Recommended for you

I Look 'Normal' In Class, But My Peers Don't Know How My Invisible Illness Impacts My College Experience

Start writing a post

Health and Wellness

I Talked To A NYC Physician Assistant Fighting COVID-19 And Got The Inside Scoop

I interviewed physician assistant Esther about COVID-19 and got an insider's perspective of the pediatric emergency department.

Saima Afrin

Jun 26, 2020

Hunter College

I Talked To A NYC Physician Assistant Fighting COVID-19 And Got The Inside Scoop

Ashkan Forouzani

Around the world, people are living in the fear of catching the coronavirus. As confirmed cases and deaths strike up, more pressure and demand are put on health workers who are, currently, risking their lives to treat others. Working from the front lines of this pandemic, Esther highlights a few of her struggles working at the emergency department.

How long have you been a physician assistant?

About two years.

What department do you work in?

Pediatric emergency department.

What is your hospital's procedure in regard to COVID-19 patient care?

We initially did not test children/peds for COVID-19 unless it was an admission, even if they had a fever or symptoms. If they were fine enough to go home from the ER, they weren't tested. Any admission got tested. Since there are more tests now we test anyone with fever/cough/vomiting etc.

What is the protocol if you (or another nurse) show signs of infection?

Stay home until 72 hours, fever-free.

Do you have enough PPE?

We get one N-95 mask for the week.

What is the biggest change your day-to-day has faced because of COVID-19?

Wearing PPE for 12-hour shifts is uncomfortable. Isolating patients and trying to go into the rooms as least as possible when normally I love to check on my patients frequently!

Describe your hospital's atmosphere.

I work at a city hospital in an underprivileged area. It's really busy. Recently, parents have been more scared to bring kids in because of COVID exposure in the ER.

How do you feel about the national news coverage of COVID-19?

I feel that the national news really exaggerates things and creates extreme fear by overly covering one subject continuously. It's scary to hear about it 24/7.

What is one thing you wish you could tell the country about COVID-19?

COVID-19 is real and many people can get extremely ill even if they don't have pre-existing medical conditions!

How is your personal life impacted by COVID-19?

I live in a two-bedroom apartment with my husband and two kids. There was no way not to be near them after coming home from work. I had a newborn at the time and was really scared to expose her in case I got COVID at work. It was really stressful and difficult.

Are there any stories of hope that you can share with us?

As we learn more about a disease or virus, in this case, we get better at treating it and I think that's happening now!

What advice can you give us for staying as healthy as possible?

WASH YOUR HANDS!

What can citizens in your area do to help healthcare workers fight COVID-19?

Wear masks when going out and avoid unnecessary contact with people. Again, always wash your hands :)

From Your Site Articles

Dear Corona Virus... ›

The 5 Phases Of Finals

May the odds be ever in your favor.

Essex County, NJ

1511

Gurl.com

It’s here; that time of year when college students turn into preschoolers again. We cry for our mothers, eat everything in sight, and whine when we don’t get our way. It’s finals, the dreaded time of the semester when we all realize we should have been paying attention in class instead of literally doing anything else but that. Everyone has to take them, and yes, unfortunately, they are inevitable. But just because they are here and inevitable does not mean they’re peaches and cream and full of rainbows. Surviving them is a must, and the following five phases are a reality for all majors from business to art, nursing to history.

Keep Reading...Show less

finals

Student Life

How To Prepare For The Library: Finals Edition

10 ways to prepare for finals week—beginning with getting to the library.

University of Dayton

2886

How To Prepare For The Library: Finals Edition

Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash

It’s that time of year again when college students live at the library all week, cramming for tests that they should have started studying for last month. Preparing to spend all day at the library takes much consideration and planning. Use these tips to help get you through the week while spending an excessive amount of time in a building that no one wants to be in.

Keep Reading...Show less

library

Student Life

26 Things to Thank Our Roommates For

Who knows where we would be without them.

Michigan State University

1989

StableDiffusion

Where do we begin when we start talking about our roommates? You practically spend every moment with them, they become your second family and they deal with you at your best and at your absolute worst. They are there to make you laugh just a little harder, cry a little less and make each day a little better. We often forget to thank them for the little things that they do to make college even a tiny bit easier and more fun. This list of 26 things are what you should thank your roommates for right this minute and every day that you live with them.