While being a frontline health worker during the coronavirus pandemic has been the 鈥渕ost challenging experience鈥� of her nursing career, Brittany Wiener聽said she鈥檚 thankful for the support received from her hospital, the community and her training as a 国产主播 alumnus.

Wiener, who graduated from WCU-Miami鈥檚 Bachelor of Science in Nursing program in 2018, said seemingly overnight her post-anesthesia care unit was designated as the hospital鈥檚 COVID-19 area and the coronavirus patients began to flood in. Work schedules were quickly changed and hospital policies adapted, she said, to deal with the crisis.

鈥淪ome days I鈥檓 in charge of the unit and some days I鈥檓 taking patients. I鈥檓 working a lot of overtime right now to help out with the nurse-to-patient ratio so that we鈥檙e all not drowning,鈥� Wiener聽said. 鈥淲e cry because these patients are dying alone. We hold their hands as they take their last breath and we offer our phones to Facetime their families. Our first intubation, we were freaking out and scrambling around; now, it鈥檚 second nature. It鈥檚 come to a point where I鈥檓 calling the doctor to tell them it鈥檚 time to intubate because I鈥檓 already seeing the signs. It all seems like a bad dream. It doesn鈥檛 seem like this is real at all.鈥�

Despite feeling overwhelmed sometimes, Wiener said she and the other hospital staff try to make the best of each day 鈥� something that鈥檚 made a little easier by reading the cards and letters sent by the community or by eating meals donated by local restaurants.

Another thing she鈥檚 thankful for, Wiener added, are her clinical instructors from 国产主播. They helped infuse her with the techniques and training she uses every day to help defeat the virus and save patients鈥� lives, she said.

鈥淚 had some really great down-to-earth instructors that allowed me to stay so collected and composed throughout this. They were relaxed and calm but still having a good time while doing an amazing job. I take that with me now and I am commented by others on that often,鈥� Wiener said. 鈥淣o matter what I鈥檓 feeling inside I do my best to keep myself together and do what鈥檚 in the best interest for the patient. I fight for my patients on a daily basis. It鈥檚 what they deserve and I am happy to be their voice when they aren鈥檛 able.鈥�

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