COVID Diaries: Jonathan Candelaria, BS, RN
Alumnus, BS in Nursing 2017, and staff nurse in a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU)
Shifting Practice Environments
“During this time, the pediatric population is not really being affected by the virus so our census has been much lower than usual. With schools closed and people not going out as much, kids are not getting admitted as much. Elective surgeries are being put on pause. So our volume is down.
“On the other hand the adult ICUs are full–almost all are vented patients. In response to this my hospital has started sending the PICU nurses to the adult ICUs to help out.
“I’ve been working with the adult ICU nurses helping to ease their patient load. We are out of our element and comfort zone, but we are doing the best we can so that the nurses don’t get too overwhelmed. As far as I know, we will be going upstairs until this calms down.
It’s All Hands on Deck
“At this time it’s all hands on deck. We all need to step up and help each other out. I’m seeing PACU nurses being trained and floated to the adult ICU. People who worked in the ICU years ago are being asked to come back to help. Nurses not experienced taking care of vented patients are being sent around to help with meds and tasks. Taking care of two, three, and sometimes even four vented patients is a daunting task. We have to support one another and get through this together.
“Big shout out to my classmates, Rutgers School of Nursing 2017, and other friends who are working in the New York City ICUs and EDs.”
Convocation 2017