With the current state of the world and rise of the pandemic, we are not unaware of front liners such as health care workers etc. that work, round the clock, putting yourselves at risk, to fight the ravages of this pandemic, the increase in deaths, the effect of this on your mental health and families. We applaud your tenacity. For high risk affected countries like the states, Italy, China etc. We often wonder how it must feel like to live and work as a front liner in such countries. In this article, we decided to share the exclusive of a nurse living and working in New-York. We hope you find this as enlightening as we did.
As a healthcare professional living and practicing in what is now known as the peak of where coronavirus is, Regina comes on board Genevieve Magazine In an exclusive interview, hosted by Sonia Irabor, to describe her experiences working as a nurse in New-York at this time. Regina Askia-Williams is a Nigerian-born, American-based family nurse practitioner (FNP), healthcare and educational activist, television producer, writer, and public speaker, who found fame as an actress and model before relocating to New-York as a Family-Nurse practitioner.
We particularly found this as deep, authentic and definitely eye-opening and decided to share. Here are snippets from the Interview below:
Q: First things first, how are you?
Regina: I’m doing all right. As a healthcare professional, especially {One who has an asthmatic kid}, I worried so much about what I could possibly bring home.
Q: I’ve spoken to a few healthcare professionals who talked candidly about their experiences with patients in the wake of this virus. Do you mind sharing your own experience?
Regina: We are often in an enclosed space with {Sick} patients, who are coughing, [with] oxygen levels dropping. You turn them on their stomachs, you put them on a 100 percent non-rebreather. When that doesn’t work, you consult for ICU. With those who signed a DNI/DNR, you start a morphine drip and organize a {online video conferencing} Zoom meeting with the family, so they say their goodbyes. The Covid patient dies the loneliest death. No family, no loved ones by their side. You hold your patient’s hands and comfort them as they pass. Then you go to the bathroom and cry. The nurses are going to need therapy sessions to help with PTSD after this.
Q: How do you manage your own mental health in the midst of everything that’s going on?
Regina: First and Foremost, I pray. I commit myself, my day, my patients, my colleagues to God and to the blessing of the universe. In the face of all the confusion, in the face of high anxiety and fear, especially as some colleagues have died, my faith keeps me grounded. I trust that God is merciful and his will, will always be done. I don’t hold back tears anymore. I allow myself to cry, I let it out.
Each time I lose a patient, as I hold their hand, I say a prayer. I thank God for the gift they were to the world, I pray he comforts them with his peace. That helps me [too]. I have seen too many deaths and that bothers me. Soon as this is over, I will book a consult for therapy…
We commend Regina Askia-Williams for her bravery and for pouring her heart out in this authentic exclusive. Stay Safe Out there!
This Exclusive was first published on Genevieve, read full Interview Here
Photos: Genevieve, Regina Askia-Williams
Article by: Precious Akpan
