We asked the physicians, nurses, first responders, and other healthcare workers in our community (and their spouses) what life feels like right now, in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis. We also asked how others can help them, and what makes them feel most supported.
The answers are eye-opening, poignant, and helpful for those of us who may be unsure how we can show up for our friends and neighbors on the front lines.
What does life feel like for you right now?
My husband is a firefighter/paramedic and I am 38 weeks prego with baby #3. I feel it is a “when, not if” he will be exposed in his line of work. But I’m not afraid of the virus, necessarily…mostly the potential loneliness and isolation that will come if we have to stay away from family at this transitional time.
Erin
I’m a family NP and my husband is an ER doc. My clinic is currently trying to stay open to help keep patients out of the urgent care/ER but it’s really only until we can get our telemedicine really up abd running. My husband just worked all weekend and had a presumptive positive case that was admitted. It’s so stressful to me, but he’s actually faring pretty well.
Dani
I am a Hospice and Palliative Homecare nurse. It’s hard sometimes when everyone is posting about social isolation when some of us don’t have that choice. My husband and I have taken some extra measures at home, such as I do not pick up my children until I’ve changed out of my scrubs, kids have to wash their hands right when we get home, daily baths, etc.
MaCyn
I am an RN in a PACU/ same day surgery area. We are officially canceling all non-emergent cases, only doing urgent/emergent cases. So I am overwhelmed with having to float to another area currently to keep my hours until the mass of sick people hit our hospital. I have to work to pay our bills. We are also currently selling our house right about to build so I am very overwhelmed with what is the best course of action is. In an unseen economy change. Plus still sending my kids to in-home daycare while they are out of school. Making sure they are safe. So many things going on right now, unsure what to do.
Whitney
Feelings of being overwhelmed. Our healthcare system where I live is already at max capacity and short-staffed due to other respiratory illnesses that have affected the area. We are in the beginning of the virus and staff is feeling anxious about managing it all. We were made to do this, but at the same time we have already been overworked before this started. We are trying to stay healthy so we can fight this as long as we can.
Stevi
I work at an outpatient surgery center and are awaiting a potential closure. Some patients are already canceling procedures. Childcare is definitely a stressor, but for right now, my hubby can telework and arrange his schedule so I can go in! So thankful for that!!!
Catherine
I am the wife of a first responder with the local fire department. All I can think to do at this moment is to keep him and our family healthy with immune boosting foods, low stress at home, and lots of sleep. I have voluntarily quarantined us so that if he is exposed and we are that we do not share our germs with others carelessly. While he is on shift I am working from home with a 17 month old. We are making it work. Enjoying this family time. Prayers to all those health care workers and 1st responders.
Kaitlin
ED RN at a level one trauma center and EMS volunteer. I worry so much about my family if I start having to stay at the hospital. I worry about who will help them with their online school work also. We are trying to keep things light at home and getting everyone set up with texting and FaceTime.
Jennifer
I’m a PA in a specialty clinic, where we just converted to virtual visits only since we’re a non-critical specialty (our hospital system’s effort to free up hospital beds and reduce unnecessary exposure for the public). I am also 22 weeks pregnant with a toddler at home and feeling concerned not just for possible risks with the infection but also what the state of the hospital system could be at the time I deliver.
Beth
I am an oncology nurse and my daughter was at a preschool until it closed. I now have to pay a private babysitter money to watch our child, so I am losing money to go to work. I don’t want to call in sick to work or not go because these patients NEED me. I am proud to help people, but feel like I’m putting my family at risk simultaneously by increased exposure. I also haven’t really been checked in on by friends.
Kim
I work in healthcare administration and it’s been an incredibly hard few weeks. Trying to figure out how to support our caregivers, keep the doors open for our patients, keep my anxiety down, and case for two young children… it’s been a lot. I’m just not seeing the light at the end of the tunnel at the moment.
Heather
I am a PNP in a cardiac intensive care unit at a large children’s hospital. Staffing is getting difficult. We need to stay safe staffed so we can operate on all the newborn babies and urgent/emergent kids. We are postponing what we can… but for how long? We finally have testing. So that’s decreasing stress. Also kids seem very spared across the world from this. They are not being admitted to the ICUs. Thank god for that one piece of good news. We expect to take adults on our unit as well. It will be all hands on deck in a week I am guessing. But the biggest stressor is our kids and families at home. 10 month old and 2 year old boys over here.
Scota
As a mom to young kids and a hospital RN, it is becoming quite challenging. Daycare is closed, yet work is needing all hands on deck. I’m taking it day by day, but a little worried about how I’m going to manage it all if/when things get worse at work. I’m not sure what to do.
Natalie
I’m a nurse at two hospitals in my area. Currently incredibly grateful to have job security and also losing a bit of hair from stress.
Laurel
I am a nurse practitioner in OBGYN and we are not a high risk office for Covid-19, but have taken many measures to ensure the safety of our staff and patients. I would say health care workers as a whole are cautious during these times but tend to be fairly calm. We are concerned about the number of people who may need medical attention and lack of supplies. We are doing everything we can, but if people keep stealing our supplies and running up shortages out in the general public we can’t do our jobs effectively.
Emily
I am a NICU nurse in a Level 3 NICU in Chicago my husband is a nurse practioner in an ER. He is 100% my stressed than I am, we have a rule that started today after we both had extremely busy shifts over the weekend. No corona talk at home and no excess news. We are both well informed and have additional training at our places of employment this week. (Did I mention I’m pregnant with number 3?) My kids are almost 2 and almost 4. It’s bittersweet my OB office will not let my husband to our next appointment, the ultrasound, I respect it and understand it. I also feel for the families I work with being in a NICU is stressful enough but we have strict visitation now and that adds to their stress. Also, a shout out to my dad, he is a police sergeant and working very hard as well.
Kelly
We’re in Cleveland and my husband is a Physician Assistant in the ER. He will be either working or on call every single day until at least the end of the month. Right now I’m just thankful that I decided to be a stay at home mom in this season of life, otherwise we’d be in trouble childcare wise (since as a former RN, I’d be working too!). I’m just telling myself that it’s ok for the kids and I to go into survival mode and if that means alot more screen time than I’d normally allow, then I’m going to be ok with it. My goal right now is to keep myself as happy as I can, so my husband doesn’t stress about how I’m handling things at home.
Ashley
My husband is an orthopedic surgeon. All elective surgeries are stopping on Wednesday, so he will not be operating and doesn’t know what his work life look like. He could definitely be pulled to help with other hospital needs which makes us all nervous. My girls and I are quarantined, but he is {currently} around a lot of people at work each day. I am so appreciative for all those on the front lines that are already caring for and treating this. It’s a time of uncertainty for all.
Rebecca
Life is crazy and plans change daily. My company is helping us figure out childcare so we can all keep taking care of patients. We have a wonderful family locally who has offered to take our kids in whenever we need them to be somewhere so we can limit the kids to just the two homes. It really is a lifesaver to know that we have that covered no matter what kind of crazy is in tomorrow’s update. Life is crazy but our village is good.
Heidi
I am a pediatrician in the Boston area. This is really hard. Preschool is closed and our nanny is home with her immunocompromised father so I am leaving my husband to “work from home” with three kids under 5 off their routines to go in and increase my (our) exposure to this virus. But, kids still get sick and need to be seen and this is part of what we signed up for as healthcare workers. I am wearing scrubs and showering like I never have before when I get home! And screentime. Oh, the screentime.
Jenny
I am a nurse turned stay at home mom. I love a lot of health care workers and am married to an oncologist. I think I’ve spent half of the time worrying about her getting sick and the other half of the time worrying about her immunocompromised patients getting sick. We’ve committed to quarantine for their sake.
Jayme
Med-Surg RN here, and although I’m extremely fortunate, the stress is real. Trying to find time to get outside with my kiddo and laugh at the simple things.
Anna
I’m a registered dietitian, so I never really pictured being part of emergency response, but I work in dialysis. Feeling very anxious as our patients are so high risk and needing treatment to live no matter what happens. We are planning and preparing to treat people who have confirmed cases, though that hasn’t happened yet. While I’m not the person inserting needles, it’s all hands on deck with likely cross-training to do whatever needed so we can keep giving patients treatment even as some of our nurses and techs might have to stay home. Just a very tense situation with everyone in masks all day, lots of extra precautions. I’m mostly worried about my older parents who watch my kids while I’m at work. I don’t want to put them at risk. It’s clear we’re all being considered “essential personnel” so I’m just hoping my husbands job will move to remote so I can take my parents out of the equation.
Samantha
I’m a family nurse practitioner. There’s a lot of panic, anxiety, and fear in our society right now. My job entails taking care of people’s health but also now more than ever provide reassurance and education. It is a stressful time. We are in survival mode with a 14month old.
Irene
What makes you feel most supported? How can others help?
Honestly it’s most frustrating to hear how “bored” people are when we are stressed beyond belief. I’m lucky childcare isn’t a huge issue but limiting the complaining would be number 1.
Kelli
I feel most supported by those who take precautionary measures seriously. Let’s flatten the curve and be wise.
Erin
The best thing you can offer is your patience, your grace and your prayers. Be patient with your medical providers and theirs support staff. We’re doing the best we can with the little supplies, guidance and support we have. Give us grace when things don’t go the way you see fit or change abruptly. And say a prayer we stay as healthy as possible to continue to keep others healthy as well.
Dani
I put faith in my hospital to keep me and my colleagues protected. Other than that, I’ll be waiting it out and hope I don’t have too many of my already very fragile patients affected by this.
MaCyn
I feel most cared for when people take the concept of social distancing seriously. We are truly all in this together, and the temporary inconveniences we experience in the present will make all the difference in how much damage this virus does. It really will be a matter of life and death for many.
Beth
Childcare is what I need. I need help with my daughter. If you can’t do that, be understanding.
Kim
Nurses doctors and NPs/PAs seem to need child care help the most so they can show up. We are rotating my group so we don’t burn out but will be faced with two week or more quarantines when we are sick .
Scoti
Mostly just hoping everyone will stay home and keep kids away from each other. I have been invited to multiple playdates and it makes me wonder how many others are doing this. Do not do playdates. Just stay home! Flatten the curve and stay well, my friends.
Kayla
Ways people have offered to help me: when they are going to the store they have offered to grab things like milk or eggs, picking up my kids and taking them to the park to play, bringing over crafts or activities for my kids, and of course offering to watch my kids while I’m at work.
Natalie
My husband works for our hospital with confirmed cases. THE WORST thing you can do is be careless about your germ spreading or think you won’t get sick, and continue to socialize carelessly, to the detriment of others. The second worst thing is to tell me how at risk he is/we are for contracting this virus. We are very aware of the risk each and every day! He still has to go do his job to keep other people safe. Yes it’s scary, and while we appreciate the concern, please keep it to yourself!
Terri
All I can ask for is patience with the healthcare field as we figure out how to handle this outbreak ❤️.
Laurel
If you know healthcare/EMS families offer to watch the kids if you are able. We honestly don’t know what the next moment brings so having one less thing on the plate is huge.
Heidi
Thank everyone that works at the hospital! Truth: the doctors and nurses are doing the hardest work. But so many people are working hard in a high anxiety environment to keep those places running. I’m a physical therapist in the critical care unit but there are case managers, social workers, housekeepers, dietitians, and on and on that are exhausted and working to get people home. Virtual hug all those people and tell them they are doing a great job!
Meredith
Since we can’t totally isolate at home it feels good to know that others who can are doing their part to “flatten the curve”.
Jenny
I think we feel most supported when we hear others taking the pandemic seriously and making efforts (sacrifices) to protect the vulnerable.
Jayme
Just say “thank you for coming to work”.
Shana
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