Gladstone ICU nurse shines
• Gladstone’s Michelle Clifford underneath three layers of Personal Protective Equipment; her daily uniform in the LGH’s COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit.
Shining from the front line under three layers of Personal Protective Equipment is Gladstone resident and registered nurse Michelle Clifford.
Her twenty-three years of working within the industry would never quite prepare her for a role as a critical care nurse at the Launceston General COVID-19 Unit.
Simultaneously critical care nurses can orchestrate 10 pumps, six drips, four beeps, and one crashing patient without blinking an eye.
For the past 64 days or 896 hours this has been Michelle’s outfit of choice.
“My life has been very much routine based. I look to see what shift I’m on, eat, sleep and most of all keep healthy,” she said.
Those that know Michelle describe her as a meticulous, organised planner, who loves the detailed level of care.
Working in her role means she has to sacrifice many things, willingly of course, one of those being self-isolation when not at work.
For Michelle it means no visits to see her dad, Ian Cassidy in Scottdale or volunteer work.
“We care for the most fragile of patients who hang onto life by a thread. Most patients in the ICU are intubated, ventilated, and on life-sustaining medication drips at the very least.
“We plan long-term goals for patients and often watch patients progress from critical illness to health again.
“The goal is not in-and-out, it’s long-term wellness.
“We are very involved with patients and their families, building rapport and providing education.”
Being truly on the frontline of a pandemic Michelle said she and her colleagues will never forget their first COVID-19 patient.
“It was just last month that I nursed my first COVID case, it was not an easy time as they were critically ill.
“The good news is, with the highest level of care, the patient got better and eventually went home.
“This work cannot be done individually, it takes an army of dedicated medical professionals to get the patient well again,” she explained.
“As much as we try our very best to make our patients well again, sometimes this is not possible.
“This is the most heart wrenching part of my job and no matter when it happens your whole world collapses for a little time.
“After spending so much time with a critically ill patient you get to know them, meet their loved ones and hear about their life ambitions.”
Yesterday, May 12, was International Nurses Day, a fitting tribute to all our nurses providing health care to those in need.
It’s important to remember our nurses during times like these, as they are the ones fighting on the frontline.
“Take the pandemic seriously, follow the guidelines and restrictions to curb its spread.
“Just because we have not had any confirmed cases in the past few days doesn’t mean the virus has gone,” Michelle concludes.
The Advertiser thanks resident Ally Mercer for her help in producing this article.