Men In Nursing 2020

Ricardo Alan De Barros, Telemetry Unit, Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital

Looking back on this year, what have been the biggest changes in your practice?

This year has been an eye-opener when it comes to caring for other people, showing me what empathy really means: not only being able to put myself in someone’s position, but also to connect on a deeper level with a patient. At the same time, we were all scared of this new disease, and had to quickly learn and adapt to the constant changing CDC COVID-19 guidelines.

Tell us about the most inspirational thing you’ve experienced as a nurse during this pandemic.

A father and son who were both very sick with the virus, and the father responded to treatment much quicker than his son did. My colleagues and I were afraid that the son would not have the strength to beat COVID-19. The father prayed for his son every day. Thankfully, after weeks of treatment, the son pulled through and was able to call his father on the phone to tell him he was going to be okay. His father had tears in his eyes. I will never forget those two men and their fight.

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What nonmedical support from family, friends or the general public has been most appreciated?

The support from the community has really made me and my colleagues feel loved. Local high schools wrote cards with motivational quotes. Community groups and local restaurants donated meals. The kindness that the community showed us is something I hope to be able to give back one day.

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How have you grown as a nurse since you started working in this profession?

I have grown in more ways than I could have imagined. This year has taught me to adapt, persevere and value life more than previously. This includes looking at every patient as if they were my family member and doing whatever I can to make their illness and loneliness more bearable.

Read the full Men in Nursing 2020 article here.


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