Meagen DeVane, LPN
When the pandemic began I was a prison nurse and was nominated to be on the Covid team. I was not thrilled at first, and a little frightened due to my heart condition. But I have always enjoyed a good challenge and learning new things.
The beginning was hard because we did not have the adequate PPE for our staff. Masks were reused, gowns were assigned to each individual and gloves were scarce. For the first month, we did not have Covid tests and had very little knowledge about the virus. We did not have any way to isolate inmates nor were we sure who to isolate. High temperatures, high heart rates, cough and GI symptoms hit the inmates hard and quickly. We soon began to take temperatures on every inmate that was in contact with these inmates. Hundreds of temperatures twice a day with very irritable inmates was a daily challenge. Fights and stabbings soon began as a daily ritual due to confinement. As a ER nurse and a covid team member the hours were long and hard. The emergency room was filled everyday with covid symptoms and traumas. Nurses had to take on roles such as cleaning, sanitizing, and CNA duties due to orderlies being confined to their dorm.
Our nurses became very close during this time. We became a family after spending 12-16 hours daily together. After about 2 weeks of dealing with covid inmates without the proper equipment 75% of the nurses became very ill. I worked through the whole illness not realizing I probably had covid. We got through the illness together helping each other and supporting each other.
Inmates were moved from the dorms to unsuitable areas so that we could have an isolation area. The inmates soon became depressed and unruly due to visitation being cancelled and most activities being cancelled. Attempted suicides, suicides, homicides, mental health crises, and manic episodes began to rise quickly. As a certified mental health nurse this time was very trying and at times very depressing. Yes, these are inmates, but they are someone’s son, father, brother, husband or simply homeless and have no one. Many of these inmates had traumatic childhood’s or have a serious mental illness like schizophrenia, bi polar, personality disorder, major depressive disorder and many more. Taking away their coping mechanisms such as classes, activities, gym, animal and plant therapy had a major impact on their lives. Daily self mutilations, hunger strikes and refusing medication or insulin were rising throughout the population.
Nurses were pulled to do multiple jobs in different departments. We became physically and mentally exhausted. Our home lives started to become affected as well. I had to strip down as soon as I got home and head straight to the shower. Disinfecting my shoes, door knobs and anything else I touched became a daily routine. I stayed away from all family members due to being afraid I would bring it home to them. The toughest part of the whole pandemic is losing my cousin and mother during the pandemic. Neither one died from the virus, but visitation during the illness was not allowed. Not being able to say goodbye until they were buried made me very depressed.
The blood, sweat, and tears throughout the pandemic was not nearly as bad as the depression that followed. This pandemic took away our officers, inmates, co workers, and family members are within a year. Working in a level 5 prison dealing with the worst of the worst inmates is already a very stressful job. Carrying a pen in your hand just in case an inmate jumps on you and then having to worry about inmates coughing on you always put many of us in a state of worry. Have you ever talked to a murderer, serial killer, serial rapist, and wondered what would make them snap again. I dealt with this daily doing mental health assessments and daily welfare checks praying the pandemic and being isolated from family members and friends would not put them in a state of rage and revert to their old habits. Many lifers go to a special class that was no longer offered. GED classes were halted, and libraries were closed. Teachers, counselors, pastors, and doctors were limited on who they could see and what they could do. This caused more stress for the nurses. We were the only people that talked to them, took care of them, and helped them with daily activities that most of us take for granted.
Officers were terrified of the virus which put nurses in more danger because we were left on our own many occasions. In an emergency, inmates and nurses worked together because many officers would not enter the dorms. As outside appointments started again more inmates became sick and our cases began to rise. Nurses were constantly testing inmates and close contacts every 10 days until a negative test was obtained. We had several nurses, officers, and administration quit because of the stress the pandemic had caused them. Inmates and co workers were dying without family members by their side. Inmates only had nurses by their sides and sometimes a phone call home to say goodbye. Inmates close to going home expired before their chance to see freedom. Many doctors’ appointments and non-emergency surgeries were stopped, and some inmates suffered because of the delay.
After almost 7 years as a prison nurse, I left and became a school nurse while pursing my RN degree. Covid at the elementary school has been quite different. Covid precautions have become less and less strict. Finding out who is supposed to be in quarantine and isolation has it challenges. Parents and employees not wanting to follow procedure is sometimes difficult to handle. Teachers wanting to send home every student with a cough, stomachache, sneeze, or just not feeling well has been a hurdle. Teacher’s will call the student’s parents to come get their child when I have told them they are fine. Many days I will get overridden by teachers and often wonder why I am here. The constant battle with teachers and parents has been my biggest challenge. Even though this virus caused many problems it has taught me how to be a better nurse. My assessment skills, how to handle an emergency, and how to handle a pandemic has greatly improved. I am honored to be a nurse and this virus did not change that.
Meagen DeVane, LPN was one of our BNF 2021 Celebrate Nurse Heroes - Share Your Story Winners.
