Utah Nurse On COVID-19 Front Lines Opens Up About Her Fears
Apr 9, 2020, 6:54 PM | Updated: 7:04 pm
HOLLADAY, Utah – Doctors and nurses have been risking their own lives every day to treat patients with coronavirus. For many, the stress and anxiety levels on the frontline have reached all-time highs.
A Utah emergency room nurse told KSL she is doing all she can to manage it. For Holladay resident Cami Hubrich, nursing is more than a job. It’s a calling.
“I knew I wanted to end up in the ER,” she said. “You’re getting the sickest of the sick.”
With COVID-19, she and thousands of doctors and nurses in Utah work in jobs that have gone from stressful to dangerous.
“I feel a lot more anxious,” Hubrich said.
Cami Hubrich of Holladay works in an emergency room. While there’s nowhere she’d rather be, the wife and mother of three worries about the risks. Tonight at 6:30 p.m. @KSL5TV #ksltv #nurses #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/fwxqxWjmeo
— Heather Simonsen (@HeatherKSL) April 9, 2020
She has taken extra precautions, with her family in mind. That includes packing for work as if she may not leave.
“I’m taking shampoo and conditioner now. I’m taking an extra pair of clothes, and ‘What shoes should I wear because these will wash better?’ she said. It’s a whole other ball game,” she said.
Hubrich has isolated herself as much as possible, but still worries about the risks.
“What if I hang out with my parents and they get sick? What if one of my kids gets really sick from this?” she wondered.
Hubrich’s best friend, Kristin Hodson, is a therapists and a licensed clinical social worker.
“Seeing friends and family fueled her and filled her bucket, and helped her manage her mental health,” said Hodson, also the executive director of The Healing Group. “Now that’s gone, so there have to be new ways that we tend to our emotional and mental health.”
Inspired by what Hubrich is going through, Hodson wanted to help.
“It’s hard to debrief about your work with the everyday person, because it may be too hard for them to hold,” she said. “We want to offer emotional support.”
Hodson and her colleagues have offered free therapy for healthcare workers on the front lines. Visit thehealinggroup.com for more information.
“Sometimes you just need a safety net to know you can go a little bit further,” she said.
Hubrich and her family have talked openly about fears, and reassure their children she’s doing her best to stay safe and healthy.
She took a photo of her at work in a protective hood as proof.
“I could tell them all day long, ‘I’m safe, I’m protected,’ but for them to see it, I think, was helpful,” Hubrich said.
Despite the risk, there’s nowhere Hubrich would rather be than saving lives, while protecting her own mental health.
“I can’t see myself doing anything else, actually,” she said. “I would totally do it again.”
Coronavirus Resources
- Have you or a family member been affected by coronavirus issues in Utah? KSL TV wants to hear from you. Contact KSL by emailing social@ksl.com.
- What is COVID-19? Here’s What You Need To Know To Stay Healthy
- What We Know And Don’t Know About The Coronavirus
- Four Common Coronavirus Questions Answered
- The latest coronavirus stories from KSL TV can be found at our Staying Safe: Coronavirus section.
- Your Life Your Health: How can parents prepare their home, children against coronavirus?
How Do I Prevent It?
The CDC has some simple recommendations, most of which are the same for preventing other respiratory illnesses or the flu:
- Avoid close contact with people who may be sick
- Avoid touching your face
- Stay home when you are sick
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and then throw the tissue in the trash
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing. Always wash your hands with soap and water if your hands are visibly dirty.
- If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
How To Get Help
If you’re worried you may have COVID-19, you can contact the Utah Coronavirus Information Line at 1-800-456-7707 to speak to trained healthcare professionals. You can also use telehealth services through your healthcare providers.
Additional Resources
If you see evidence of PRICE GOUGING, the Utah Attorney General’s Office wants you to report it. Common items in question include toilet paper, water, hand sanitizer, certain household cleaners, and even cold medicine and baby formula. Authorities are asking anyone who sees price gouging to report it to the Utah Division of Consumer Protection at 801-530-6601 or 800-721-7233. The division can also be reached by email at consumerprotection@utah.gov.
