J. Gardner: 11:24 | S. Ruggles: 31:18 | A. Lou: 50:34
In this episode, I speak with Jennifer Gardner, Sami Ruggles, and Amy Lou — registered nurses working locally in Southern Idaho. This episode is a compilation of segments of each of those interviews, with the full interviews to be released alongside this episode as well.
Over the past few weeks, I conducted these interviews to provide a more direct, personal, and on-the-ground perspective of how the dramatic surge of novel coronavirus hospitalizations is impacting local healthcare workers and the medical system at large. Idaho, like so many other states in the United States, is currently experiencing a dramatic rise in COVID-19 cases as we enter into the winter months, dramatically outpacing the initial surge of cases earlier this year. What is happening here in Twin Falls County is reflective of what's happening in rural areas all over the United States.
Episode Notes:
- CBS News covering the surge of cases in Twin Falls County: https://cbsn.ws/37KsNla
- Current news on the coronavirus pandemic in Idaho from the Idaho Statesmen: https://www.idahostatesman.com/news/coronavirus
Full Interviews:
Jennifer Gardner has a background in obstetrical nursing, and currently works in Perianesthesia in Twin Falls, Idaho. She has just completed her Master’s degree as a Family Nurse practitioner.
I’ve known Jennifer for several years now, and asked her if she would be willing to discuss the impact the COVID-19 pandemic is having on healthcare workers in this area, including their ability to perform their jobs under current conditions. Idaho, like so many other states in the nation, is currently experiencing a dramatic rise in COVID-19 cases as we enter into the winter months, outpacing the initial surge of cases earlier this year.
Sami Ruggles is a registered nurse works directly with COVID-19 patients in the COVID Unit at the local hospital in Twin Falls, Idaho.
Sami describes the impact the coronavirus pandemic is having on healthcare workers' ability to provide adequate care for patients suffering from the virus, as well as the role comorbidities in the general population has played in the severity of the public health crisis in this area.
Amy Lou is a registered nurse working directly with COVID-19 patients in the ICU at the local hospital in Twin Falls, Idaho.
Amy has been attending to patients suffering from COVID-19 for several months. She describes the impact this pandemic is having on healthcare workers' ability to provide an adequate level of care as infection rates in Idaho continue to spike, with insights into the heavy emotional/psychological toll imposed isolation has on patients and their loved ones as they battle the dire symptoms of the virus.