COVER SPECIAL
COVER SPECIAL
Alexandra Champaign
and four need to be intubated. So I tell myself that I can’t get overwhelmed. There was one day I had an intubation, at the same time another patient was
A
lexandra Champaign is a nurse based in New Jersey and has been a nurse for
coding (not breathing… coding). I had
17 years, she started out in Pediatrics, then the ICU unit but now works in the
to scream and shout out for the other
Medical-Surgical unit and daily treats COVID-19 patients.
nurses to help me with the patient that was coding as I could not leave
“We need nurses and we also need prayers. Like I said earlier protective gear is never 100%”
gw: What are some of the ways you’ve been able to keep motivated and encouraged during his time?
gw:Can you describe a typical day for you?
the patient that was being intubated.
We just have to work so fast and are
This patient was trying to stand up;
short staffed. It’s very stressful,
I’d go to work, at the hospital, they’d
he had a tube down his throat to help
everyone is burned out- from the
tell me there are fewer nurses on the
him breathe on a ventilator and he
doctors to nurses and janitors.
floor that day. There are 23 patients
was struggling to free himself. He’s
Honestly, I try to take things day by
between 3 nurses (as of the time of this
emotional, trying to rip the tube out
day. Every day I thank God, and I just
interview) and they tell me I have 10
of his throat and trying to disconnect
question why I am still here. Why do
patients to take care of during my shift,
himself from everything. I’m holding
gw: Is there anything you’d like to let people know about COVID?
I not have symptoms? Does God still
him down and screaming for help as
It is definitely real! I’m a nurse here
have a plan for me? Because I know
the other patient of mine is coding.
in New York and it has been so crazy.
without a doubt that I have been
Eventually he had to be restrained.
Please stay home and keep your
exposed to the Coronavirus from
Next door, the patient that was coding
distance, you never know who could
treating infected patients. That’s
had to be given CPR. The protocol for
have it. It’s a terrible disease that
what is keeping me going strong. With
patients that are COVID-positive is that
damages the body so badly. Medical
the amount of patients that I’ve been
everyone has to leave the room apart
practitioners need equipment and
exposed to, I am just so thankful to
from those who are administering the
protective gear. We often have to reuse
God. I’ve had patients cough on me,
aid. During intubation, those present
gear and this only puts us at a higher
spit on me... I even have co-workers
in the room risk being infected and so
risk of getting infected. We need
that are sick, some who are in the
only two are allowed in a room during
nurses and we also need prayers. Like
hospital and are ventilated and
intubation; when we push air into
I said earlier protective gear is never
reflecting on this everyday
their throats, air also comes out into
100%. gw
when I wake up, keeps me
the atmosphere. The patient who was
going.
coding did not make it.
36 gemwoman.net
gemwoman.net 37
