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State officials say this is a critical time in the coronavirus outbreak, with hospitals in the region at or near capacity with the influx of COVID-19 patients.
This week, four Mayo Clinic staff who have worked with patients with COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic, spoke about their experiences on a call with reporters.
Here are a few snippets of what they shared.
Amy Spitzner: ‘It’s definitely the worst it’s been for us right now’
Amy Spitzner, Mayo Clinic Intensive Care Nurse.
Courtesy of Mayo Clinic
Amy Spitzner is a registered nurse in the COVID-19 intensive care unit at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. She describes her shifts as 12 hours of caring for an almost overwhelming number of critically ill patients.
Nurse Mayo ICU Amy Spitzner
“It’s definitely the worst it’s been for us at the moment. It’s a time I’ve never experienced before in my life, where you step out of a room and the next patient is essential. The sickest you have ever seen in your life.
“We can have them with as much support as possible, and we can still see their bodies give way. It’s horrible to see, because we do absolutely everything we can, and even though all of our medicine, support, everything we can do – their bodies keep on giving in and they die in front of us, without their families. And we are their only physical contact when they leave this world. It’s really hard to watch.
Desirae Cogswell: ‘We see the ugly side of this virus’
Respiratory Therapist Mayo Clinic Desirae Cogswell
Courtesy of Mayo Clinic
Desirae Cogswell is a respiratory therapist at Rochester Intensive Care Unit in Mayo.
“I have heard people regard this as a hoax. I can tell you from my perspective, which is not a good side of this virus, that it is not, it is real, it is here, and we have a choice to make, if we are going to be part of the problem or prevention. “
“It almost sounds like a personal blow, just because we see the ugly side of this virus. And I’m thankful that few people see the side we see. “
“I think everyone is overwhelmed at this point. We try to take care of ourselves and our colleagues as best we can, but it’s overwhelming. There are a lot of things that we see that aren’t. not easy to manage and just the surge in COVID cases and the number of patients we are seeing are overwhelming, and we are doing our best to keep pace. “
Traci Kokke: ‘They don’t understand, and it’s so difficult’
Traci Kokke is an infectious disease nurse at the Mayo Clinic hospital in LaCrosse, Wisconsin.
Infectious Disease Nurse Traci Kokke.
Courtesy of Mayo Clinic
“We don’t want to bring the emotions home, or the virus home. But it’s really important that we’re here for each other and able to maintain our sanity.”
“Explaining to my 6 year old why I can’t do tricks or treats, why we only have Thanksgiving with us and why we need to be away from the rest of the family now, just trying to help her figure it out these things is sometimes really heartbreaking because they don’t understand and therefore it’s difficult. And reassure them that it will end even if you are not sure, reassure you and fight this battle every day, because we are going and we let’s do it again tomorrow. “
Andrew Torres: ‘We are fighting an uphill battle’
Andrew Torres is a paramedic with the Mayo Ambulance Service.
Andrew Torres, Paramedic with Mayo Ambulance.
Courtesy of Mayo Clinic
“I think the hardest thing is to feel like we’re fighting an uphill battle against people who aren’t wearing the proper precautions. Every day that we take care of someone, I think about how many more get infected because someone is not wearing a mask. or take appropriate social distancing. “
“At work, I have all the protections that the Mayo Clinic offers. I have gloves, I have gowns, I have a large number of masks. But sometimes when I go to the grocery store, I feel more naked than at work. “
“(I feel) great gratitude to be here for people at what could be one of the worst times of their lives during a pandemic like this. What has changed in how I feel about my life. work, it’s not only that we are here for you, but we are there for us too as healthcare workers. “
The data in these charts is based on cumulative totals from the Minnesota Department of Health released at 11 a.m. daily. You can find more detailed statistics on COVID-19 at Department of Health website.
The coronavirus is spread through respiratory droplets, coughs and sneezes, in the same way the flu can be spread.
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