Rudy has been a nurse for 22 years and has work alongside many teams. The past 12 years have been spent in the Emergency Department at Headwaters where he most recently became a High Acuity Transfer Nurse.
Throughout his career, Rudy has been a clinical instructor at various local colleges as well as supported resource nursing, inpatient oncology, and cardiac care teams. He has experienced the full depth and breadth of nursing and has a unique perspective on what is needed to successfully do the job – even through a pandemic.
“My experiences during the past few years have been ones of struggle. The beginning of this pandemic was worse with the frequent changes in provincial guidance that were intended to keep us all safe. It reminded me of working through SARS in 2003 and some of the mistakes that were made then, that claimed the lives of our fellow nurses. We were scared going into another pandemic,” said Rudy.
“The difference with SARS was that it was short lived, when looking at it from the perspective of what we have endured with COVID-19. SARS only lasted a few grueling months before it mutated itself out of existence”.
“The impact that SARS had on me was profound, but I didn’t realize this until COVID-19 hit. The memories that were suppressed inside came out and the feelings I had not known existed, arose,” said Rudy.
The experiences that impacted Rudy the most during the past few years have been those involving patients; experiences he hopes to never have to relive.
“I remember watching a patient with COVID-19 who was alert, talking, and able move, change from being on a high flow oxygen mask to needing intubation (which involves inserting a tube into a patient’s mouth). During intubation this person developed a large blood clot in their lung and passed away, while only moments before they were having a conversation with us and their family. Then, calling the family and letting them know that the person did not survive and helping them through their grieving processes was horrible,” shared Rudy.
Navigating conversations with patients, families and caregivers has been a challenge throughout the pandemic. There is so much about the virus that we still don’t know and what one person might understand as facts change quickly. Those in health care have been challenged with not having all the answers and navigating what’s in front of them.
We need to keep moving forward and plan for life beyond the pandemic.
“My hope for the future is to see us all living without fear of contracting COVID-19. Hopefully, this will end up like most of the other pandemics we had in the past; mutate itself into a state that will not be as dangerous as it started,” shared Rudy.
There has been a silver lining for Rudy which has been time with his family. Rudy has two children: a 13-year-old and 17-year-old. Going home after long shifts to spend time bonding with his family including long hikes, camping trips, long drives and movies has been a gift.
“We watched the entire Marvel series together – that’s 23 movies in succession. Those are memories that would not been have created if we had been able to go out and participate in sports,” said Rudy.
Rudy and his family are avid hockey, football and baseball players.
Thank you, Rudy, for facing this pandemic head on especially during the most uncertain and challenging of times. You are a Headwaters Hero and we are profoundly grateful for your courage.
Photo Caption: Rudy in the Emergency Department at Headwaters.