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 brings our third installment 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.
Today's conversation comes from Emily Newman, a former member of the Northwest women's tennis program from 2016-17. During her two seasons with the former Lady Rangers' tennis program, the Senatobia native helped Northwest to eight combined team victories, while winning seven singles matches and 10 doubles matches with partner Emily Standard.
Aside from her talent on the court, Newman also performed well in the classroom, earning nods to the President's List and Academic All-NJCAA in 2016. Additionally, she studied in the nursing program at Northwest, which paved the way for her career today as a cardiac nurse at the Oxford-based Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi.
Describe what you do as a cardiac nurse and how Northwest prepared you for your current role.
"I am a registered nurse so I monitor our patients' health by checking their symptoms and providing direct care to them in the hospital. I observe patient behavior, educate on treatment plans and medications, provide wound care and offer emotional support in various circumstances. Northwest was a major backbone for my career. I spent adequate time in the nursing program and learned a lot. My rotations through nursing school clinicals and interacting with people were really important. The skills and simulation labs helped me with many opportunities that, if not able to see or practice something specific during clinical, I was easily able to get some practice right there in the nursing building. By being a college athlete on the tennis team, it prepared me for being a team player and working together with other people with end goals in mind. No matter what you go through, your teammates and coworkers are there for you."
What does a typical day or night consist of as a cardiac nurse?
"A typical night for me varies based on the assignment I have during a shift. I am a nurse on the cardiac floor so I am always on alert for chest pain symptoms, odd rhythms on EKG's and many other heart issues that can happen. I give patients their ordered medicines, assist with any needs for procedures the next day, assess for any changes in symptoms, notify the doctor for changes in a patient's status and make sure they stay safe. There are tons of things nurses do that go on in the background. I chart and document throughout the night on the patient's chart to keep it updated and ready for the next nurse after me or the doctor that is checking on their patient."
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 haven't personally been affected by the outbreak and I am thankful that Lafayette County and Oxford hasn't been hit terribly hard during this time. The hospital had positive cases and at times we had patients that we weren't sure of their status all throughout the hospital because receiving results took several days in the beginning, but keeping everyone safe was and still is a priority. Any staff that had to go in the rooms had to dress in the full PPE to protect themselves and the patients."
What have you and your co-workers had to do differently since COVID-19? (any change of procedures, the way you treat patients, etc.)
"We have to wear a mask at all times during our shift, regardless of where we are and who we are around. We also have to wear a face shield or goggles to protect our eyes from droplets in the air from a patient coughing. Disinfecting is at an all time high to make sure that everyone stays as safe as possible. If a patient presents to the hospital with respiratory symptoms and/or fever, they are treated as a COVID-19 patient until results state otherwise. Patients are often very lonely during this time they are in the hospital because visitors aren't allowed, so many of the healthcare workers comfort the patients the best that we can during the encounters we have with them."
What would be your personal message to everyone about COVID-19?
"Stay well, take your vitamins, get outside and get some Vitamin D from the sun. Exercise, eat well and don't eat junk, because that doesn't feed your body the nutrients it needs. Check on your friends and family and overall, just make good decisions during this time."
