Easter Sunday Evening:
Grateful to escape to the peacefulness of nature on my front porch, on this Easter Sunday evening, with the occasional sip on a roguish Oregon vineyard 2016 pinot noir. The night is dark, but not still. A nautical wind, upwards of twenty knots, is racing up the beach and along front yards to harass my neighbor’s antique southern-oak trees. My palm tree lifts up her fronds to condemn this unwelcome visitor at the end of a warm day in Florida.
The distant drone of an air conditioning-unit from along the way lulls my senses as it hums in distain at the bothersome wind. It is 9:20pm. My shift in the COVID-unit ended almost an hour ago. Did I document that Foley catheter? Did I document the (hurried) placement of that central line on the patient I had to start pressors on? Did I get all the Is&Os? These are my thoughts as the pinot noir stings my lips on that second sip.
High above my head the night sky sparkles it’s diamonds as the breeze darts around this way and that swirling through the petticoats on the oak trees. That was me today, I thought, scurrying around in the unit at work, running in all directions at once, answering call lights, passing meds, and helping other nurses flung in to help us from other floors. Where’s the pressure bags? Where can I find pill crushers? Can you help me pull my patient up? Physicians doing bedside procedures needing assistance and putting in new orders on my patients. Did I document that time-out after I got the other patient ice-water? Who’s on the light? All I want to do is chart! Please people, I just need a few minutes here!
New meds to be given STAT. Nursing bedside procedures to complete, start a foley, place an OG tube. Titrate that drip. Reposition my patient again. Pass meds. Complete bed change in all three rooms. Thank God for the tech who was sent to help us. He and I gently rolled our people, washed them head to toe, and changed the linens. Grateful for his help. All this while donning N95 masks, hair bonnet, gown, face shield and two pairs of gloves at the door before going into a room and removing them again before exiting. Over and over again. Hand washing, oh the hand washing! Grateful that our hospital has staff and PPE.
Now on my front porch this Easter Sunday evening it feels like I’m still wearing an N95 and it looked like it too with elastic marks across my cheeks in my shower just now. I pray for my patients that they have a good night and recover soon. I thank God I have a couple of days off to relax and take it easy. I am grateful for my job and the opportunity to help people when they need it the most. To be there with them when their families aren’t allowed to visit, is an honor.
“Happy Easter,” messages and posts on my Facebook from near and far. Yes it is. I hope everyone I know and love had a reasonable day today. During this pandemic we are finding new ways to celebrate and comfort one another. Easter to me carries the message of hope for all of us. It is a new beginning to look forward to better times and carry gratitude in our hearts for what we already have. Sending out love, hope, forgiveness and peace to everyone reading this. Be safe people.
“Love is the bridge between you and everything else.” Rumi
Incredible Journey 