St. Mary’s Health Care System Neuroscience Master of Science in Nursing and resident nurse Alex Evans stands in his scrubs in St. Mary’s on April 6. Evans believes that everyone needs to be practicing good hygiene during the COVID-19 outbreak. “Stay at home. Don’t leave the house unless you absolutely have to. Practice good hygiene. Cover your mouth with your elbow when you sneeze. Wash your hands frequently,” Evans said. “You don’t need to stockpile surgical and N95 masks if you do these things. Healthcare workers who interact with these critically ill patients need them more than the average person.” Photo courtesy of Alex Evans
St. Mary’s Health Care System Master of Science in Nursing and resident nurse Alex Evans talks about being a nurse and how the COVID-19 outbreak has affected his work.
Webmaster Ireland McCage: What is the atmosphere in St. Mary’s right now?
St. Mary’s Health Care System Neuroscience Master of Science in Nursing and resident nurse Alex Evans: It is much like the rest of the world. There is a population that is highly anxious of what is ensuing. There is also a population that is trying to take things one day at a time, realizing that we can only do what we can do. It is certainly a challenge because we have never faced anything like this worldwide in our lifetime.
IM: How did St. Mary’s begin preparing for the COVID-19 outbreak?
AE: They would disseminate information to staff members, ensure we have supplies, etc. They met with both the University of Georgia and Piedmont Athens Regional to ensure we are united as a community and have plans in place.
IM: How have your duties been affected by the COVID-19?
AE: Interestingly enough, not a whole lot yet. I think we are in the very early stages of what is coming. We are actually calling off staff because we don’t have the number of patients we normally do. The quarantine in place has significantly decreased the number of patients coming to the hospital, and subsequently, the number admitted. Again, I think that it is still extremely early, and will definitely get worse before it gets better.
“The quarantine in place has significantly decreased the number of patients coming to the hospital, and subsequently, the number admitted.”
— Alex Evans,
St. Mary’s Health Care System Neuroscience Master of Science in Nursing and resident nurse
IM: What measures are being taken at the hospital to slow down the spread of the virus?
AE: It has been a progression. We initially started restricting the number of people able to visit a patient. Every person that wasn’t staff got screened at the door. This has subsequently led to no visitors at all allowed to come to the hospital. They have locked multiple doors to the hospital, for staff included, to restrict the number of entrances in the hospital. They have isolated the possible and confirmed COVID cases to specific places in the hospital as best we can. We limit the number of people that can go in those rooms and encourage tasks to be clustered so that people aren’t going in and out of rooms as much.
IM: In the news, there have been lots of reports that hospitals are struggling to get essential supplies. Has that been an issue at St. Mary’s?
St. Mary’s Health Care System Neuroscience Master of Science in Nursing and resident nurse Alex Evans poses after his white coat ceremony on Aug. 16. Evans believes that everyone needs to be using social distancing during the COVID-19 outbreak to help prevent the spread of the virus. “I challenge people to actually read about ‘flattening the curve.’ I know it’s kind of a buzz-term in the midst of all of this, but the science behind it is very valid,” Evans said. “That’s truly the only way we as a society can get past this without running out of resources and overburdening the medical community. I challenge people to continue to stay at home (as difficult as it is) in order to lessen the burden in the future.” Photo courtesy of Alex Evans
AE: Absolutely. That’s nationwide. I would argue that there isn’t a hospital in the nation that isn’t struggling with this issue. I think we are better off at St. Mary’s then a lot of places, but we are certainly affected by it and have had to make some changes to what we normally do and ration supplies.
IM: When should people go to get tested?
AE: If you think you should be tested, I advise people to call first. There are screening programs in place to help triage such a massive number of people. I won’t tell people when or when not to come to the hospital, but if your symptoms feel like a common cold or the flu, don’t come. Isolate yourself for 14 days. Drink lots of fluids to hydrate yourself. Treat your fever with Tylenol or Advil. Now if you are experiencing things such as profound shortness of breath, fever you cannot get to come down, or extreme weakness, please call so that your symptoms can be screened.
IM: Does St. Mary’s do testing? If not, where can people go to get tested?
AE: St. Mary’s does test people. There is a nationwide shortage and we are no exception. The turnaround time is long. If your symptoms are mild, it is unlikely you will be tested. For now, their use is restricted to those that probably need the most. Piedmont‘s Oconee campus is doing drive through testing, but again, numbers are limited due to nationwide shortages and prolonged turnaround times. You also have to have an appointment. I advise people to call prior to testing. St. Mary’s has added an option on their phone menu to direct callers to the appropriate place. I have heard that Piedmont has similar things in place, along with UGA.
IM: What precautions are you taking to make sure you do not bring the virus home with you?
AE: I limit the things I bring to the hospital. I change clothes at the hospital and back out prior to coming home. I wear shoes that can be wiped down frequently. I start my shift by cleaning my work station and clean it frequently throughout the day. I avoid touching my face and (practice) good hygiene.
IM: Do you feel that Athens is prepared to handle this outbreak?
AE: It is hard to say. We have never really faced anything like this worldwide. We don’t have anything to compare it to. I will again stress the importance of the things I mentioned above. It is important that we take measures as a community as a whole to mitigate the effects of this disease. It is imperative that we flatten the curve.
“We have never really faced anything like this worldwide. We don’t have anything to compare it to.”
— Alex Evans,
St. Mary’s Health Care System Neuroscience Master of Science in Nursing and resident nurse
IM: Is there anything else you want to add?
AE: I again stress the importance of social distancing, in addition to the things listed above. We are extremely social beings, and the quarantine is very difficult for most of us. However, it is the single most important thing we can do as a community to help lessen the burden of COVID-19.
