According to Fishman, all of the patients in her unit currently have COVID-19.
(Fishman is speaking from her personal experience and perspective.
She is not speaking on behalf of her workplace.)
Getty / The Good Brigade; Designed by Morgan Johnson
Her answers have been edited and condensed for clarity.
SELF: Why did you choose to become a nurse?
Ive been a nurse for about five years.
How has COVID-19 changed your job?
The job of a nurse manager is all-encompassing.
I wear many, many hats: nurse, leader, mom, detective, friend.
I do whatever needs to be done to help my unit.
Im still trying to ensure the safety of my amazing staff, my patients, and their families.
Caring for our patients in all circumstances is what were made for.
Something I could have never imagined was having no visitors in the hospital.
As a nurse manager, you meet and get to know patients and their families while theyre hospitalized.
Patients sometimes get scared having minimal contact with theirfriends and families.
Family members are terrified and cannot be with their loved ones while they are most vulnerable.
How else has your unit used technology to help your patients communicate with loved ones?
You must put yourself in their shoes.
How are you keeping your unit functioning?
It brings tears to my eyes when I think about the incredible teamwork on my unit.
Before COVID-19, we always took pride in our culture of teamwork and respect.
The day my unit was approached to become a COVID-19 unit, my team didnt even bat an eyelash.
We knew we were meant for this.
Its all hands on deck here now.
It gave me goosebumps.
I take a stab at remind my nurses that we have to take each situation as it comes.
Weve all been there for each other in a way that we never thought we would need to be.
Laughing, dancing, and crying togetherwhatever we need to do to get through the shift.
How are you adapting to these changes?
All of the patients on my unit are confirmed COVID-19 patients at this time.
These patients arent like regular medicine patients.
Most are very sick, and within minutes their condition can change from stable to critical.
As their acuity goes up, it stresses us out.
I manage the same way I always have: remaining calm and coming up with a solution.
Today, and most days since this began, Im exhausted physically, emotionally, and mentally.
I think we all are.
Sometimes I break down.
Little things trigger me at night after a stressful day.
I go for a run every day when I get home.
Getting some fresh air has helped.
What are your biggest concerns for your health?
It breaks my heart knowing that nurses are losing their lives to the virus.
We lost one of our nurses in the hospital to COVID-19, so this hits home.
I change my clothes and shoes before leaving work.
Once I get home, I throw my scrubsdirectly into the wash on hotand go straight into the shower.
The whole process adds about another 20 minutes to my day.
Its annoying but very necessary.
How do you feel about the misinformation youre seeing circulate about COVID-19?
just listen to what everyones saying.Stay home.
People can then hopefully stay out of the hospital.
If you dont have to go out, like dont.
How are you staying positive through all of this?
My team keeps me positive and hopeful.
We count every single discharge that we have.
We line up and clap, sing, and dance as each patient is wheeled out the door.
Our community has been amazing.
From food donations to cards and signs, we truly feel the love and support.
I and all of the hospital employees have been so appreciative of the meals weve been receiving.
It brought tears to my eyes and gave me that extra motivation to get through another day.
