Recent nursing graduate Claudia Charles at Montefiore Nyack Hospital, showing handwritten thank you notes from residents to healthcare workers.
Recent nursing graduate Claudia Charles is among the Dominican College nursing students who have helped to care for patients with COVID-19. Claudia has worked for several years as a Patient Care Associate at Montefiore Nyack Hospital in Nyack, NY. She credits her professors with preparing her to handle any situation.
“I find myself not panicking. I am there and I’m doing what I was taught to do,” said Claudia. “And I was like, ‘Wow, my education paid off.’” Because family members were unable to visit the hospital at the height of the outbreak, Claudia would hold the patients’ hands and listen to them. “I express to them that I can’t replace your family member, but I can be a comfort if you need to talk to me about anything,” she said.
Claudia was impressed with the teamwork she saw as hospital workers were redeployed from other areas to help care for COVID-19 patients. She was also touched by the outpouring of support from the community – local residents hosting dinner for the healthcare workers, writing thank you notes, and cheering for the healthcare workers.
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