I'm Out... (Cue Mic Drop)

I work in the state ranked lowest in U.S. vaccination rates. As the delta variant fuels new COVID-19 cases, I find myself asking "Can I go through this again?" Nurses COVID Article

Updated:  

In my home state of Alabama, only 33% of residents are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.  The state's healthcare workers are feeling a punch to the gut as new coronavirus cases have climbed 574% over a short period of time.  Fueled by the delta variant, the state's hospitalization rate has tripled in a few short weeks.  I echo the words of many in the medical community by saying "I don't know if I can do this again".

Universally Affected

I work in a hospital, but not on a unit that provides direct care to COVID-19 positive patients. Earlier in the pandemic, I felt guilty whenever burn out began to creep in.  I often thought "Shouldn't burn out be reserved for those caring for COVID patients day after day?”  Today, Alabama's new daily case rate mimics the same numbers as 12 months ago.  And, I now realize everyone working in healthcare has been affected both personally and professionally by coronavirus.  What led up to my own professional mic drop moment?

  • Caring for patients with devastating long hauler syndrome
  • Maintaining a high standard of care without adequate staffing, supplies and other resources
  • Working routine overtime because of your own personal responsibility to support your peers
  • Facing the words "there is no one", "you'll have to make do" and "you have no choice" when asking the house supervisor for additional help
  • No pay increase in the past 18 months
  • Hope that disappears when large numbers of new hires resign within the first 4 weeks
  • Frequent floating with high nurse patient ratios
  • Alarming number of rapid response calls and code blues

Nurses are only  part of an exhausted healthcare community.  We are joined by food and environmental services, respiratory therapists, pharmacists, physicians, nursing assistants, patient services... and the list goes on.

Public Pleas

A string of public pleas have been issued throughout the state, imploring the unvaccinated to seek vaccination.  The frustration is almost palpable in each plea.

Governor's Harsh Words

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey had harsh words for the state's unvaccinated, stating "these folks are choosing a horrible lifestyle of self-inflicted pain".  Ivey went on to blame the state's unvaccinated population for the rising coronavirus cases.

Quote

"But it's time to start blaming the unvaccinated folks, not the regular folks.  It's the unvaccinated folks that are letting us down”- Governor Kay Ivey

Alabama received billions in relief funds as part of the stimulus package passed the year.  However, the state is not using the federal relief for incentive programs like scholarships and lotteries.  According to the National Governors Association, Alabama is offering a few small incentives: 

  • The Talladega Superspeedway is offering the opportunity to drive 2 laps behind a pace car for being tested and/or vaccinated.
  • The Alabama Department of Public Health is sponsoring a TikTok contest to encourage vaccination before the start of the new school year.  Four winners will be selected and each will receive a $250 Visa gift card.

Doctor's Emotional Plea

Dr. Brytney Cobia, a hospitalist at Grandview Medical Center in Birmingham, Alabama, posted an emotional plea for vaccination on facebook that has made news across the U.S.  Cobia wrote the post after caring for young healthy patients with very serious COVID infections. She describes patients begging for the vaccine right before they are intubated.  She writes, "I hold their hand and tell them that I'm sorry, but it's too late".  You can read Dr. Cobia's full post here.

Tuskegee Tragedy Lingers

Many Black Alabamians have a deep seeded mistrust of the medical community stemming from the Study of Untreated Syphilis in the Negro Male. In 1932, the U.S. Public Health Service recruited hundreds of rural Black men to participate in a syphilis study, but never explained that the study was designed to withhold medical treatment.  Study participants were not injected with syphilis, but those who had it were not treated, even when penicillin was available.  The suffering caused by the unethical study still echoes today, despite federal laws that prohibit this from occurring again.  This tragedy contributes to vaccination hesitancy within the state.

Mounting Personal Toll

I'm not alone in questioning my ability to withstand another COVID-19 surge in my current nursing position.  Healthcare workers are experiencing burn-out in high numbers and reporting significant psychological distress. Many are responding to the stress and trauma by misusing alcohol and other substances.  It's time for professional organizations and the healthcare industry to do more to support workers moving forward. 

What About You?

Are you considering a mic-drop departure from your workplace?  What do you need to reverse your burn-out?

References

In Tuskegee, Painful History Shadows Efforts To Vaccinate African Americans

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59 minutes ago, Honyebee said:

That's better than zero. 

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"With up to 6 months of follow-up and despite a gradually declining trend in vaccine efficacy, BNT162b2 had a favorable safety profile and was highly efficacious in preventing COVID-19." 

That's from the OP's source. "Preventing?" I'm not sure about that even though I'm a provaccine. That's the word that shouldn't be used because people dislike uncertainty during this critical time.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.
51 minutes ago, Honyebee said:

That's from the OP's source. "Preventing?" I'm not sure about that even though I'm a provaccine. That's the word that shouldn't be used because people dislike uncertainty during this critical time.

What is the basis of your beef with the word "preventing"? Do you believe that the vaccines are not effective in preventing disease?

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Specializes in Customer service.
19 minutes ago, toomuchbaloney said:

What is the basis of your beef with the word "preventing"? Do you believe that the vaccines are not effective in preventing disease?

Anecdotal evidence that people who refuse to be vaccinated for many reasons. One of these is  because their so and so got sick from the covid vaccines; therefore, these didn't "prevent" them from contracting the COVID-19. In their mind, it's a lie. Well, I won't stress anything about the process of building up an immunity. People are scared whether they're vaccinated or not. 

For me, I don't have a problem with the vaccines because I understand a little bit of science long before I became a part of the nursing community.

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Specializes in Retired.
15 hours ago, capitalsfan83 said:

I'm not at all surprised that half of our population doesn't want to be vaccinated. They simply don't trust our government and medical establishment. I remember when COVID vaccines were first developed our current Vice President said that she would never take it because they were developed under Trumps watch. Multiple left wing outlets repeated the same thing. Our so called medical experts seem to be advocating for constantly changing science from saying "no you don't need masks" to "you must wear masks" to "two masks are better than 1 mask".  We went from "14 days to flatten the curve" to lockdowns for almost a year.  Is it any wonder that people don't want to be vaccinated after all these lies?

The very nature of science dictates that change is a constant.  It's been exciting to be alive at a me when discoveries are happening at breakneck speed.  I don't think that having so many scientists devoted to a single mission has happened since Sputnik. I know of no lockdown that has gone on for almost a year.  What place is this?  Is it on earth?   I'm sorry that people are too dumb to comprehend that not much goes smoothly during a pandemic.  You expect new discoveries to roll out in easy to digest little segments that give you the instant access to the question you want an answer for right now? That might control the heightened anxiety levels people are experiencing but, unfortunately, it doesn't work that way. But any idiot can read that vaccines are a huge success and the any minor side effect is meaningless compared to the side effects from Covid. 

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.
16 hours ago, capitalsfan83 said:

I'm not at all surprised that half of our population doesn't want to be vaccinated. They simply don't trust our government and medical establishment. I remember when COVID vaccines were first developed our current Vice President said that she would never take it because they were developed under Trumps watch. Multiple left wing outlets repeated the same thing. Our so called medical experts seem to be advocating for constantly changing science from saying "no you don't need masks" to "you must wear masks" to "two masks are better than 1 mask".  We went from "14 days to flatten the curve" to lockdowns for almost a year.  Is it any wonder that people don't want to be vaccinated after all these lies?

Are you lying or gullible? That's not what the VP said. 

Are you telling us that you don't understand how science works or why the experts might keep learning new things about a novel virus or are you telling us that you've never had to adjust standards or expectations after you discover that the people in charge of an important project are incompetent, completely unprepared and led by a habitual liar? Trump lied to you every day about covid.  I'm not talking about comments from a medical expert that you don't understand and so assume they are lies and inconsistencies...no, I'm talking about bold and dangerous lies (and malfeasance) that resulted in 600 thousand American deaths.  

Dying in a Leadership Vacuum

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The response of our nation’s leaders has been consistently inadequate. The federal government has largely abandoned disease control to the states. Governors have varied in their responses, not so much by party as by competence. But whatever their competence, governors do not have the tools that Washington controls. Instead of using those tools, the federal government has undermined them. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which was the world’s leading disease response organization, has been eviscerated and has suffered dramatic testing and policy failures. The National Institutes of Health have played a key role in vaccine development but have been excluded from much crucial government decision making. And the Food and Drug Administration has been shamefully politicized,3 appearing to respond to pressure from the administration rather than scientific evidence. Our current leaders have undercut trust in science and in government,4 causing damage that will certainly outlast them. Instead of relying on expertise, the administration has turned to uninformed “opinion leaders” and charlatans who obscure the truth and facilitate the promulgation of outright lies.

Wrap your reading comprehension around that. 

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Specializes in ER.

Travel nurse! That's what I did!  I cannot stand my current area of CA and their anti vax bs. Come to sunny CA and get some $$$.  Anywhere in Los Angeles county is good. If you miss the anti vax stuff a little, come down my way in OC, everyone has it.

See you soon:}

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Specializes in Trauma ED.
On 8/14/2021 at 1:30 PM, Honyebee said:

That's better than zero. 

That's correct....better than zero  You know what else is better than zero? Acquired immunity. But we don't hear about that in the news or by government officials. I wonder how many folks have that? How many millions have been infected? According to the CDC.GOV website, as of the date of this post, over 41 million have been infected.  It may last well past the 6 months mark according to one study.  “Antibodies received from a COVID-19 infection can last for at least 10 months post-infection, according to a recent study. The study from Labcorp, a life sciences company that specializes in diagnostics and drug development, found that nearly 87% of those who’ve had COVID-19 saw “extended antibody retention.” 

https://coronavirus.nautil.us/how-long-covid-antibodies-last

The article does go on to say those previously infected greatly benefit from the vaccine. Which is what I tell my patients in the ED. Get your vaccine! I am vaxxed and support it as one way to help curb the virus, but not the ONLY way.

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36 minutes ago, RJMDilts said:

I am vaxxed and support it as one way to help curb the virus, but not the ONLY way.

 Are you suggesting attempting to acquire natural immunity? Like letting COVID burn through the population? That would result in hundreds of thousands more dead and damaged people. The vaccine is the only reasonably safe way to curb the virus. 

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.
57 minutes ago, RJMDilts said:

 

The article does go on to say those previously infected greatly benefit from the vaccine. Which is what I tell my patients in the ED. Get your vaccine! I am vaxxed and support it as one way to help curb the virus, but not the ONLY way.

No one ever contended that the vaccine was the only way to curb the virus only that it's the best way. The other ways to curb the virus are social distancing, masking in public places and frequent testing and tracing.  

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Thank you very much for all the hard work you do and the suffering you have been through, no one could blame you for leaving how much can nurses take, and thank you for letting us know about the realities of your state and am very sorry for the suffering of everyone involved. 
 

 

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On 8/14/2021 at 8:54 PM, toomuchbaloney said:

Are you lying or gullible? That's not what the VP said. 

Are you telling us that you don't understand how science works or why the experts might keep learning new things about a novel virus or are you telling us that you've never had to adjust standards or expectations after you discover that the people in charge of an important project are incompetent, completely unprepared and led by a habitual liar? Trump lied to you every day about covid.  I'm not talking about comments from a medical expert that you don't understand and so assume they are lies and inconsistencies...no, I'm talking about bold and dangerous lies (and malfeasance) that resulted in 600 thousand American deaths.  

Dying in a Leadership Vacuum

Wrap your reading comprehension around that. 

 

On 8/14/2021 at 8:54 PM, toomuchbaloney said:

Are you lying or gullible? That's not what the VP said. 

Are you telling us that you don't understand how science works or why the experts might keep learning new things about a novel virus or are you telling us that you've never had to adjust standards or expectations after you discover that the people in charge of an important project are incompetent, completely unprepared and led by a habitual liar? Trump lied to you every day about covid.  I'm not talking about comments from a medical expert that you don't understand and so assume they are lies and inconsistencies...no, I'm talking about bold and dangerous lies (and malfeasance) that resulted in 600 thousand American deaths.  

Dying in a Leadership Vacuum

Wrap your reading comprehension around that. 

capitalsfan83 they bully you on here. Talk down to you. Are hareful. Twist words to say that they want them to say. I read her interviews. She said she would not trust Trumps vaccine plain and simple. When she was asked she said she would not trust Trumps vaccine because she would be worried he was pushing it through so he could get reelected. They can twist it all they want. Facui made a big stink about not rushing the vacccines. He said you can't rush a vaccine and give it an EEveryone keep saying that is a lie. It's not. There were several that said point blank they would not take Trumps vaccine. This is the same vaccine. Some said they would not even give out Trumps vaccine if it was sent to them. I remember hearing him talk back in August 2020.

This is from article from NBC The top U.S. infectious diseases expert is warning that distributing a Covid-19 vaccine under special emergency use guidelines before it has been proved safe and effective in large trials is a bad idea that could have a chilling effect on the testing of other vaccines.

 

Same article “I would be very worried about using an EUA mechanism for something like a vaccine. It’s very different from plasma therapy,” said Dr. Peter Hotez, an infectious disease expert and vaccine researcher at Baylor College of Medicine.

And I know the vaccine has full approval now. Cap was talking about before so I am making a point on that. 

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And Alabama is fully vacciated at 41.1 percent not 33. 

And 51 percent of Alabama has had the first shot.

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