LANGLEY, British Columbia – We asked former Trinity Western Spartans women's basketball all-star guard
Jessie Brown ('19), who is currently working at Langley Memorial and Abbotsford Regional Hospital, a number of questions on what life is like as a nurse during the COVID-19 pandemic.
How are you personally coping with all of this?
"Even before COVID-19, nursing has been known to be a very stressful career. Every day nurses put their safety at risk performing tasks such as entering rooms of TB positive patients, drawing blood and giving injections to patients with HIV and providing care to patients who are verbally and physically abusive. We do it because we want to care for other people's loved ones and make a positive difference in this world.
"However, choosing this willingly as our profession does not mean that it doesn't affect us. For me personally, I coped with the stresses of my job by spending time with friends and family, going to the gym, playing slo-pitch, or even going to a restaurant for a nice dinner. So, now that we are practicing social distancing, I am finding it difficult to sometimes "de-stress". It also doesn't help when you get home from work and all you see on the TV or your social media is COVID-19."
What keeps you awake at night?
"I mostly worry about my parents and making sure they stay healthy. FaceTime will have to do for now, but I can't wait till I can give them a hug again!"
What would you like to say to people who are not on the front line?
"It has been so encouraging to have our community do things like send us meals and make us signs at the hospital thanking us. My favorite part of my shift is watching the first responders flash their sirens in support of all the health care staff. Any advice I would give to others not on the front line is that as important as it is for hospital staff to go to work, it is equally as important for others to stay home and do their best to self-isolate. We all have an important part in this!
Often nurses are taught how to prepare for the worst case. What preparation did you have for what you are now dealing with?
"Because Covid-19 is new and unfamiliar, it requires nurses and all health care professionals to be adaptable. It can be challenging if you have four days off and when you come back to work procedures are now different than what you were told the week prior."
What have you been seeing in the ER and the hospitals over the last few weeks?
"I have heard that it has been quite slow. I believe this is because people don't want to risk being exposed unless it is an absolute emergency. Also, due to the recommendation of isolation I am sure incidents like motor vehicle accident related injuries and sports injuries have decreased substantially, decreasing the strain on the emergency room."
Do you have enough equipment and how are you managing your protection?
"As of right now, we are being told that masks are on back order and we have a limited supply so we are instructed to wear one mask and one pair of eyewear for an entire 12 hour shift. My health authority has informed us that they are working to find alternative brands of masks and respirators and they are reviewing personal protective equipment that has been donated to make sure that it is meeting the standards set and is safe to use."
Jessie Brown played for the Spartans from 2014-2019, finishing her career with 1,333 regular season points. She finished her career first in Canada West in career 3-point field goals made per game (2.720), second in 3-point field goals made (272), and tied for first in 3-point shots made in a game (nine).
Career Rankings – TWU
3-point field goals made: 1st – 280
3-point field goals attempted: 1st – 752
Three point field goal percentage: 1st – .372
Games played: 2nd – 108
Total points: 2nd – 1399
Scoring Average: 2nd – 13.00 pts/gm
Field Goals Made: 3rd – 461
Field Goals Attempted: 2nd – 1263
About Spartan Athletics
As official members of U SPORTS, the Spartans currently compete in 11 sports in the Canada West conference, including women's and men's soccer, volleyball, basketball, cross country and track & field, as well as women's rugby sevens. TWU also competes in the British Columbia Intercollegiate Hockey League (BCIHL) in men's hockey and as an independent team in men's rugby. The men's and women's hockey programs will begin playing in Canada West and U SPORTS in 2020-21. Since TWU entered U SPORTS in 1999, the Spartans have won 12 U SPORTS team championships and 27 Canada West team championships and two BCIHL championships.
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