195: Meredith Brown

Orthopedic Trauma

Tower Health nurse Meredith Brown cares for patients in the orthopedic trauma unit. These are patients who have had bad falls, car accidents, or other mishaps that resulted in serious and complicated orthopedic injuries. Meredith believes there was a decline in the census on the floor during the shut down because more people were staying at home and driving less; however, now that restrictions are lifted, the census is back to normal.

In order to protect patients and themselves, Meredith and other members of her nursing team are very careful to take all safety precautions necessary when caring for patients. Meredith works night shift and feels the pandemic bonded her team even more. She is grateful for a nurse manager who led the team very well. 

Meredith did care for covid positive patients. She recalls that it was difficult to witness patients who were so isolated because of restrictions to visitation; however, she notes that the restrictions were necessary and appropriate. Nurses became conduits connecting patients to their family through the use of IPads and phones when at all possible. 

To cope in this stressful time, Meredith tries to leave work at work when she finishes her shift. She then tries her best to rest and to restore before the next shift. 

She feels the support from community members for health care workers was very helpful. Small gestures of gratitude make all the difference in each day. Gestures such as thank you cards or gifts of food were shared as a team and helped to boost morale during a much needed time. 

In the future, Meredith hopes people remember that restrictions are done for the greater good of all.  She believes that masking may end up being standard practice. The pandemic has made her look at things differently. Each day she asks herself  what kind of impact she will have on each patient. Meredith is a skilled and dedicated nurse who truly makes a difference in each of her patient’s lives.