Through the eyes of our nurses
We are grateful for all who love and serve during this season of COVID-19. Our blog this week includes reflections from some of the nurses in our Lord of Life community, including Kathy Calihan, Cindy Clay, Susan Clem, Katie Herdzik, Stephanie Keane, Marlene Kirkpatrick, and Becky Mastalerz.
You are encouraged to share this blog on your social media so that people can hear how faith has helped front line workers endure. Send our nurses a word of encouragement: post or comment using the hashtag, #LordofLifeNurses. Let's show them some love!
I have spent most of my nursing career in Pediatric Oncology, with the transition into Care Management for this specialty in the fall. As you can imagine, this is a very difficult field emotionally and mentally, with my faith being frequently tested and challenged. I have to put my trust in God and his plan. I also cling to the success stories and the kids and adults who have gone on to live great lives and are doing well post-treatment.
Sunday services at Lord of Life have always left me feeling rejuvenated and ready to take on the next week. I especially like to light candles for those who have passed on or are very ill. It is one of the things I miss the most right now from church.
Our church has made me feel supported during this difficult time. Some things have been small, such as a handwritten card or mentioning of healthcare staff during service. The biggest impact has been connecting with some of the nurses from LOL through a group chat. Through this, we have been able to talk and express feelings, frustrations, and offer supportive encouragement and words of wisdom, as we all have different nursing backgrounds and experiences. As a new member, it is nice to meet (virtually) with new people and feel more connected to the church. I am looking forward to meeting these wonderful women in person someday.
The support of Lord of Life during this pandemic has been incredible. When the COVID-19 pandemic really started to become severe, I received a text from Pastor Lowell telling us that my mom and I, along with all healthcare workers, were in his prayers and to stay safe.
When I returned from vacation in mid-March, it was to the news that my unit at work was going to be part of the COVID-19 ICU. Policies and guidelines were rapidly changing in order to provide the safest care and to keep patients and staff safe, including guidelines that patient families were unable to visit except in extreme situations.
I kept thinking of Psalm 23: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” God has been with me and guiding me. I have been able to provide comfort and support to patients and their families who are suffering loss. I recall a family member of a patient telling me, “You and your coworkers are in our prayers. Thank you so much for caring for my loved one.”
I have been very grateful for the Facebook Live services and social media, which allow me to participate in services despite working. I was also able to share Easter Sunday services with a friend who would not have been able to participate otherwise.
The cards, calls, and texts from Lord of Life have meant the world to me and helped me know that I have the support of the church and faith behind me, while going to work during one of the hardest times I’ve ever experienced. I cannot express how grateful I am for this support.
Having been a nurse in hospice, ICU, ER, and home care for the last 45 years, I have relied on my faith in God to carry me through the hard times. This has been true in times of death, birth, sickness, and things that happen that are just not fair.
Lord of Life has been a place I can and have gone to in community to find the Spirit of God, as we each walk our daily lives as Christians. The support and fellowship experienced here are where our batteries are recharged for yet another day of life, being affirmed that life can be hard, but also being affirmed that God is so very good. Community is so important to my life. Through it, I am able to continue my walk with God and to also support others while still here to carry out our mission together.
As nurses, we need a strong faith to let God's love shine through us in all that we do, so those who are in need may feel the loving Spirit, hear His voice, and be receptive to our comfort measures. I feel that nursing is not a job, but a calling. My faith always keeps me strong. Praying and reading the Scriptures helps keep my faith grounded. As nurses, we tend to run on empty and need our faith refueled and restored. The loving support of the people at Lord of Life does this for us, so we can live, share, and celebrate with all people, God's love in Jesus Christ while caring for others.
I received a picture of the Army tents outside our hospital while I was on vacation, showing that our unit was now the COVID unit, followed by a phone call from our chief nurse telling me to return from vacation immediately. I knew this was going to be something like we have never experienced before. If it wasn’t for my faith in Jesus, I would not be able to step through the doors of our COVID unit. Knowing that he protects us is what gives me strength.
One of the hardest things during this COVID crisis is being with a patient who is dying without family at the bedside and they say their last goodbyes over the phone. It is truly heart-wrenching. The patient’s wife called later and thanked us for being with him and reminded the nursing staff that this was not goodbye, it was “I will see you later.”
I also want to thank everyone for making it possible to watch services online. It has been wonderful. They are even being watched on breaks during the night with other medical staff. This has reminded all of us we are in this together. The plastic headbands to keep the face mask elastic off the back of the ears are great, too.
I’ve been an RN since 1988, and at that time, mostly practicing in the area of outpatient surgery. After some time away, I accepted a position in psychiatric nursing, only expecting to work in that area until I found another position in surgery. However, I believe God had other plans for me. I have now been working in behavioral medicine for nearly eight years and love it! I can’t imagine working anywhere else. I feel God’s presence every day I’m at work, guiding me to say just the right thing or encouraging my patients and their families, especially on the busy days when there is one admission after another. It’s then, that God says to slow down and truly listen. It’s usually those times when I realize He has me right where he needs me, to hold a hand or offer sincere encouragement that things will get better.
Lord of Life has given me the opportunity to help start a monthly support group at church, called HOPE, that supports and encourages families and friends of those who suffer with mental health issues. I feel blessed and supported at LOL and hope to pass those blessings on to my patients and coworkers in any way that God needs me.
As I am nearing retirement age, people always ask me when am I retiring. I tell them when I don’t have the strength to get out of bed. I love being a nurse, but in recent weeks my strength seems to be fading. Not my physical strength, but my mental strength. I have left the hospital so mentally drained that I go home and fall into bed and do not even eat.
It has been good to connect with other nurses in the church through a group text. I can, and have, texted this group at all hours of the day and they have given me encouraging words to give me the strength to go to work the next day.
I was reading my Bible the other day and I just randomly opened it to Isaiah and read these words: “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.” Why this passage and at this time? I think the good Lord was reaching out to me to carry on.