Rochester nurse risks life to help COVID-19 patients in New Jersey
Written by Site Hub on April 13, 2020
On Monday, April 6, a local Rochester member of the community and registered nurse, Olivia Goodwin, started orientation for her new role treating COVID-19 positive patients who require long-term care in Milford, New Jersey. Goodwin has been a registered nurse for the last four years in primarily operating environments. She previously worked at Rochester General Hospital, SUNY Upstate Medical Center and the Monroe County Jail. In her new position, which might last up to a month or longer, Goodwin is providing much-needed medical support and various types of care over 12-hour shifts.
As the 32-year-old explained to ABC WHAM 13’s Andrew Banas: “I thought, ‘What better time to go help where we’re needed right now?’ To help my fellow peers. Other RNs or LPNs. Doctors. My patients who won’t have their family by their side, because it’s just too dangerous.”
On Tuesday, Goodwin provided Natasha Acrie with Spectrum News an update: “There’s about 170 or some patients. The virus has engulfed this health care facility. Yesterday was my first day of orientation; tomorrow I’ll be on my own. In those four hours [of orientation] I already lost my first COVID-19 patient. I mean, that’s the reality.”
Goodwin explained that she’s managing in this type of environment because she has a strong social support system made up of family, friends and other medical personnel. As she told Acrie, she wants to set an inspirational example: “I want to look back at the end of my life [and] be proud of the things I’ve done and hopefully encourage others to do good.”
https://13wham.com/news/local/rochester-nurse-heading-to-new-jersey-to-help-treat-covid-19-patients
