JESSICA MEDITZ
Life & Arts Editor
As time progresses amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, different questions and headlines arise on a daily basis.
But one thing that remains the same is people’s appreciation and admiration for those who work on the front lines.
One of these workers is Rose Marie Robinson, the nurse manager of ICU at Northwell Health in Forest Hills, Queens.
“[COVID-19] is a terrible experience, probably the worst experience of my entire career, quite honestly,” said the registered nurse of 36 years.
Because she works in the hospital’s ICU, she and the rest of her staff witness a lot of death compared to other units in the building, or what she describes as, “The worst of the worst.”
“What you’re hearing on the news with patients constantly requiring to be placed on a ventilator is very true. We try our hardest not to put them on a respirator because it looks like once they’re on it, the chance of survival is limited,” said Robinson. “There’s a very small percentage that actually seem to survive this and everything you do throughout the terrible day is for those one or two people that you hope you can get off the respirator.”
Although many may assume that COVID-19 primarily affects the elderly population, Robinson made it clear that the virus does not discriminate.
She’s had patients of all ages, including middle-aged people, people in their mid 30s and young, new mothers. Robinson shared that she actually has not seen many elderly patients in her unit.
Being that Queens has the most cases of COVID-19 within the boroughs and Forest Hills is adjacent to Corona, Queens, (one of the most affected neighborhoods) the hospital Robinson works in has been referred to as “ground zero” and “the epicenter” for coronavirus cases.
Despite the hospital being in the epicenter, Robinson said that her building has an adequate supply of respirators and ventilators.
But that doesn’t mean the curve is flattening, at least for Northwell Health in Forest Hills.
“Yesterday was a terrible day at work; it wasn’t the worst day because I measure bad days by the amount of people I get,” said Robinson. “We have opened two new units for a total of 50 beds. On the worst day we’ve had, we had a census of 48 patients. Yesterday, we had a census of 45. So is the curve flattening in Forest Hills? No, not yet. Not from what I’m seeing.”
This concern has been publicly confirmed as Governor Cuomo has extended social distancing and the closure of non-essential businesses until May 15.
Although it is a nurse’s job to provide patient care, it’s safe to say that no one expected it to reach something of this caliber.
Therefore, it’s important to remember and acknowledge the physical and mental wellbeing of healthcare providers during this time.
“Most of us are diving deep into whatever we know how to do in order to help everyone, but it is actually hard to really process what is going on,” said Lauren Mirabile, a registered nurse at Northwell North Shore University Hospital’s COVID-ICU (previously cardio-thoracic ICU).
“It seems like almost after every shift I leave work, I get in my car, sit in silence and cry on the way home. It is really hard FaceTiming with families and knowing that this might be their last opportunity to see and speak to their loved ones.”
Mirabile added that although it is difficult to tell from an ICU perspective if the curve is flattening, there has been less commotion in other units in her building.
“I think ICU is going to be the last place to see a decline in patient volume,” said Mirabile. “There seems to be a decrease in the number of codes and intubations in the rest of the building, though. Overall admissions to regular floors are decreasing and discharges from the hospital are increasing, which is giving the team hope.”
Robinson says that the best thing people can do to help healthcare providers is to stay home, avoid gatherings and most of all, to take this virus seriously.