Since then, she has been working with patients who have COVID-19 every single day at work.
But because of how many patients we have, they are basically all throughout our hospital now.
What does your routine look like when you first get to the hospital?
And what about when you get home?
We take it off and put it in a brown paper bag for later.
And then I do laundry as soon as my shifts are over.
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I shower immediately in boiling-hot water, and wash my hair every shift.
Before I would wash it every other day.
What happens when someone comes to the hospital with COVID-19 symptoms?
Im not an ER nurse, so I dont know the specifics.
But anyone who has a fever is being isolated and tested immediately.
Its Amazing How Its All Connected.
Are you seeing this with your patients, even with younger, seemingly healthy people?
Although they have better outcomes than our elderly patients, it is looking very serious for all age groups.
Have you had access to the protective N95 masks or are you mostly using surgical masks?
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We are using both.
Ive had access, I know we have them because Ive seen them.
The rest of us treating COVID-19 patients were getting surgical masks and face shields.
We were struggling about a week ago to get resources and [the hospital] resolved that.
Then there was a change in the policy that you are allowed to wear them in between patients rooms.
I just found out today that another coworker tested positive.
It takes much longer to produce health-care workers than it does to produce masks.
People are getting sick left and right, why arent we using them?
What else is your hospital doing to keep its staff safe?
What frustrates you about how the situation is being handled overall?
I think before we were mandating quarantine, this thing was spreading like a wildfire.
Thats why NYC is suffering right now.
But I dont like to look retrospectively, I think that really helps nothing.
Because the only way out is through, and the only way through is with teamwork.
What is morale like right now among your fellow health-care workers?
Whats keeping you going right now?
Our desire is to help fellow human beings.
Thats putting that person at risk.
I think what you will find in health care is that we are very much each others champions.
Nurses are very much loyal people to each other.
We dont just show up for our patients, we show up for each other.
How can all of us at home help support you all right now?
Im going to add to stay healthy and stay well.
Continue those practices that make you feel well and feel alive and do them at home.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
An ER doctor in Chicago shares her experienceworking with COVID-19 patients.
And hereshow to respond to fake news about the COVID-19 pandemicon social media.
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