When it comes to being a front-line healthcare worker during the COVID pandemic, words used to describe the experience are not surprising.
Disruption, devastation and fear of the unknown are among the feelings expressed by Sarah Chan, McKenna Burgwin and Sebastian Baker, graduates of Le Moyne’s Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program, to describe their personal journey treating COVID patients.
“I've worked with critically ill COVID-19 patients since the beginning of the pandemic,” said Chan, who worked in the critical care float pool at St. Joseph's Health Hospital in Syracuse. “My experience has been varied, but mostly it has been devastating. I've seen many patients die and suffer immensely.”
“In working with COVID patients, I found that patients’ mental health was suffering,” said Burgwin, who also works at St. Joseph’s Health. “Patients became depressed as COVID disrupted their day to day life… Moreover, many patients suffered from anxiety regarding the unknown of COVID.”
“I feel the initial wave of COVID-19 was difficult as the medical world was learning how to combat this new virus,” said Baker, an emergency medicine nurse practitioner at the Mayo Clinic. “As we get further into this pandemic you see fatigue set in amongst our healthcare teams. As it seems whenever there seems to be a break in cases, something new comes around the corner.”
Dealing with the job-related stress that accompanies caring for COVID patients is only part of how the pandemic has impacted the nurses. Chan, who has two small children and whose husband Tony is also a nurse at St. Joseph’s, describes other elements that have impacted her. “COVID affected everything, my home life (for example, my kids who were immediately 'home schooled' from February 2020 until the fall of 2020), my work schedule, my personal life (unable to visit friends/family as I wanted), and my anxiety/depression were exacerbated.”
“COVID has impacted my life in many ways,” said Burgwin. “In the beginning of the pandemic, I can remember feeling sick every day before work because I never knew what to expect. Being a student at the beginning of the pandemic, I had to learn how to adapt and embrace online learning.”
When the pandemic first started it threw a lot of things into question,” remembers Baker, who actually contracted COVID in late 2020. “I loved to travel to see my family and unfortunately I had to forgo seeing them for almost year. But with all of the isolation and chaos surrounding our world, I was able to find solitude in fly fishing, which allowed me to be outside and away from crowds.”
Both Chan and Burgwin are also adjuncts within the FNP program, which has added a new dimension to their professional lives. According to Burgwin, “I have so much admiration and respect for the nursing student’s in Le Moyne’s program as they are answering the call to serve amidst a global pandemic.”
While the pandemic’s immense impact on healthcare workers is undeniable, all three have found silver linings they will take with them as they continue in the profession post-COVID.
“COVID has taught me to savor each moment,” said Chan, who along with her husband were featured in a recent TV story about their experience. “It has taught me to be kind, compassionate and conscious of the world around me, and how I am a part of it. I'm learning to let go of the small things and focus on my relationships because I've seen so many people lost to this awful disease. I've learned to love more and appreciate my small but special circle.”
“Most importantly, the COVID pandemic has demonstrated what can happen when everyone works together and supports one another,” said Burgwin. “I have learned that in tough times, it is important to have good support systems throughout various communities in your life such as family, friends, work and education. This pandemic has taught me the importance of resilience and the value of determination and hard work. I look back at my life from March of 2019 to now, and think of all of the wonderful people who have supported me in my professional and educational journey and continue to do so.”
Burgwin also credits her Le Moyne education in building the foundation for her personal philosophy. “I think of the Jesuit term “cura Personalis” meaning care for the entire person. Throughout my undergraduate and graduate education at Le Moyne College, the nursing program focused on building therapeutic relationships with our patients and their family. The nursing program emphasizes health is a state of physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Having this principle as the foundation of my nursing practice has made me a more empathetic provider and I have created many trusting relationships with patients and families.”
Baker agrees that Le Moyne prepared him well to handle the unexpected. “They always emphasized being prepared for the unexpected. We were always taught to critically think through the process in front of us and come out successful. Being taught how to adapt and continue to push forward was a hallmark of my time at Le Moyne. I don’t think anything can truly prepare you to work through this pandemic, but these experiences I have had throughout my time have helped me navigate this pandemic to the best of my ability.”