Health care heroes: ‘We love this work, we accept this challenge and we will all get through this together’
Normally, I’m a nurse in the cardiovascular intensive care unit (ICU) at Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington, IL. Since COVID-19 has impacted Lake County, my new home unit is what’s known as the COVID ICU – where the sickest positive patients are placed. I am currently volunteering to work the COVID ICU for most of my shifts, it’s where I spend more than half of my time.
When I walk into work now, I feel a lot of things – mostly determination. I am determined each shift to do the best for my patients and coworkers, both clinically and emotionally. I am determined to rise to the challenge of providing the highest clinical care for patients with this virus – one that presents itself differently in almost every patient. I want to learn from and collaborate with the other nurses working this unit full time, and with the intensivists, who are working tirelessly to provide the best possible care and think outside the box, to get these patients back home to their families. I walk into work feeling proud to be a part of the solution among the most intelligent, resilient nurses and doctors I know.
I want people to know that while they can’t physically be here with their loved ones, we can be their family while they’re here. I want them to know we are working around the clock to get their loved ones back to them. We truly care for them as if they are our own grandparents, parents or siblings. I want people to know that the community support we receive helps more than they may know. From the meals that local restaurants are donating to the “thank you” and “hero” signs outside of our hospital, all of it provides the motivation to be positive and work as hard as we can. I want people to know that we feel their fear, and although we may have some fear ourselves – we aren’t going anywhere. We will continue to show up and give our patients our all because at the end of the day, we love this work, we accept this challenge and we will all get through this together.
My proudest moment in medicine happened right before the photo above taken. My patient wasn’t oxygenating as well as we would have liked. A respiratory therapist and I were in the room for over an hour alongside ICU doctors and nurses. We tried every possible solution until we found what worked to stabilize the patient. Nobody left until we achieved the positive outcome we wanted. When I left the room, every nurse asked how I was doing and how they could help. They ran for medications and supplies for my patients when I couldn’t leave the room, they checked in on my other patients while I was busy and they gave me the emotional support I needed after hours of intense work.
Endlessly, I am proud to work alongside these nurses every shift. I am proud to work with the intensivist team that shows up every day for us, going above and beyond to provide compassionate and collaborative care. I am proud of the clinical excellence I witness and the positive support that we give each other. It truly is a blessing to be a part of the solution. We really are #InThisTogether.
Photo by Amy Jo Badowski.
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About the Author
Katie Hulsander is a nurse in the cardiovascular intensive care unit (ICU) at Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington, IL
Thank you for your care, compassion, empathy, hard work, and determination to heal our sick. I also work in the ICU unit of South Suburban and it can be a difficult task especially during these times of CO-VID19. Thank you for all that you do.
Thank you for your inspirational words and strong dedication to caring for our patients at Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital. As a team member at the hospital it reinforces the pride I feel knowing the care our front line staff are giving to the community!! We are blessed to be #In This Together!!. Thank you for everything you do!! Be safe and well!!
Awesome work you are doing in this time of crisis. Thank you for your service during this dangerous epidemic. A special shout out to all the men and women who are risking their lives every day. Your work does not go unnoticed. Stay safe !
So proud to work with you!! We may be the first line but you guys are in it for the long haul. We are so impressed with your strength and grace under pressure ❤️ All of the GSH patients are lucky to have our ICU nurses watching over them.
Thank you Advocate Good Shepherd associates, for everything your doing to help your patients get through this most trying time of their lives. We, members of the community, appreciate the sacrifices your making every minute of every day around the clock. Dedication and expertise of the staff and physicians is what GSH is know for.
Thank You being that Hero, in this time of crisis. It helps me to become more stronger in wanting to help people I don’t know but have come too love. I have worked on the covid-19 at Aurora St. Luke`s Medical ctr. floor two times so far, and I have felt a special bond with my patients. They are so kind and sweet even though they are going through these trying times…Thank You Again Hero
I am so proud of Katie. She is the nurse I want taking care of me should I ever need to be hospitalized. Thank you for all you do!