Midland ICU nurse working in New York COVID hospital

28 Aug 2020

 Since arriving in the COVID epicentre, Stephanie has experienced the isolation of being confined to a hotel room since arriving in New York, as she cannot live in a shared house due to her constant contact with COVID patients.

During the recent Black Lives Matters protests she was completely surrounded by people marching as she walked to work from her hotel room.

Originally from the United States, Stephanie made Perth her home nearly three years ago and was recently granted permanent residency.

Stephanie said she really enjoys living in Perth and working at St John of God Midland Public and Private Hospitals.

“Before moving to Australia I was a “travel nurse” in the ICU specialty, which meant I worked in ICUs across America for three months at a time before moving on to the next hospital.

“It was a great way to gain experience both in the nursing profession and in life itself.”

With her entire extended family living in New York, it hit close to home for Stephanie when she heard how bad the city had been impacted by the pandemic. However, she felt her loyalty was to Australia and was focused on tackling the virus in Midland first and foremost.

She worked in the Midland ICU when it had two COVID patients on ventilators (including the first in Western Australia) in March and April 2019. It was only after Western Australia successfully got on top of its outbreak that she began thinking about the possibility of providing crisis help in the United States.

“It was heartbreaking to overhear people at work sharing horror stories about what they heard on the news was happening in America and the high death toll and then turn to me and ask me about my family in New York,” Stephanie said.

“Knowing there was nothing I could do was devastating, so I approached my manager and asked if I could take three months leave without pay to go and assist. The hospital’s management team was really supportive and just over a week later I was on a plane to New York.

“It has been an extraordinary experience having to work 12.5 hour shifts in full personal protection equipment and be in one of the worst hit areas. But I have no regrets going to New York to help people in need.

“The hospital itself is located in an area where people have a low social economic background and we have not always been able to get the equipment needed, so I have learned to be quite resourceful.

“I am looking forward to returning to beautiful Perth and my role at St John of God Midland Hospital.

“I would like to give a big thank you to my manager and the executive team for allowing me to take leave to do something that aligns so strongly with my values and to help our American brothers and sisters during their time of need.

“Basically this is what ICU nurses do every day, they assist people and save lives. The coronavirus pandemic has only brought to the attention of the general public the truth of what ICU nurses face each and every day … and with a smile on their faces.”