Every morning during huddle, the off going shift provides updates to the oncoming shift and then we say a prayer to start off the day right. Nowadays, there is less news and more avid prayers.
We pray for peace and healing to ourselves and patients as everyone is emotionally drained.
We pray for unity and strength for both ourselves and patients to fight the unrelenting covid virus.
We pray because it’s all we have right now.
Last Sunday night was such an emotional day. Several patients coded, one died that family was not ready for, 3 patients were placed in restraints.
Nurses spend their entire shifts watching oxygen monitors and running into rooms when numbers drop.
We expand critical care to 3 different floors, place two patients in one room, compromise oxygen supplies because we don’t have enough supply, and we pray that machines become available as patients need them.
Confused patients pull off their masks and some die because of it.
Adults in their 30s and 40s are intubated and will never leave the hospital.
The average patient stay is roughly 10 days inpatient.
Patients ask if they are going to die. Some come in with their family members and are discharged alone.
Right now is not a fun time to be a nurse, so we pray.
Until next shift,
Shania