Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1398595
I've been a nurse for more than 40 years and a certified IP for more than 20 years. This COVID-19 pandemic has been the most trying time in my personal/professional life. My husband and I have two daughters, our oldest is a paramedic and our youngest is a registered nurse, both working on the front line caring for COVID-19 positive patients. Because of the shortages of PPE early on, our family decided th e safest thing to do for our grandchildren was to move them in with us temporarily. In addition to the long work hours, I was making bottles, changing diapers, and giving nightly feedings. I rocked my granddaughter during phone calls and ZOOM meetings. I was helping our grandson with his online schooling. I was worried for my daughters and I was tired, very tired. But I am a nurse and nurses rise to the c hallenge. Problems with supply chains eventually eased. My daughters were safe and my grandchildren went home. It was a very hard and very, very sad time last spring and as I reflect, I know I made a difference. I did a lot of infection prevention teaching, I helped get PPE to facilities that were in need, and sometimes I was a shoulder to cry on and that's OK. I continue to pray for the health and safety of all of our healthcare heroes. I remember the moment I first read that there was a cluster of pneumonia cases in Wuhan, China and saying out loud "uh oh… that's not good." I was just a little over a year into my career as an IP. A resident tested positive for COVID-19 in the assisted living facility where my grandfather was residing out of state. Unfortunately, several days later my grandfather was fou nd in his room delirious from fever and hypoxia and was rushed to the hospital. While testing was very slow at the time, within days he would pass away from what we knew to be COVID-19. I share this moment because it truly put the gravity of the pandemic into perspective very early on for me. To have such a healthy, wonderful man taken so suddenly to this disease was incredibly difficult. That being said , while this terrible situation brought me much sadness it also drove me to do everything that I could for my facility. While I understood that I could only do so much from my position within my facility, I knew if we could implement processes that would prevent just one additional transmission that it would be worth all the sleepless nights, difficult work, and depleted energy. I can truthfully say that I am proud to hold my CIC® and look forward to what the rest of my IP career has to offer. Benjamin D. Galvan, MLS, CIC Tampa. FL Infection Preventionist Tampa General Hospital First Certified: May 2020 Terri Roberts, BSN, RN, CIC, FAPIC Irwin, PA Senior Infection Preventionist Patient Safety Authority First Certified: July 2007 Providing pathways to assess and maintain infection prevention competency. Honoring Infection Preventionists during COVID-19 Join the 8,000+ CIC and a-IPCs making an impact today! www.cbic.org