Doctors and nurses in the ICU are approaching two full years of pandemic pressure. But public support for frontline workers has taken a back seat. "We're here to help, but we also need you to help. We also need the public to help," said Haleigh Seizys, an ICU nurse at Nebraska Medicine. As the pandemic rolls into a third year, that help can be as simple as sending donuts."You feed my nurses and they'll be happy," said Kim Olson, an ICU charge nurse at Bergan Mercy in Omaha, Nebraska.But ICU nurses say you can make the biggest difference by taking precautions to mitigate hospitalizations."For the past two years, our world has honestly been turned upside down," said Olson. But the days of banging pots and pans to thank our health care heroes are bygone, while the virus is as vicious as ever. "I can't speak to my patients, because they're struggling so much. I've had way more experience with death in two years, than I ever thought I would in a lifetime," said Seizys, who feels public support for doctors and nurses has plateaued. "I wish that people could understand the exhaustion of just the overworked staff."Some people do, especially those who have witnessed the crush of COVID-19 first-hand. "We have had phenomenal care," said Amy Crosby. Her 1-year-old has Down syndrome and is hospitalized with COVID-19 right now. "I don't think some of the health care people take credit for all that they do for the families."As a nurse herself, Crosby appreciates how health care workers put on a brave face for patients and frightened families."I feel like they've just been my good friends or my girlfriends through this whole process," said Crosby.Patients, like family members, recognize what their nurses are going through. Marvin Brinkman was in the ICU at Bergan Mercy last month."The ICU stay really showed me the pressure that a lot of the nurses and doctors were under," said Brinkman, who had brain surgery and said there were COVID patients in the unit.Some fear those pressures of the pandemic could cause mistakes in high-stakes environments. "I think that that's always a concern," said Brinkman. "I could tell that they were stretched thin."Those on the front lines say advertising our appreciation is more important than ever, as health care workers leave the profession in droves."We need those very skilled nurses taking care of us, otherwise we're going to be regretting it," said Brinkman.For nurses, the exhaustion they’re experiencing right now is unprecedented. It is spurred in part by mandatory overtime."Every day continues to get harder," said Olson. As cases rise, support seems to be slipping away. “From an ICU standpoint, we're drowning, emotionally and physically."Even so, they continue to show up, shift after shift. "You don't lose the passion for nursing," said Olson. They say a simple 'thank you' can sustain them during their darkest days."We have seen the most amazing support from both patients, families and friends."
Doctors and nurses in the ICU are approaching two full years of pandemic pressure. But public support for frontline workers has taken a back seat.
"We're here to help, but we also need you to help. We also need the public to help," said Haleigh Seizys, an ICU nurse at Nebraska Medicine.
As the pandemic rolls into a third year, that help can be as simple as sending donuts.
"You feed my nurses and they'll be happy," said Kim Olson, an ICU charge nurse at Bergan Mercy in Omaha, Nebraska.
But ICU nurses say you can make the biggest difference by taking precautions to mitigate hospitalizations.
"For the past two years, our world has honestly been turned upside down," said Olson.
But the days of banging pots and pans to thank our health care heroes are bygone, while the virus is as vicious as ever.
"I can't speak to my patients, because they're struggling so much. I've had way more experience with death in two years, than I ever thought I would in a lifetime," said Seizys, who feels public support for doctors and nurses has plateaued. "I wish that people could understand the exhaustion of just the overworked staff."
Some people do, especially those who have witnessed the crush of COVID-19 first-hand.
"We have had phenomenal care," said Amy Crosby. Her 1-year-old has Down syndrome and is hospitalized with COVID-19 right now. "I don't think some of the health care people take credit for all that they do for the families."
As a nurse herself, Crosby appreciates how health care workers put on a brave face for patients and frightened families.
"I feel like they've just been my good friends or my girlfriends through this whole process," said Crosby.
Patients, like family members, recognize what their nurses are going through. Marvin Brinkman was in the ICU at Bergan Mercy last month.
"The ICU stay really showed me the pressure that a lot of the nurses and doctors were under," said Brinkman, who had brain surgery and said there were COVID patients in the unit.
Some fear those pressures of the pandemic could cause mistakes in high-stakes environments.
"I think that that's always a concern," said Brinkman. "I could tell that they were stretched thin."
Those on the front lines say advertising our appreciation is more important than ever, as health care workers leave the profession in droves.
"We need those very skilled nurses taking care of us, otherwise we're going to be regretting it," said Brinkman.
For nurses, the exhaustion they’re experiencing right now is unprecedented. It is spurred in part by mandatory overtime.
"Every day continues to get harder," said Olson. As cases rise, support seems to be slipping away. “From an ICU standpoint, we're drowning, emotionally and physically."
Even so, they continue to show up, shift after shift.
"You don't lose the passion for nursing," said Olson.
They say a simple 'thank you' can sustain them during their darkest days.
"We have seen the most amazing support from both patients, families and friends."
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