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| Ebola test laboratory in Liberia, Image courtesy of UNMEER |
This interview was
recorded on the 03/20/2020 weekend.
JAV: How was your
shift today?
NURSE: It almost
felt more normal than I expected it to, I guess. There’s this combination of…and
I feel bad saying this…ignorance, panic, and self-entitlement that we’re seeing
that’s really difficult to deal with. But then, at the same time, we’re kind of
used to dealing with this already. I think some of the staff, even among
medical people, you’re getting some of that panic where people want all the [personal
protective] gear even if they don’t need it to be in that room, or they’re a
little hyper-paranoid. And there’s actually a lot of people calling in sick
because they just don’t want to be around it. It’s a little crazy. We’re all at
home being very careful about social distancing. Everybody is staying home and
being very careful about not bringing germs home and all that and then
at work all of us are super close together as if it was just any other day.
It’s kind of weird.
JAV: How long have
you worked as an ER nurse?
NURSE: I’ve worked
down in the ER for nine years. I had previously worked in other units.
JAV: How do you
think you ended up becoming an ER nurse?
NURSE: (laughs)
Almost by accident! When I was a new grad I worked in medical oncology. I
wanted to go back to school but the only position that allowed me the
flexibility was a float nurse. Back then, I always said, I don’t want to work
in the ER. It’s too chaotic. It seems crazy. I like things organized. I like to
have my day and plan it but I had a friend at the hospital who kept telling me,
come down and work with us…and I just had no interest. That seems like a
mess.
