Viveka Edwards

Professional Title: Emergency Registered Nurse

Class Years: 2008 and 2012

Majors: Journalism and Nursing

Location: Charlotte, N.C.

Medical Experience: 7.5 years

Please share your experience working with patients diagnosed with COVID-19

A lot of patients are just really scared when they come in with the positive COVID-19 diagnosis. Right now, strict visitation policies are in place everywhere making it almost impossible for patients to have visitors at the bedside especially in the emergency department. Just think of how scary it must be to be going through any of this by yourself? As an Emergency Department Nurse for that moment, I’m also their contact person and family member. I can see the fear and uncertainty in their eyes. I feel it’s my job to swallow my own fears and go above to help them in any way while relying on my own faith to give me strength. I feel my biggest job is to make sure I build a trusting relationship and educate the patients the whole way through. It has not been easy because we are still learning and finding out so much about this virus. What worked early on may not be the case now. Every patient is so different! It has been challenging to say the least. Throwing away your own nervousness to care for others efficiently!

What advice would you give to people during this pandemic?

Stay home!! Get creative in your home space but STAY HOME! It sounds so cliché at this point but it’s so true. I have heard of patients going over to friends’ houses because they were bored and a week later they are talking to me in the emergency department. Symptoms are not always noticeable and one thing we learn being in healthcare is that people can lie lol. A lot of people are not as honest about their symptoms because they are scared or even embarrassed that they will be looked at differently. Always be cautious! Do what you feel is necessary and go with that gut feeling or intuition we have all been given. Also, please, please, please be NICE and CONSIDERATE. We are all fighting a battle that is unfamiliar and stressful. Working together is a MUST! Check on your family, your friends and even your neighbors – whether it’s a text, phone call or FaceTime! Also, be patient with essential workers especially those in healthcare! We are doing the best we can with what is given!