As the COVID-19 outbreak continues across the United States and around the world, several former Northwest student-athletes are finding themselves on the front lines of the response to this health crisis. Today marks the beginning of a weekly series titled Ranger Responders, in which we will be recognizing some of our former Rangers who are working as doctors, nurses, paramedics or first responders and hearing in their own words about how COVID-19 has affected their daily duties.

Our first conversation comes from Taylor Renth, a former member of the Northwest Lady Rangers' soccer program from 2013-15. A native of Caledonia, Miss., Renth made her impact felt on the field and in the classroom, totaling a .688 career shot on goal percentage with four goals scored in 31 matches while also earning President's and Dean's list recognition.

After leaving Northwest, Renth enrolled into the BSN program at Tarleton State University and now works as an emergency center nurse at the Level One Trauma Center at JPS Hospital in Fort Worth. Next week, she will deploy to New York to assist with the ongoing medical efforts there.


Describe what you do as a ER/trauma care nurse and how Northwest prepared you for your career in that role.
"As an emergency room nurse at a Level One Trauma Center, I am part of the team that sees patients immediately after arriving to our facility from scene: whether they are brought in by ambulance or they arrive through the front doors. The facility I work at is also a county hospital, so the patient population is a mixture of the extremely sick, very broken and often times the financially burdened. We see an average of 400 patients per day in the ER alone. I consider myself lucky to have attended and graduated from the ADN program at Northwest because they taught me to face every challenge head on. I was taught to take every challenge as a new opportunity to grow and learn. By playing for the women's soccer team, I have realized that team work is essential to being successful in almost everything in life. You are only as strong as your weakest link, whether it be on a sports team with a common goal of winning a game or being on a trauma team with a common goal of saving someone's life."

What is a typical day consist of as an ER nurse?
"A typical day for me in the ER is probably not so typical for the majority of people. I work from 7 P.M. to 7 A.M. On a night shift, we have to hit the ground running when we get to the floor. Our ER sees the highest volumes of patients from 5 P.M. to 1 A.M. so we start our shift right in the middle of it. Most of the time I walk in to a 6-7 patient assignment. These are usually a mixture of medically sick patients and broken trauma patients."

Have you or anyone you know been affected by the COVID-19 outbreak? If so, how has that impacted you both personally and on the job?
"I feel that the COVID-19 outbreak has affected everyone in multiple ways. People are unable to see their families, some people are unable to work and those of us who are lucky enough to still be working are faced with continuous daily challenges, changes, fears and stress. Those who are unable to work are worried about how they are going to pay bills and provide for their family."

What have you and your co-workers had to do differently since COVID-19? (any change of procedures, the way you treat patients, etc.)
"Patient care has completely changed since the outbreak. More precautions are in place regarding patients who meet potential criteria for having COVID-19. We are being forced to reuse PPE which is unsafe and not the typical standard of care. We are trying so hard to identify and contain patients who might have COVID-19 that I personally feel like it has taken our focus away from medicine. An older patient with a chronic respiratory issue may come to the ED in distress and they are automatically assumed to be sick with COVID-19; therefore, they go to the designated area where we contain that patient population so that it can be ruled out. Every upper respiratory complaint is suspected COVID-19. Anyone who has traveled is suspected to have COVID-19. Anyone with a fever is suspected to have COVID-19, all until proven otherwise."

By working in a major metropolitan area, have you seen most people following social distancing efforts or do you believe more can be done in your area?
"I believe people are doing a fair job following the social distancing rule. I often go to a local trail to ride my bike and it is heavily populated at times. I see people walking or sitting together who are closer that 6 feet apart; however, people who live in the same household are okay to be close to one another. The grocery stores are more vacant and people are very hesitant to get close to others. It is mind-boggling when I go to the store before shift in my scrubs and people avoid me like the plague."

What would be your personal message to everyone about COVID-19?
"In regards to COVID-19, wash your hands frequently. If you are going to wear a mask in public, wear it properly. Also, stay out of the hospital unless it is without a doubt an emergency. We are risking our lives every day to save your life. Just because you aren't showing symptoms does not mean you are not a carrier of COVID-19. Coming to the hospital increases the risks of us being exposed, of you being exposed and of your family being exposed."