Amazing Alumni

Baptism By Fire

Nursing Graduates Find Themselves on the Front Lines of the Pandemic

By Jimmy Knight, Director of the Cothran Center for Career Readiness

Graduation from college is normally a time of excitement, transition, and hope for the future. But imagine graduating this May, into a climate of fear, lockdowns, and social upheaval. Now, imagine that you’re launching into a career that immediately places you on the front lines of the battle against COVID-19. That’s exactly where many of the 2020 graduating class from the Judge-McRae School of Nursing found themselves this summer. We asked three recent graduates what it has been like to transition from college to the working world, into the teeth of a global pandemic.

Cassidy Allen Patterson ’20 Givens Estates

Becoming a new nurse during a pandemic is what some would call, “baptism by fire.” The days are long, personal protective equipment is in extremely short supply, patients are inconsolable and lonely without family by the bedside, and protocol and information for COVID-19 is ever changing. As a new nurse you always have the feeling you don’t know enough, but it is much worse when the information is constantly evolving such as with the COVID-19 virus. But it is through this pandemic that I have learned so much from those around me. Each day I see people who show up and get to work regardless of the risks associated with it. Nurses are not the only ones doing it either. I have seen environmental service workers in full PPE cleaning and disinfecting rooms so those rooms can be opened back up and used again; I have seen dining service workers show up everyday to feed patients regardless of the risks associated with our workplace; and I have seen maintenance workers wearing N-95 masks and face shields so they can come in and make sure equipment is in working order. I am sure none of these people ever thought that they would live or work through a time like this. Even so, they have committed themselves to contributing in any way they can. Families truly do not understand that nurses and doctors are the tip of the iceberg. You thank me because I am the face you see all the time, but I would not be able to do my job without the help of so many other people.

Cassidy Allen Patterson ’20 (left) wears a full set of personal protective equipment (PPE), including three masks: an N-95 mask (underneath), a surgical mask, and a plastic face shield. She tested positive for COVID-19 in July, has recovered, and is back at work. You can read more of Cassidy’s testimonial in the “Mountain Movers” section of the MHU website, at www.mhu.edu/mm. Becca Rhea ’20 (below) also wears full PPE on her floor. Maegan Thomas ’20 (below, right) is not on a COVID floor. She wears a surgical mask, but does not have to wear a full set of PPE.

Rebecca Rhea ’20 Haywood Regional Hospital

It’s definitely been interesting! Not only were we new grads, but we also didn’t get a hands-on transition to practice. We had to do it all online, so from the beginning I felt behind because we missed out on 120 hours of hands-on experience. Throw COVID into that, where there’s continuing research into a new virus, people are still doing trial runs and experimenting with different treatments options—it’s been a lot to take in, and really fast! And I’m working in the ICU, so I’m getting used to wearing the N-95 mask, dressing out for COVID patients, then changing out for other patients; and doing it all appropriately so we don’t contaminate anyone else’s area or room. It’s been a lot, but it’s also been a big learning opportunity. I’m learning a lot more about respiratory issues and treatments. I’m working a lot with ventilator settings and learning about all the medication options that go with that. While it IS a lot, I’m working with a preceptor, so it’s not “just me.” I’m getting a lot of coaching from another registered nurse. The preceptor I’m with right now has been really helpful. She’s shown me a lot of tips and tricks to stay balanced throughout all this. They like to tell us that they can teach skills and pass on knowledge, but critical thinking skills, personality, and the ability to talk to people are things that can’t be taught.

Maegan Thomas ’20 Mission Hospitals

Immediately after we graduated, everyone was having a fairly hard time finding testing centers that were taking students for board testing because of all the social distancing taking place. They were doing a minimal number of students per testing center. So, I got all of a week’s notice before I took my final boards. That was super interesting and stressful! I was studying 24/7 for a week straight so I could make sure I could pass my boards and start my job on time. That’s what I was hit with from the very beginning with COVID. I was hired on at Mission in the staffing pool, initially. And what that means is that you are a nurse that floats to any department that is understaffed for that shift. But I got a call about a month ago to let me know that I was already being transferred to a cardio hall, which is perfectly fine with me, because I love cardio work. I think it makes sense to have more experienced nurses in the pool than folks like me who are just starting out. Thinking about it, we’re probably going to see more COVID cases with these horrible lung and heart complications, and so they’re going to want really experienced nurses to take care of as many as they can. So yes, it’s definitely been a challenging time for us — for everyone in healthcare.”