Shana (Shakhnoza) Rodriguez. BSN, RN, CNOR

NOVA Chapter 420

Central Virginia Healthcare System

Richmond, VA

When someone mentions OR nurses, the first thing that comes to mind is people covered from head to toe with faces hidden behind masks. A lot of people have no idea of what we do behind the red line that divides restricted and non-restricted areas. Even nurses of different specialties have vague ideas of what OR nursing entails, and I often get questions about what exactly our role in the OR is. We can easily get lost in our own hospital because we rarely get out of the OR is an anecdotal truth.

However, while the COVID-19 pandemic is ravaging through our nation, a lot of units need medically trained professionals to provide adequate care for patients arriving at hospitals at an increasing rate. As an answer to the call for help, OR nurses are stepping out to help and support nurses working on the front lines. For example, at the Central Virginia Health Care System in Richmond, Virginia, a lot of our OR nurses were detailed to screen Veterans for COVID-19 at the stations in our Drive-Through Clinic (DTC). Patients arriving with COVID-19 symptoms are tested before they go to the isolation room in the emergency room (ER) to receive medical attention. DTC reduces exposure of the ER employees and other patients with non-COVID-19 emergencies. 

Picture on left: OR nurses Dena Traylor (Neuro Service) and Adena Mahini (Ortho Service) are screening Veterans at the DTC.

Picture on right: Pamela Liddle (ENT Service Coordinator) trying to warm up during a cold, rainy day while waiting on Veterans arriving at the DTC.

Picture on Left: Kristina Kniceley (Vascular Service) and Dena Traylor (Neuro Service) were photographed before screening Veterans for COVID-19 started.

Picture on Right: Tara Stevens (ENT Service) taking care of Veterans at the DTC.

Due to cancellations of elective cases, our newly opened Post-Anesthesia Care Unit 3-E was transformed into a unit specifically for COVID-19 positive patients. ICU nurses floating there are cross training PACU nurses while OR nurses are helping them to don/doff personal protective equipment (PPE) in proper manner preventing contamination. OR nurses are well versed when it comes to infection control and contamination prevention.  PACU and ICU nurses verbalized how happy they are and feel protected because the OR RNs  are observing and assisting them to put on PPE.  Besides observing and teaching other healthcare providers who are consulting on or assessing COVID positive patients, our OR nurses are providing support by running blood gases, bringing extra supplies, medications, etc. to nurses working inside the COVID rooms, so they don’t have to constantly don/doff PPE if they need additional supplies.

Lauren Walden (GU Service) is working on 3-E, COVID-19 Unit.

OR nurses (from left to right): Lauren Walden (GU Service), Courtney Troy (Neuro Service), and Kathleen Childress (GU Service Coordinator) are working with ICU and PACU nurses on the COVID-19 Unit.

Top left to right and bottom left to right: Darla McKimmie (recently joined our VA family and Ophthalmology Service, Kristina Kniceley (Vascular Service), Laura Baxter (Ortho Service), Terrice Wisbang (Cardiac Service), Melinda Talley (General Service), Tamara Kelejian (Neurosurgery Service Coordinator), and Courtney Troy (Neurosurgery Service) are working as observers and instructors for proper donning/doffing of PPE on those units, as well as “runners” for supplies and doing blood gases at the MICU and 3-E,  COVID-19 Unit.

Another group of nurses are working at the nursing home and hospice care units. They are helping to provide care for the Veterans residing there or working by the entrances of those units checking healthcare providers’ temperatures before they enter. Since our in-house barber shop is closed due to strict quarantine rules, a lot of Veterans residing in the above mentioned units needed haircuts and shaving. Our Podiatry Service Coordinator, Barrett Smith, bought all the necessary supplies and gave haircuts and shaved the patients on the nursing home and hospice units.

Picture on left: Barrett “Barry” Smith is transporting a patient from the nursing home to the Radiology Department for a scheduled test.

Picture in middle and on right:Jeremy Andrion (Ortho Service Coordinator) and Bernadith Abuan (Cardiac Service Coordinator) are working by the entrances to the Nursing Home and Hospice Care Units where they are screening healthcare providers arriving to those units.

At times like this where all hands-on deck is required to serve our Veterans and provide the best possible care to achieve positive outcomes and protect them from Covid-19, our OR nurses did not hesitate to volunteer to be where they are needed. These amazing nurses changed their regular work schedules and are working weekends, evenings, nights, and longer hours to accommodate the needs of the Veterans.

As a wife of a Veteran myself, I simply would like to recognize their selfless service and show my appreciation for their work ethic and dedication for our patients that served our country!