Akerley, for taking the time to share your experiences, stories and thoughts
with our readers.
This article is dedicated to all medical
staff and other essential employees, who risk their own lives, to care for the
lives of others.
