60 - Simone Hannah-Clark - Firsthand COVID-19 clinical experience from a New York ICU nurse

In many parts of the world the COVID-19 pandemic is overburdening Intensive Care Units with huge numbers of critically unwell patients, many of whom are dying. Whilst China, Italy, Spain, France, Germany and the UK have been crisis-ridden over the last few months, one of the most inundated parts of the world right now is the USA and especially the state of New York. In this episode you will hear the firsthand experience of a New York City ICU nurse where things are extremely intense and overwhelming.

Simone Hannah-Clark is a critical care nurse in the Medical ICU at the Mount Sinai hospital in Manhattan. Originally a New Zealander, she worked in both New Zealand and Australia before moving to the USA 15 years ago. Simone recently penned an engrossing New York Times opinion piece entitled "An ICU Nurse's Coronavirus Diary". In this podcast she delves deeper into her recent reality as a nurse caring for ICU patients with COVID-19. She recounts stories of the hard work, the sense of duty, the intricacies of personal protective equipment, the inspiring camaraderie, her revived passion for her job, and above all the heartbreaking emotion of dying patients with absent relatives.

Nurses around the globe are doing extremely arduous jobs and risking their own health as they care for thousands of seriously ill people with COVID-19. They are the true linchpins of the ICU. As you'll glean in this episode, Simone is a perfect example of the compassion, professionalism and humanity that is so essential in the world right now.

Thanks for listening to this conversation with Simone Hannah-Clark.

Andrew Davies

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About the Mastering Intensive Care podcast: The show aims to focus on the human aspects of what happens at the Intensive Care Unit bedside. Conversations with thought-provoking guests should hopefully help you to bring your best self to work as an intensive care clinician.

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Links related to Simone Hannah-Clark

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Opinion piece in New York Times "An ICU Nurse's Coronavirus Diary" (by Simone Hannah-Clark)

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Audio Producer Chris Burke

Burke Sound & Media