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Nursing... Nursing... Nursing... Nursing...
NATIONAL NURSES WEEK
At Broward Health, our nurses demonstrate
a passion for caring each and every
day. Thank you to all of our dedicated
caregivers who truly make a difference in
the lives of our patients, offering clinical
expertise, comfort and calming reassurance,
especially during uncertain times. In
recognition of National Nurses Week,
we thank our nurses at Broward Health
and all caregivers around the globe
for your life-saving work.
Want to join our talented team?
Visit us at Careers.BrowardHealth.org.
Follow us: BrowardHealth.org
Broward Health Coral Springs • Broward Health Imperial Point
Broward Health Medical Center • Broward Health North
Salah Foundation Children’s Hospital
22 May 2020
COVID-19 Among Challenges
in Nursing Today
There is no question, the healthcare industry is in the
midst of an unprecedented situation. The fact is COVID-19
has had a profound impact on all of us. Everyone is facing
challenges in their personal and professional lives, and
healthcare workers have been hit particularly hard.
This yearís National Nurses Week takes on a special signif-
icance because of the pandemic. We are all in this together,
but handling this crisis is testing our grit. The challenges all
health professionals face at this time have been well docu-
mented, and they are very real. Nurses on every level can
attest to the fears everyone is experiencing ñ concern for
their families, fear of catching the virus and possibly bring-
ing it home to their families. BY PAULINE GRANT-
Here are some of the challenges nurses and the nursing WALTERS, MSN, RN,
profession face today and in the future: PCCN
Uncertainty during COVID-19: The uncertainty of
COVID-19 creates a new level of stress. This is true for all of us. Healthcare professionals
however are exposed to the virus at a higher rate than the rest of the population because
we are more likely to be in proximity to those who have it, those who are admitted to the
hospital and those who are extremely ill. We must continue to work diligently to keep
our environment safe. Then we have the concerns that all parents with essential jobs face:
how do we deal with childcare, how to successfully cope with the challenges of long-dis-
tance learning, how do we care for an aging parent, and more.
Communication during a pandemic: There is a constant flood of new information.
While healthcare professionals are accustomed to keeping up with the latest medical
news, the deluge of new and changing information coming from government agencies
can be overwhelming at times. However, in our position as frontline healthcare workers,
it is vital that we keep up to date. I appreciate that Holy Cross Hospital does an incredible
job of communicating with us daily, providing the pertinent information that we need to
have at our fingertips.
Changing technology: I began my career documenting on paper charts before the
launch of electronic medical records, telemedicine and the newer software and platforms
that are now available. These advances in technology have certainly changed the face of
medicine for patients and healthcare professionals alike. Technology does not stand still.
Continuous changes and updates each come with a learning curve that we as nurses must
navigate, bringing with them new challenges. Of course, the good news is that with this
technology, patients have easy access to their updated records, they can connect with
healthcare professionals directly and they are now more knowledgeable than ever before
about their care. On the healthcare side, the process and turnaround time is greatly
reduced, and we have access to information instantaneously. Itís a win-win. From a nurs-
ing standpoint, the learning of new technologies never stops.
New graduates are looking ahead: One challenge for the nursing profession in the
future is the lack of bedside nurses. Times have changed. In the past nurses started and
ended their careers at the bedside, but this is no longer the path for many of our new
nurses. As nurses seek to advance their career as Advanced Practical Registered Nurses
(APRN), Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA), etc., it further exacerbates the
current nursing shortage if they cannot be replaced immediately.
In the face of fear and uncertainty, nurses show up with courage and compassion and
place the patientís need above their own. That is a HERO!
Pauline Grant-Walters is a Clinical Practice Specialist (2S/CVIMC) Simulation Coordinator at
Holy Cross Hospital in Fort Lauderdale. She may be reached at
(954) 267-6621 or Pauline.Grant-Walters@holy-cross.com.
southfloridahospitalnews.com South Florida Hospital News