Celebrating National Nursing Week 2021: MGH nurses who ‘answer the call’

Nursing Week is an opportunity to showcase the diverse skills, specialized knowledge and clinical acumen of nurses who work in varied positions across the profession. At Michael Garron Hospital (MGH), one of the goals of Nursing Week is to highlight the important role nurses play in the health and wellbeing of patients, families and the public. These stories offer a glimpse into the varied skills and contributions of two nurses who have truly risen to “Answer the Call” during the pandemic.

Michelle Vanderlans, Registered Practical Nurse, Operating Room

Through the COVID-19 crisis some nurses have had to changed their scope of practice to better support the urgent needs of the organization and most pressing needs of patients. For Michelle, an 8-year veteran in the operating room (OR), cancelling elective surgeries meant she would be redeployed to another area of the hospital. During the first wave, Michelle worked in the intensive care unit (ICU) and during the third wave was moved to the Patient Experience department. 

At times, Michelle found the experience of being redeployed stressful and fraught with anxiety. Working as an OR nurse meant that Michelle developed very specialized clinical skills. While both areas that she was redeployed to were welcoming and supportive, learning new skills in an unfamiliar environment with a new team made certain situations “terrifying”.  The ICU secondment was particularly challenging and stretched Michelle to work beyond her scope of practice. 

Fast forward to wave three and Michelle is now supporting virtual visits between patients and their families. Although Michelle is very used to interacting with patients, she confesses that these connections are limited in the OR. Usually, the only time her patients are awake is during the important safety check that takes place immediately before the surgery begins. In contrast, virtual visits are all about making connections. 

In this redeployment role, Michelle has developed rapport and relationships with patients and their families. She has found the interactions to be incredibly rewarding: “I love to see the joy on the patient and family members’ faces. I see patients who are subdued literally perk up when they see or hear their loved ones over Zoom.”   

While some patients are able to have in-person visitors during the week, Michelle spends most of her time with the patients who are unable to have any visitors. “Talking to the same families everyday builds a bond and it feels good to know that I am doing something that helps to promote peace of mind when they are able to connect in a meaningful way.” 

When surgeries ramp up again and Michelle’s skills are needed back in the OR, she will incorporate many of her redeployment learnings into her practice. Even in the short period of time it takes to check the patient in to the OR, she now sees how important it is to pause and connect with the patient as a person, to help ease anxiety and make them feel like the focus. 

Thank you Michelle for “answering the call”.

Kiel Ferguson, Registered Nurse, Intensive Critical Unit

Kiel Ferguson recently joined the ICU when the pandemic began last year. He has a passion for educating the public on what nurses really do and uses his voice to educate others about important health information. During this unprecedented time, MGH is fortunate to have a nurse who is actively stepping up to share his story of what COVID-19 looks like on the ‘front lines’. 

Kiel has a passion for ensuring that everyone in our community understands the real impact of COVID-19 on the people who require ICU care.  Public misconceptions of COVID-19 prompted him to make a video for his friends and followers explaining the raw realities of suffering from this illness. 

Kiel knows all too well the heart wrenching reality of watching people gasping for breath and knowing that they will soon need to be intubated. When caring for these patients, Kiel explains what will happen and gives them an opportunity to call their family one last time before the breathing tube is placed. Sometimes, the ability to talk is too diminished by the struggle to breathe, so Kiel passes on the message that he knows the patient wants to convey – love and gratitude to those they care deeply about. Kiel always hopes they will be able to talk again but sadly for many patients, this will not happen.

When the pandemic is over, Kiel would love all nurses to continue to answer the call by using their voice and expertise to tell their stories and educate the public about the vital role of nursing.  

Thank you Kiel for “answering the call”.