‘I feel like we are in a war’

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The most recent wave of COVID-19 conditions has led to a surge in hospitalizations, compounding what has now been a taxing 12 months for wellness treatment employees.

Caitlin Thompson, a registered nurse in the intensive care unit at UF Wellbeing Jacksonville’s North campus, spoke with Information4Jax on Wednesday about what it has been like functioning in the ward.

“I really feel like we are in a war, and that war is not ending anytime quickly still due to the fact people today aren’t getting vaccinated yet,” she explained.

As of Wednesday, UF Health Jacksonville experienced around 134 COVID-19 people, 41 of whom were being in the ICU. That is up from 60 COVID-19 clients, 23 of whom were in the ICU, on July 12.

“I do not believe there are sufficient text to explain what the previous two weeks or truly the very last year and a fifty percent has been like,” she reported. “We are fatigued. We are exhausted as a personnel, as a well being treatment facility. Our patients are more youthful. They are sicker. It’s been wild to say the the very least.”

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Her colleague — nurse practitioner Annette Wall, who presents particular services for individuals in the ICU — agreed.

“The average ages seem to be to be youthful. These clients appear to be to be in our intensive care unit a little bit for a longer time,” Wall said. “These people today are in the prime of their life. These are hearty, healthy men and women. I have individuals that are saying, ‘I just did not think I would get that unwell for the reason that I’m nutritious.’ You are right up until you capture COVID.”

James Owen echoed that perception. As of Wednesday, the 41-calendar year-aged Navy veteran experienced been in the ICU at the North campus for approximately a 7 days and was even now battling to get improved. From his clinic bed, he told News4Jax how he finished up there.

“We experienced a Fourth of July bash. On the 5th, I received sick,” he stated. “At first I considered I could acquire treatment of it myself at the house. I was sadly mistaken and it landed me listed here.”

He said his spouse is also ill but not hospitalized.

“I am performing much far better now,” Owen said. “It’s been a rough highway, but we are receiving there.”

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Owen explained he’s grateful to the workers who he believes have gone out of their way to help him.

“Thanks once again to the staff of nurses and clinical personnel,” Owen said.

He reported he was not vaccinated against COVID-19, and he shared a concept for other individuals who have not gotten the shot.

“For oneself, for your cherished types, get vaccinated. I’m made use of to remaining the robust protector and it absolutely broke me down. I am pretty humbled. This virus is nothing at all to joke about,” he mentioned. “After what I’ve been by, I’m certainly going to get it as before long as I’m cleared.”

Thompson, who has been operating with Owen, also encouraged individuals to get vaccinated.

“My concept: Do your instruction and learn and ultimately get vaccinated,” she stated. “Vaccination is vital and making an attempt to minimize this mad pandemic and this surge that we are seeing.”

Thompson claimed that suitable now, COVID-19 individuals who make it out of the ICU nevertheless expertise lingering impacts.

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“If they do make it out, it is with very long-phrase results of the sickness or some people obtaining to go house on oxygen,” Thompson stated. “People having to go on to extensive-expression care facilities just to get their power again, and these that do go dwelling in the long run could see other extended-term effects.”

Registered nurse Carson Griego, who performs on a specific COVID-19 ward, said some of his young good friends have not been vaccinated and he tells them the tale of a single patient who, sadly, died.

“He reported, ‘I wish I obtained vaccinated. I wish I experienced took this all very seriously,’” Griego said.

Workers members mentioned all those who are not vaccinated are the types now turning out to be pretty sick and they hope that demonstrating what’s happening at the healthcare facility will carry about some adjust and direct to much more persons getting vaccinated.

“I unquestionably think there is a disconnect with people today right here on the outside the house and what we see on the inside,” claimed Chad Neilsen, UF Well being Jacksonville director of accreditation and an infection avoidance. “So we’re striving to stage up and use our microphone and say we are the kinds viewing this going on real-time, be sure to get vaccinated.”