National Nursing Week

6 WINNIPEG FREE PRESS - SATURDAY, MAY 7, 2022 NATIONAL NURSING WEEK MAY 9-15, 2022 #WeAnsWerTheCAll BY MIKE DALY T he nursing team supporting care at Grace Hospital's Emergency Department features a mix of savvy veterans and talented novice nurses. Like all great teams, they've rallied together when it has meant the most. With 20 years of experience under her belt, emergency clinical educator Johanna Wall considers COVID-19 among the toughest adversaries she has come across. With increased demand for — and on — nurses making headlines nationwide, the team at the Grace has been working hard to keep pace. "It is a struggle at times, no doubt about it. From increased patient volumes and changing procedures to visitor restrictions, the pandemic has added stress to an already- challenging job," Wall says. "When we're in those moments where we feel in need of extra support, we first come together and help each other." That's a sentiment echoed by Cindy Astorino, an emergency clinical resource nurse with five years' experience in the emergency department. "Now that we've been living this for two years, it feels like the new normal," Astorino says. "But it definitely did bring new challenges and reinforced the need to work as a team. You really see the value each member of the emergency team brings, from nurses, doctors and health-care aides to members of our extended team such as occupational and physiotherapists, housekeepers and dietary staff — every professional that steps into the department." The pressures faced by the members of the emergency department team haven't been exaggerated, she adds, but neither have reports of the team's commitment and dedication to patient care. "What has come through is just how resilient we are and how we've learned to adapt to what is now 'a new normal.'" For the novices on the emergency department's team, the pandemic experience is the only one they've ever known. Registered nurse Shane Gutowski is one of the team's newer members. He says the pandemic offered an unparalleled opportunity to learn on the job. "It's probably one of the best preparations that I could have asked for as an emergency department nurse," he says, while acknowledging that addressing public frustration over COVID-related visitor restrictions has been particularly difficult. "Dealing with the concerns and frustration of worried families has been challenging and it's often directed at us as their main point of contact," Gutowski says. "It's been hard but given the safety factors behind the restrictions, we had to reinforce the fact that we were doing our best and working hard for them and their loved ones." Another challenging aspect of the pandemic has been the high acuity associated with COVID patients whose health status can change in the span of minutes from stable to critical. The team has supported one another in managing grief in the face of these heartbreaking situations, managing to turn their attention to care for the next patient in need of their help. The newest member of the team, licensed practical nurse Katrina (who asked that her surname not be used) admits that maintaining that kind of professionalism when faced with extremely difficult situations is challenging. "It's a hard job and it takes a lot out of you. We chose it, but it's not like we have superhuman abilities. We just work really hard," she says. "It can still be stressful, but each time I ask a colleague for help, they have never said anything other than, 'Yes, I'd love to help you.'" The team, while insisting they do not possess superhuman abilities, is thankful for the support received from the public — everything from shout-outs on social media to meals delivered to hungry and appreciative staff. "Despite some frustration around visitation restrictions, it's nice to know that Manitobans understand we are focused on providing the best patient care we can," Wall says. "That's what motivates us, that's what keeps us going, and that's why we love emergency nursing." Mike Daly is a communications specialist with the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority. TEAMWORK DRIVES PANDEMIC RESPONSE FOR GRACE HOSPITAL EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT NURSES CLOCKWISE FROM BACK LEFT: SHANE GUTOWSKI, RN; JOHANNA WALL, RN, BN, CLINICAL EDUCATOR ED; CINDY ASTORINO, RN, CRN; KATRINA, LPN. PHOTO BY DARCY FINLEY. P R O U D T O P R O T E C T A N D S E R V E T H E P U B L I C I N T E R E S T , T O G E T H E R W I T H R N s . crnm.mb.ca A S A C O L L E G E W E : Regulate registered nursing practice in Manitoba Support RNs to provide safe, competent and ethical care Set standards for education, registration and practice Take action when the standards are not met 56 Graduate Nurses 306 Nurse Practitioners 13,373 RNs AT T H E E N D O F 2 0 2 1 W E H A D : "What has come through is just how resilient we are and how we've learned to adapt to what is now 'a new normal.'" "

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