Val Verde RMC | Keeping Well | Fall/Otono 2020

Keeping Well/Mantenerse Sano 7 stepped up to care for COVID-19 patients, often working extra shifts. Rebecca Deen, RN, is a Nurse Clinical Coordinator. That’s a management role. During the pandemic, she has focused more on bedside care. “We were blessed to have a lot of help with staffing issues,” she says, noting that additional health care workers have come from all over the U.S. Although she feels honored, Rebecca says she is “just doing what is necessary to help our community.” Delfina Gomez, RN, worked in health care clinics, doctor’s offices, skilled nursing units and schools before joining VVRMC. This is her first year working in a hospital. “When we started getting more and more patients, I was placed in the COVID unit,” she says. Being named a Healthcare Hero was “a shocker,” Delfina says. “I really don’t feel like I deserve it.” “I love what I do,” she adds. “I love taking care of my patients—love motivating them.” Lisa Gomez, RN, is a charge nurse at VVRMC. She looked after her first COVID-19 patient in June. “I was pretty much taking care of COVID patients the whole time,” she says. “On rare occasions, I got sent back to my old medical/surgery unit.” COVID-19 has been unlike anything in her nearly 20-year nursing career. But Lisa has a message of hope. “Keep washing your hands and wearing masks. It saves lives. Don’t give up hope. I’ve seen people recover from this virus,” she says. Mida Santellanes, RN, a 16-year VVRMC employee, says nursing is a calling. “I’ve always wanted to help my community,” she says. According to Mida, everyone at VVRMC has helped out in one way or another during the pandemic to serve the community in a time of need. “To me, they’re all heroes,” she says. Mida lost her mother to the coronavirus. “My mom was so proud of me for being a nurse, and she knew that I would never step down from helping my community try to beat this,” Mida says. en clínicas de atención médica, consultorios médicos, unidades de enfermería especializada y escuelas antes de incorporarse a VVRMC. Este es su primer año de trabajo en un hospital. “Cuando empezamos a recibir cada vez más pacientes, me asignaron a la unidad de COVID”, dice. Ser nombrada Heroína de la Atención Médica fue “una sorpresa”, opina Delfina. “Realmente no siento que me lo merezca”. “Me encanta lo que hago”, añade. “Me encanta atender a mis pacientes; me encanta motivarlos”. Lisa Gomez, RN, es una enfermera supervisora de VVRMC. Atendió a su primer paciente con COVID-19 en junio. “Me ocupaba bastante de los pacientes con COVID todo el tiempo”, dice. “En raras ocasiones, me enviaron de vuelta a mi antigua unidad médica/ quirúrgica”. La COVID-19 ha sido algo totalmente distinto en sus casi 20 años de carrera en enfermería. Pero Lisa tiene un mensaje de esperanza. “Sigan lavándose las manos y usando mascarillas. Salva vidas. No pierdan la esperanza. He visto a personas recuperarse de este virus”, expresa. Mida Santellanes, RN, una empleada de VVRMC desde hace 16 años, dice que la enfermería es una vocación. “Siempre quise ayudar a mi comunidad”, dice. Según Mida, todos en VVRMC han ayudado de una u otra manera durante la pandemia a servir a la comunidad en un momento de necesidad. “Para mí, todos son héroes”, opina. Mida perdió a su madre por el coronavirus. “Mi madre estaba tan orgullosa de mí por ser enfermera y sabía que nunca dejaría de ayudar a mi comunidad a intentar vencer esto”, dice Mida. We are grateful for those on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. You are true Healthcare Heroes. Don’t delay your medical care. Call your doctor’s office to learn if your next appointment can be done virtually. We offer virtual care so you can stay home Ofrecemos atención virtual para que pueda quedarse en casa No demore su atención médica. Llame al consultorio de su médico para saber si su próxima cita se puede hacer virtualmente. Estamos agradecidos a quienes están en la primera línea de la pandemia de COVID-19. Ustedes son los verdaderos Héroes de la Atención Médica.