At Paragon, we are honored to be a part of the Infusion Nurses Society (INS). This organization is an international nonprofit that represents infusion nurses and other clinicians who are engaged in the specialty practice of infusion therapy. Recently, one of our Clinical Liaisons, Chari Serra, was featured in an article published by INS titled Lived Experiences During COVID-19.

INS applauds the sacrifice of healthcare staff with the following statement, “Nurses in the United States and around the world have answered the call to care for patients infected with COVID-19 in every imaginable setting, including hospitals, home care, outpatient clinics, long-term care facilities, and testing sites. All nursing roles, including direct care staff, managers, nurse educators, and researchers, make a difference in the lives of patients, healthcare colleagues, and in the community. INS is honored to recognize your contributions, as well as your personal and professional experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thank you for your courage, compassion, dedication, and all you do each day!”

Read about Chari’s experience in the healthcare industry during COVID-19 below.

“Who would have thought that we would be experiencing a pandemic of this magnitude in our lifetime? 2020 is the Year of the Nurse. Why do we need a devastating event to be recognized? So many questions and each of our experiences are unique, but we all have one thing in common: We are all committed to our patients. Everyone is unique and so are nurses. Our experiences, great or small, are equally important. There has been so much focus on nurses at the frontline, ER, ICU, and/or the COVID-19 ward. Nurses working in home infusion are important as well.

 

I went through a phase during this pandemic where I have questioned myself. Am I doing enough? Am I as essential as other nurses? I answered myself, “YES!” All nurses are important and essential. We are taking care of a wide variety of patients and not everyone is COVID- 19 positive. Because we provide home infusion therapy, we help open bed space at the hospital, helping to avoid bottleneck situations. Patients that may have to stay in the hospital to receive IV antibiotics, TPN, inotropes, or other infusion services can now receive treatment in the comfort of their home. Our service is more important now than ever because it allows hospitals to allocate beds to patients that require a higher level of care.

 

My heart goes out not just to our patients, but to their families, as well. Patients feel so isolated and their families are at a loss. Families are so hungry for information on what is happening to their loved ones. It is so rewarding to know that a family considers us their lifeline. We provide information and prepare them for discharge to home. As a clinical liaison, I am part of a patient’s discharge process, providing them with clinical education about their prescribed home infusion therapy prior to leaving the hospital. During this pandemic, we must be creative with ways to educate our patients and families. We have implemented virtual education via Zoom, FaceTime, WhatsApp, and other tools. Even with virtual teaching, I must personalize my approach because not all patients and families are tech-savvy, or feel comfortable using technology. One thing is certain, whether we use bedside or virtual education, patients know that we genuinely care. The patients and families appreciate nurses for caring.

 

To all NURSES – take the accolades, be the HEROES that everyone feels we are. Remain humble, caring, and most of all SAFE!"

Since 1973, INS has continued its commitment to bringing innovative resources and learning opportunities to the wide range of health care professionals involved in the specialty practice of infusion therapy. We are dedicated to advancing the delivery of quality infusion therapy to patients, enhancing the specialty through stringent standards of practice and professional ethics, and promoting research and education in the infusion nursing practice.

Membership is open to nurses and health care professionals from all practice settings who are involved in or interested in the specialty practice of infusion therapy. Through conferences, online learning, scientific publications, educational solutions, scholarship, and more, INS provides the resources you need to navigate the rapid technological advances and dramatic shifts in health care delivery.

Read the Original Article on the INS website at https://www.ins1.org/lived-experiences-during-covid-19/.

For more information about INS, visit https://www.ins1.org/.