COVID-19 has impacted our entire world, and medical professionals are experiencing it most. As a nurse in a level 4 NICU (neonatal intensive care unit), COVID-19 is ever-present. Though the virus doesn’t impact my unit as much as other units, we’ve still had to deal with the occasional “rule-out” baby. A rule-out baby means we don’t know if the baby is positive or not, so we have to treat the baby as if it is positive. Right now, there are a lot of unknowns. If a mom possibly has COVID-19 while pregnant, we don’t really know how it affects the baby. So, when the baby is born, and the mom doesn’t have her test results back, we have to act as though that baby is COVID-19 positive. The whole situation is scary and baffling.

It’s also scary how one virus can alter entire systems. Now, when I go in to work each morning, I have to go through a checkpoint, in which an infrared scanner measures my core body temperature. I also wear a surgical mask the entire 12-plus hour shift. All visitors are required to do the same.

The most dramatic change in our system is that some parents aren’t able to be with their children in the hospital due to strict rules that are enforced now. These rules are all in the name of safety and protection, so luckily, parents and family members understand. COVID-19 patients cannot have ANY visitors, and children can have only one parent present at any given time. Also, once that parent leaves the unit, he/she cannot come back until the next day. COVID-19 patients cannot be exposed to any new bacteria, etc.

As a new nurse, this experience shows me just how necessary and valued nurses are. When I was in nursing school, people would constantly say, “You’ll never be without a job.” Well, this virus has made that very apparent. I’ve been asked to do numerous things, including make TikTok educational videos, help with a coronavirus call center, and promote the use of surgical masks and antibacterial shoes. So, at this time, medical professionals, particularly nurses, are the face and backbone of this ‘time.’

While in nursing school, I created a nursing platform on YouTube and Instagram. Since then, this platform has definitely helped me to get information disseminated faster. As a nurse, it has also made me much more valuable.

As nurses, we learn new things every day. I’ve been a nurse for ten months now, and the things I have learned are endless, especially dealing with newborns in critical situations. It’s beyond amazing to say that in my first year as a nurse, I made it through a pandemic! The NICU is already a very high-strung environment, and at the beginning of my training, I was always anxious and on edge. Seeing babies sick can be hard to deal with, so adding a killer virus to the mix definitely heightens that. Over time, however, I’ve gotten more comfortable in my skills, and knowing that I always have my coworkers to help me, has eased my fears.

Downtime is crucial for a nurse. So, when I’m not at work, I have to learn to leave my anxiety at the door. Once I’m home, I unwind, read my devotional, exercise, watch my favorite shows, spend time with my family, and create content with my twin sister for our YouTube channel, The Twin Diaries. The content we create helps us to reach and teach others who may be experiencing, or are about to experience, similar things. For this reason, my twin sister, who is also a nurse, and I, try to create YouTube videos about our nursing experiences weekly.

As a practicing nurse, my faith has kept me grounded. Knowing that Christ can do all things, including keeping me safe during this pandemic, has been my anchor. Armed with my faith and my family’s love and support, I willingly go to work each day, knowing I can make a difference in my patients’ lives.

Rashana Mahamane works in the Texas Medical Center. The Chicago native graduated from Prairie View A&M University with a degree in nursing in May 2019. You can view Mahamane and her sister’s YouTube videos about their nursing experiences here.