Healthcare workers reflect on one year of delivering care throughout the COVID-19 pandemic

March marked one year of our Northwell Health team members delivering care throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, a disease that has impacted our world on an unprecedented level. While the past year has been like no other, our team members have come together to become health raisers. Throughout it all, they have been a bright light of hope amidst some of the darkest times. We asked our team members to take a moment to reflect on their thoughts and feelings on what the past year has meant for them and how they’ve grown.

Read the reflections of our healthcare heroes:

“I am forever changed as a healthcare professional. It was difficult watching all of our patients come into the hospital alone without the support of their families. It has changed me as a nurse to also be their support system and make being in the hospital less scary for them.”

“I have learned that I need to take time for self-care in order to be a better me, including a better ‘work me’. I’m really happy our workplace supports that.”

“I learned that we are able to fight anything. Northwell has made us all strong in fighting this pandemic. We learned to take care of ourselves along with our patients and we will continue to Raise Health.”

“Throughout the past year, we’ve been inspired by our patients. Their recovery is our recovery. Their hope is our hope. In those dark times they were beams of light. Together we will persevere.”

“I have learned to really appreciate the impact we make for our patients, even working remote or in an office. COVID reminded us of the role each and every one of us has in helping patients get better.”

“This past year has shown me how awesome my Northwell coworkers are. When faced with challenges, we rise to the occasion. I am still in awe of the dedication and compassion they have not only shown the patients but each other as well. I hope to never face a healthcare challenge like this again, but I take comfort in knowing that my Northwell family will be there to get us through it!”

“My whole life has changed tremendously since last March. Since being redeployed from my role as a standardized patient, I have worked with Workforce Safety on mask fit testing, met the nurses and support staff at different hospitals, mobile units and vaccine pods, and came to know church leaders in faith-based testing. With the unflagging, determined and courageous support of our outstanding Community Relations team, I and many others like me have had our eyes opened to the tremendous amount of goodwill, generosity of spirit, and all-encompassing empathy that our Northwell family possesses – and we are all so much the better for it.”

“Scientists and researchers are ‘behind the scenes’ healthcare heroes and this year I felt even more proud of being a medical researcher. It was empowering to see how the complex biology questions scientists spent time understanding and the knowledge/techniques they discovered eventually came together to produce and distribute the vaccines that are giving us hope that we can end this.”

“Being a respiratory therapist over this past year, in the height of a pandemic, has taught us to be creative in problem solving, to provide the bestcare for our patients during uncertain times and promote a positive working environment during the darkest hours. It has taught me the ability to positively influence coworkers and teammates to work together for a common cause and mission.”

“As an MRI radiology manager, my job changed dramatically (during COVID) as we focused on keeping patients safe during MRIs. COVID has given me a greater sense of pride than anything else I dealt with in over 20 years of my career. As a leader I watched my team step up in ways that I couldn’t imagine.”

“These unprecedented times have changed me as a healthcare hero in that I have gained a tremendous amount of respect for every single role within the system. I have witnessed heroism from everyone and I feel lucky to play a small role in a community that exudes cohesiveness, unity and respect – which was so palpable throughout the past year.”

Join our team members as they Raise Health in the communities where we live, love and work. Apply today!