Nancy Nelson
May 2021
Nancy
Nelson
,
RN
DaVita Centurion Division
DaVita Centurion Division Office
East Orange
,
NJ
United States
Nancy reminded me that I, as a nurse, as a manager, as a woman surviving alone, that I mattered too in this ordeal.
Nancy saved my life when the world was at its darkest. I was made aware suddenly that I was going to be the manager of the region’s cohort clinic to take in patients afflicted with this new, scary, unknown virus called COVID-19. Feeling it as my Nightingale duty, I took on this role without much thought or giving in to fear. As the admissions flooded into our clinic at Hamilton Street DaVita and the teammates and general population patients demanded answers, I felt myself slowly sinking underwater. I had no answers for anyone, not even myself, as to how to handle my clinic, COVID-19, infection control practices, and the grim possibilities of being alone in mandated isolation.
Out of habit, I called Nancy several times throughout this crazy period. I would ask her about what to do for the clinic and my patients. As the calm and collected woman she was, she gave me the only answers she knew she could give, with unrelinquished confidence. From this, I was able to give time and again to my patients and staff. But it was the one phone call Nancy made to me, unrelated to work, that helped me feel like a human again. I was at home when she called and heard her ask me, “How are you doing? Are you ok?” Her voice was not that of a manager. It was not that of a teacher. It was that of a friend. I poured it all out to her over that phone call. She reminded me of how scared we all were, and that hope was very much alive in all of us who were drowning in our fears during this pandemic. She gave me the perspective that we pioneer frontline workers and managers are now the source of the answers and hope for those of whom we lead and care.
In subsequent calls, Nancy reminded me that it was right to take things one day at a time, and that our contributions in this pandemic were also part of the solution to bring well-being back to our community. In addition, Nancy reminded me that I, as a nurse, as a manager, as a woman surviving alone, that I mattered too in this ordeal and that my fears and concerns were just as valid as the patients afflicted with COVID-19. Nancy knew I had been overwhelmed and crying throughout this whole transition and with each phone call, she wiped my tears.
The initial wave of the COVID-19 pandemic has been one of the most difficult times I lived through. I was alone. I was responsible for patients, teammates, and a clinic. I had no room for second-guessing or turning back. Nancy remained the soft, loving voice of reason for me when the world seemed at its most bleak.
Out of habit, I called Nancy several times throughout this crazy period. I would ask her about what to do for the clinic and my patients. As the calm and collected woman she was, she gave me the only answers she knew she could give, with unrelinquished confidence. From this, I was able to give time and again to my patients and staff. But it was the one phone call Nancy made to me, unrelated to work, that helped me feel like a human again. I was at home when she called and heard her ask me, “How are you doing? Are you ok?” Her voice was not that of a manager. It was not that of a teacher. It was that of a friend. I poured it all out to her over that phone call. She reminded me of how scared we all were, and that hope was very much alive in all of us who were drowning in our fears during this pandemic. She gave me the perspective that we pioneer frontline workers and managers are now the source of the answers and hope for those of whom we lead and care.
In subsequent calls, Nancy reminded me that it was right to take things one day at a time, and that our contributions in this pandemic were also part of the solution to bring well-being back to our community. In addition, Nancy reminded me that I, as a nurse, as a manager, as a woman surviving alone, that I mattered too in this ordeal and that my fears and concerns were just as valid as the patients afflicted with COVID-19. Nancy knew I had been overwhelmed and crying throughout this whole transition and with each phone call, she wiped my tears.
The initial wave of the COVID-19 pandemic has been one of the most difficult times I lived through. I was alone. I was responsible for patients, teammates, and a clinic. I had no room for second-guessing or turning back. Nancy remained the soft, loving voice of reason for me when the world seemed at its most bleak.