Nurses Continue to Speak Out as 5,600 People Are Now Hospitalized from COVID-19 in Ohio

At the Monday, November 30 Ohio Coronavirus Press Conference, several Ohio nurses spoke about the recent surge in hospitalization in Ohio. 5,600 people are now hospitalized in Ohio. By comparison, about 1,000 people were hospitalized in the beginning of November.

Stacey Morris, a nurse manager for one of the COVID units at Cleveland Clinic Akron General said, “We’ve had people in their 30s and 40s with no medical history who do really poorly with COVID-19, but there is no magic bullet to treat this virus right now. The team here provides amazing care, but there are only so many of us. You can always get more equipment, but there aren’t medical staff just waiting in the wings. We need people to help fight this so we can be there for you to continue to provide care. I want people to take this seriously. It isn’t a hoax. This is our reality. This is one of the biggest waves we’ve ever seen. We’re hoping we can come together as a state and country to slow this virus. We need the help of everyone.”

Dara Pence, an ICU Nurse Manager at Ohio Health Riverside Hospital in Columbus said, “COVID is unpredictable, it’s throwing curveballs. We’re seeing young, healthy people come to the hosptial, they’re getting sick, and they’re passing. The virus can impact anyone from any background. It’s lonely in there. Patients are isolated. We do use Zoom – but it’s very scary because a lot of times, this is the last connection loved ones have with their family members. We ask patients where they think they got COVID: Graduation parties, baby showers, funerals, weddings – several have said, “I had a mask, but I put it in my pocket when I saw others didn’t have a mask. I wish we could bring people here with us and have them walk through our unit – but at the same time, I don’t want anyone to see what we have seen. We are at war with this disease. If the community can come together and stay safe, that will help get us through.”

Jamie Giere, a nurse and team leader for the COVID Unit at Premier Health’s Upper Valley Medical Center in Troy said, “I wish I could wear a go-pro for a few hours of the day for people to realize the stress that healthcare workers go through every day. It’s exhausting. It’s emotional. I don’t think the public truly understands what we go through. Seeing the fear in patients’ faces. When patients are COVID positive, they can’t have a loved one hold their hand. They can’t have a loved one by their side. You can see the fear in their faces and it’s heartbreaking.”

Carrie Watkins, the assistant director for nursing at Genacross Lutheran Services in Holland said, “The staff is spread very, very thin. We’ve turned into an extended family for our residents since their families can’t come in and see them right now. As nurses and caregivers, we work so hard to take care of our residents. I hope people can understand that their actions can have unintended consequences. Even if you don’t have a loved one in a nursing facility, you could start a chain reaction that brings the virus in. These lives are worth protecting.”