National Nurses Week 2020 has come to an end but our gratitude and admiration for those fighting on the front lines will last forever. We asked the TITLE Fam to nominate nurses for our #TITLEFIGHTS4NURSES Giveaway and the results were astonishing. We’ve received countless entries highlighting the selfless and courageous people in the medical field fighting against the virus. Throughout the past 7 days, we’ve shared remarkable words from nurses on the tribulations they’ve encountered in the last couple of months and their “why” for starting a career in nursing. To get as many eyes as possible on their incredible stories, we’re recapping them HERE! Please take a moment to read through the words of wisdom told by the healthcare heroes risking their lives to keep us safe and healthy, as well as the kind words of appreciation from their loved ones that sent nominations.
Meet Danilo!
Nominated by his fiancé, Donna, Danilo is a Registered Nurse at UCSD Hillcrest Hospital and Sharp Grossmont Hospital. “To his patients, he is their nurse and his name is Dan. They probably don’t even see much of his face because he’s wearing a PPE gown, mask and face shield in their room. To me, he is not only a nurse but he is my fiancé. He is a Registered Nurse at two hospitals in San Diego and one is Sharp Hospital working in the COVID unit. I worry when he goes to work and if he’ll be provided a fresh N95 mask that night or reuse his. I ask him if he ever gets worried going to work but he always says, “no, I’m fine, I have to go to work.” He’s selfless, hardworking, and admirable. He often gets one break for lunch and doesn’t have much time to drink water and take bathroom breaks due to all the PPE he has on. On top of working busy 12-hour shifts, he still makes time to workout before work, makes time for me on his random one day off a week, and still insists on doing the dishes of the mess I made of trying to be a chef in the kitchen during this quarantine with no complaints and no hesitation. I’m very proud of him and his dedication as a nurse.”
Meet Yvonne!
Yvonne was nominated by TITLE Boxing Club Owing Mills. “I am an Operating Room nurse at Greater Baltimore Medical Center and St Agnes Hospital. The most challenging part of my job the last couple of months has been staying positive and keeping optimistic with the new stresses in medicine. What I love most about my job is that I am entrusted with a person’s care during one of the most vulnerable times when they are in surgery, being able to be their voice, and ensuring that they are taken care of like I would my own family.”⠀⠀⠀
Meet Brianna!
She was nominated by her friend, Taylor. “I am a registered nurse at Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington, Illinois. My family is filled with nurses and doctors but my Mom definitely had the biggest impact on me choosing to pursue nursing. She is an ICU nurse by trade and I remember growing up how she would receive flowers and cards from her patients and their families thanking her for the difference she made in their lives. I knew then I wanted to make an impact like she did. My favorite thing about nursing is the opportunity to connect with people in some of their more vulnerable moments. Listening and learning from their stories has changed me for the better. Nursing is challenging on a good day but I would say the most challenging part for me right now is definitely COVID19. The floor I work on is now the designated COVID step down unit and it is really hard to watch people grow rapidly more and more sick, with no family there to help support them. It’s a ruthless virus that varies from patient to patient. As a nurse, you have to stay on your toes and trust your gut instincts.”⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Meet Erin!
Erin is a Nurse II (GYN/OB-Perinatal) at Johns Hopkins Hospital. “My life has changed substantially in the past couple of months due to COVID. There are so many new policies and procedures that are rolled out every day on our unit and they take a lot of adjusting. So long are the days where laboring moms can have the support of several family members. Only one support person is allowed and if she has to get a C-section then no one can come with her into the OR. The beauty and peace has been stripped away somewhat because of this pandemic. We have to wear masks all 12 hours of our shift regardless if you care for a COVID positive patient or not. The masks can make you dizzy, hot, or not able to breathe. But a positive change I do see is the teamwork, strength, resilience, courage, and excellent care of nurses and healthcare professionals. It’s amazing to see us risk our own lives and well being for others. I always knew I wanted to be in medicine in some form of fashion. The healthcare field always interested me, intrigued me, combined with my love for helping others. It became the perfect fit for me. Being a nurse is what I’m called to do, what I’m gifted in. We all have a lane and a reason for why we live and it’s all about what you do for others at the end of the day! This is my why.”
Meet Liz!
Liz is an ICU Nurse at Advent Health Shawnee AND a Mama to a 10-month-old baby! She was nominated by her friend Amanda, “Her empathy, compassion, and good nature, all make her a wonderful nurse. Her patients can feel her love and support in the way that she cares for them.”
Meet Audrey, Victoria, and Valeria!
These front line heroes are sisters and were nominated by their dad, who happens to be the owner of TITLE Boxing Club Frisco!
Audrey is a Critical Care RN at Medical City, “The most rewarding part of my job is getting a patient to smile or laugh even when they’re sick, injured, or dying.”Victoria is an RN at Medical City Plano, “It has gotten very hard actually. We do everything now, we check vitals clean the rooms, draw blood, keep spirits up and then everything an RN does.”Valeria is an RN and works on a critical care unit at Baylor Scott White Mckinney, “Every day is a new day with new hospital protocols that change by the day. This keeps everyone in the health care industry on their toes. Working in this high-intensity industry is stressful as is, however, now we are putting our health at risk. Even with the risks, I still love going to work and coming home. The rewarding feeling I get is something nothing can come close to. Making a difference and helping people is truly the best feeling in the world.”
Meet Stephanie!
Stephanie was nominated by TITLE Boxing Club Vinnin Square and is an RN at Beverly Hospital. “My why: I changed my major my senior year of college after finding out my nana had cancer. She was my family’s rock and the first person I had ever seen sick. After seeing her in the hospital and seeing how caring and selfless all the staff was I knew this was my calling. Current situation: My outpatient unit got turned into an 11-bed COVID positive unit as a team it was sink or swim. We united together and knew sinking was not an option. Our protocols change hourly and our team has adapted to all challenges tossed our way. We are now our patients everything. We are their advocate, their family, their entertainment, their safety net, and their rock. Currently, we are unable to allow visitors in our hospital due to safety reasons. We sit with our patients while they struggling to breathing holding their hands and comforting them. We are grateful for technology and we are able to FaceTime with family members. This has been a telling time for them allowing them to see the good the bad and the ugly from afar. We have to be brave when truly we are scared to death. I have had days where my N95 is soaked with tears and recently we have had days where we cheer for the survivors who are lucky to be discharged. My love for nursing has not changed since this pandemic started. I chose this career path to help comfort, protect, and nature to the best of my abilities. Yes, nursing has taken a turn that no one expected but we continue to battle and care for our patients all while staying positive. This is what I love about my job! We are resilient and we will fight till the end. Remember that this will not last forever and there are brighter days ahead. We will get through this together and come out stronger than ever!”
Meet Kimberly!
She was nominated by TITLE Boxing Club Saugus and is an RRT at Massachusets General Hospital. “I got into this profession because I wanted to advocate for people who aren’t able to advocate for themselves. I take care of people who are at their most vulnerable state. I pay attention to detail and collaborate with all disciplines involved in the patient’s care to develop the best care plan. What I love most about my job is when a patient who was with me for months who had the grimmest outcome comes walking back into the intensive care unit to visit and tell me how well they are doing! There is no better feeling.”