“On a ‘normal’ 5 Layfield day, our patient population is confused, combative, strokes, spines, brain surgeries, etc., so it takes a very special nurse to do what we do on a neuro floor to begin with,” said Jacqueline Williams, clinical supervisor. “One day, our entire world as we knew it turned upside down. But instead of using fear to disable us, we have used it to empower us. We have asked so many questions, things no one thought about yet. Ways and ideas to improve processes. Ways to keep everyone safe. We are doing a type of nursing that we never thought would exist. Processes are improving every day. Every time we have a “first,” we are able to carefully critique and improve the way we do things.”
Nurse educators and infection prevention nurses worked closely with the team, ensuring they are completely familiar with the safety processes for CDC-recommended personal protective equipment (PPE) they have to wear all the time, including face shields, N95 masks, gloves and gowns. “As a team, we have had to reexamine every detail of our work, from the smallest to the largest,” said Bridgette Devaney, clinical manager of the floor.
“We’re protecting our team, ourselves and our patients,” Devaney said. “It’s a slow, meticulous process. Every step of our care is carefully thought through for how we can do it safely, and we’re also very cautious about waste.”
The 5 Layfield team even chose to take on environmental services duties. “Instead of exposing our beloved EVS staff to the harm of COVID directly, our nursing staff are cleaning our patient rooms; we asked them for a mop; we’re taking out our trash… on top of caring for the ever-growing COVID-19 population,” Williams said.