’18

Nursing

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Since I graduated from URI, I’ve been working as an ED Nurse at a Level 1 academic trauma center. Pandemic life is very strange. Our patient volumes are down, but our critical care admissions are up. Our hospital turned any space they could into ICU beds, redeploying nurses and staff from sites that have slowed down. Fear seems to drive many decisions. I fear that I may get sick, that I may unknowingly spread the virus, that the dreaded surge will strike and we won’t be prepared. The virus has brought many of our staff together, fighting a common enemy. I don’t know what post-pandemic life will be like, but I hope that it retains an element of stronger community.