There may be less trauma patients in the emergency room at Humber River Hospital lately, but the nurses are no less busy. “We’re just getting tons of respiratory distress patients now,” said registered nurse Kendra Leo, reflecting on her time in the hospital amid National Nursing Week.
The nursing team is consumed with caring for COVID-19-positive patients, or people suspected of having the virus. “Some days are super busy — you can’t really predict what’s going to happen when you come in,” Leo said. “From the beginning of the shift to the end, it’s just back to back to back.” It doesn’t matter how many patients she has, Leo takes her time with each one. “It’s definitely hard to see people suffering.