This monthly feature aims to put a human face on overseas Filipino healthcare workers. We ask them how they’re coping with the pandemic: what drives them, what their future plans are, and how they’re taking care of themselves.
Things are almost back to normal at one of the Post-Anesthesia Care Units (PACU) in Johns Hopkins Hospital where Filipino nurse Louella Bernales tends to neurosurgery, orthopedics, trauma, kidney transplant, and interventional radiology cases.
It’s a far cry from how things were back when the pandemic started. With OR (operating room) cases cancelled and only emergency cases being scheduled, “it was unusually very quiet in the PACU. We were used to having at least 30 to 40 patients a day,” she shares.
Strict protocols are still enforced in the unit these days, with everyone in the hospital required to wear face shields over their masks, and visitors not allowed. For emergent cases where surgery cannot wait for a Covid test, patients are considered PUI (patient under investigation) and treatment is carried out in a negative pressure room with everyone in full isolation gear.
With close to 40% of healthcare workers thinking of leaving the industry or moving to a less-demanding unit, we asked Louella if she has similar plans, having spent more than 15 years with the hospital since migrating from the Philippines.
“I really don’t have any plans of going to another unit—maybe to another hospital in another state. More nurses are needed because of Covid, and hospitals are offering sign-in bonuses and relocation allowance to make the offers more attractive. I am thinking of maybe going to California, but I’m in no rush,” she shares.
Self-care is the best care
As a busy healthcare worker who racks up more than 40 hours a week in a high-stress department, Louella considers how important self-care has become for her and is an extension of how she cares for her family.
“I can’t help but be anxious about a lot of things,” she shares. “This pandemic has changed a lot of our routines and separated us from our families and friends. I have little kids that depend on me, and I can’t afford to be sick and not be there for them, and so I’ve learned to take time to take care of myself.”
These days, self-care for Louella has taken the form of exploring the outdoors. “During my days off, we always look forward to going to new places to hike or bike.”
She has also switched to day shift and is taking steps to eat healthy. “I also try to have some quiet time daily for 10 minutes before going to work.” Part of caring for her mental health also means finding time to talk to friends regularly, albeit online. In fact, because of the pandemic, she has found time to reconnect with friends from her high school.
Wingspan has partnered with facilities in the US and UK to hire and deploy hundreds of nurses from the Philippines, many of whom continue to be part of the fight against COVID-19. To understand our services, contact solution@wingspan-consulting.com.