Page 38 - SOM_FALL_2020_FLIPBOOK

YEAR OF THE
YEA R O F TH E Every single day, courageous men and How have things changed at the hospital
,
cour
eous men and
y
ag
Ev
ery single da
since Covid-19?
women across Southern Oregon step
women across Southern Oregon step
In my eyes, everybody has it until they’re proven
out their front door, leave behind their
out their front door, leave behind their
they don’t. So we don’t cut any corners. You’ll
RSE
NURSE.
NU . loved ones. Being a nurse has always goggles, the whole nine yards, a hundred
families and go to work to save your
families and go to work to save your
see everybody wearing a mask, cap, face shield,
loved ones. Being a nurse has always
percent of the time, and then we go to work.
been an essential job, but in the fi
been an essential job, but in the fight
ght

Imagine your glasses fogging up when you
need to start an IV on a three-year-old kid who
against Covid-19, their importance
against Covid-19, their importance
is screaming frantically. Your heart rate goes up.
in our communities is underscored
in our communities is underscored
You’re already sweating. The medicine we do is
even more.
even more.
challenging now.
Regence BlueCross BlueShield of
Regence BlueCross BlueShield of
the guidelines?
Oregon and Asante want to recognize
Oregon and Asante want to recognize
the compassion and sacrifi
the compassion and sacrifice of the How do you feel when people don’t follow
ce of the

I see people put the mask on so they can go into
health care heroes in the Rogue Valley an establishment, and as soon as they get in, they
health care heroes in the Rogue Valley

Spotlight and beyond. It’s scary to consider how take the mask o . That’s a little disheartening,
and beyond. It’s scary to consider how
because it’s real. On the one hand, yeah, that

many more lives would be lost to
John Rodriguez, many more lives would be lost to makes me mad. I think that’s selfish. Out of the
other side of my mouth, I’m going to say, help
Emergency Department Nurse, the virus without your comforting each other out. Allow grace right now. Things
Emergency Department Nurse,

Asante Rogue Regional presence and bedside savvy. You are di erent. Everybody is more stressed. You
Medical Center may not always get the credit you hear people sneeze, and you think someone’s

fired a weapon. We can’t live in fear our entire
deserve, but that changes now. lives, because that’s just not living. I promise
you I will have a mask on. It’s not only to keep
myself safe, it’s to keep you safe.
What made you want to pursue nursing?
What made y ou w ant t o pursue nursing? What has been the toughest part of life during
the pandemic?
At the time I was a climbing and mountain
At the time I was a climbing and mountain
erent

guide, and I needed to do something di
guide, and I needed to do something di erent My place at home, trying to keep my kids positive
for my family. It sounds a little cheesy, but it’s the
for my family. It sounds a little cheesy, but it’s the and out of depression, that’s been the challenge,
God’s honest truth; I wanted to do something that and I don’t think that is unique to me. There were
God’s honest truth; I wanted to do something that
felt like I could contribute. I don’t grow enough
felt like I could contribute. I don’t grow enough probably six weeks where I didn’t come into my
food to produce it on a mass scale. I’m not an
food to produce it on a mass scale. I’m not an kitchen or living room. Where I didn’t share the
educator like our teachers. So what could I do,
educator like our teachers. So what could I do, same bed as my wife, where I couldn’t hug my
right here everyday that didn’t just take from
right here everyday that didn’t just take from children. My family is my life. They can’t go to
our community? As a wilderness medic, I already
our community? As a wilderness medic, I already the movies. They can’t go to a friend’s house.
had my toe in health care, and I had some
had my toe in health care, and I had some They can’t go to their own damn graduation.
encouragement from my ski patrol friends. My
encouragement from my ski patrol friends. My They can’t do all those things. That’s how it’s

joke is, you’re out in the woods for three days,
joke is, you’re out in the woods for three days, a ected me.
so you can only treat a three-day injury. I kind
so you can only treat a three-day injury. I kind
of wanted to go beyond that.
of wanted to go beyond that. Writing and photography by Ben McBee.