Healthcare Heroes Q+A – Marilyn Simbol, MSN
Marilyn Simbol is a Master of Science in Nursing - Management and Organizational Leadership graduate working as both a clinical admission nurse and clinical instructor in the Chicago suburbs. As a healthcare professional in a state with one of the highest numbers of COVID-19 cases, Simbol is experiencing significant and rapid change in the way she’s able to care for patients. Learn more about Simbol and how she’s saving lives in the heart of our country.
Tell us more about your specific role at the hospital.
As a clinical admission nurse, I complete the initial utilization management review before bed placement, collaborating with the physicians as well as the sending and receiving units. Safely placing patients at the proper level of care when they come to the hospital is extremely important.
And how has that role been affected by the coronavirus?
With the COVID-19 pandemic, we have to be more flexible. We have to follow the surge plan, which is constantly changing daily or even 2 to 3 times in a 24-hour period. There is so much planning involved in this—it’s not just placing patients in a bed. We have a dedicated ICU and inpatient unit for COVID-positive patients. Everyone who comes into the ER is being tested and all patients coming in for surgery or delivery are also being tested. We work closely with the physicians to identify patients needing airborne isolation requiring negative pressure rooms to keep everyone safe.
What about your students? How has the virus impacted your work as an educational instructor?
As a clinical instructor, my second group of nursing students this spring semester got switched to virtual clinical. I spent a lot of time planning for it and made it as real as possible for them by using roleplay scenarios (code blue simulation, rapid response, sending patients for emergency surgery, etc.), which improves their critical thinking skills. I also made sure that I talked them through several techniques to help them adjust and adapt to changes due to this pandemic.
How are you dealing with the influx of patients and need for care?
The leadership team at the hospital has converted multiple rooms to create overflow units in case we reach capacity. We also increased our labor pool by cross training nurses, patient care technicians and other healthcare workers on different departments to ensure we have enough staff available to care for our patients. I used to be a clinical shift coordinator in one of our inpatient units, plus I had the opportunity to be cross-trained as a hospital nursing supervisor, so I’m able to fill those roles as needed in addition to my clinical admission role during this pandemic.
What has been the most challenging part of this pandemic?
Being pulled to the bedside and directly caring for COVID-19 patients is very challenging. My fear of getting infected or bringing the virus to my family is the hardest part. I’m not able to hug or kiss my family. I sleep in a different room, use separate bathrooms and don’t eat at the same dinner table as them. It’s really taking a toll on my emotional state of mind.
But despite my fears, I follow the infection prevention guidelines and pray for the best. Delivering compassionate care to each and every patient stays as my top priority. With no family members at their bedside, we are the patient’s family. We advocate for them, and we help them stay connected with their loved ones by helping with phone and video calling.
What is something you think is important for people to know or understand better?
The COVID-19 pandemic has been stressful for everyone, and the social and physical distancing that we have been doing is taking its toll. If you feel stressed out, get some exercise, sleep, enjoy time with your family and do things that bring you joy—and please continue to practice physical distancing. Technology has given us the ability to stay connected socially, even if we’re physically apart. Seize those opportunities to talk to your loved ones.
Is there a message of hope you’d like to send?
Whether you are a healthcare worker or not, all of us are dealing with emotional and physical exhaustion. Know that there is another side to the pandemic, and we are confident that we will get there. For my healthcare colleagues, despite the challenges of this pandemic, let us continue to stand strong together as a team so we can keep fighting to bring illness into wellness.