Kristin Zelyck

nursing instructor, #FoNUAlberta, #Loyolabioethics grad, ICU RN, interests: #narrativenursing #patientstory #indigenous ethics, all views my own she/her

[Kristin Zelyck @kzelyck]

Proud to be a faculty member and educator at the top ranking nursing program in Canada:
Canada's best university nursing programs: 2022 rankings - https://t.co/DVslnRu6xs https://t.co/0ZIsjxAmg4

[Kristin Zelyck @kzelyck]

@ljbenedek @thenosm @Ornge Linda I have been thinking about you. What an amazing opportunity! Are you there now?

[Kristin Zelyck @kzelyck]

Learning to Listen to Patients’ Stories https://t.co/jBfsF3zu4y

[Kristin Zelyck @kzelyck]

To my neighbors who inquired where I was walking this evening, to which I replied: “working in the ICU tonight” -and they kindly thanked me for going in. You uplifted my spirit after 2 previous gruelling shifts. And I shared your gratitude with my colleagues.

[Kristin Zelyck @kzelyck]

@CMOH_Alberta @CBCEdmonton @AHS_media

[Kristin Zelyck @kzelyck]

I think what is most surprising is how we have become almost numb to our “new normal”. Daily record breaking numbers, the exponential increase in hospitalization and daily reports of deaths have become normal.

[Kristin Zelyck @kzelyck]

And I wonder when it will all slow down. I know the vaccine is coming but I also realize it will be months before we recover from all of this.

[Kristin Zelyck @kzelyck]

I think what is most surprising is how we have become almost numb to our “new normal”. Daily record breaking numbers, the exponential increase in hospitalization and daily reports of deaths have become normal.

[Kristin Zelyck @kzelyck]

Our doctor did pause at the end of that code and asked us to remember the person on the bed. I looked at her and burst into tears. For her, for us, for everyone in the middle of the storm.

[Kristin Zelyck @kzelyck]

Here’s some context to the AB healthcare system now:

[Matthew J Douma @matthewjdouma]

Preparing scenarios where 1 emergency nurse takes care of 4, 8, 16+ #covid19 patients. Deciding what care will be omitted i.e. no feeding, no toileting, only the sickest get assessed, only life sustaining treatments, no symptom management etc. Terrifying. #covid19AB

[Kristin Zelyck @kzelyck]

@CMOH_Alberta The message yesterday, alluded to the vaccine swooping into save us in a few short weeks. The future vaccine is great news. Unfortunately this news overshadowed the current healthcare crisis.

[Kristin Zelyck @kzelyck]

@CMOH_Alberta Could you please comment on the govt position that we still have plenty of capacity to respond to the surge in cases. Yesterday, many “numbers” were presented without context. Our doubled ICU beds were normalized and the increased burden in healthcare not properly acknowledged.

[Kristin Zelyck @kzelyck]

@CarolynAYYC @CMOH_Alberta Seriously, our current healthcare crisis hidden by the vaccine to come in a few weeks.

[Kristin Zelyck @kzelyck]

@carolynmarie99 @bulldogsforme @RichardKnack @CMOH_Alberta So glad you received good care. Thank you so much for your support

[Kristin Zelyck @kzelyck]

@bulldogsforme @RichardKnack @CMOH_Alberta We are desperate to care for and protect our patients. Every single patient in hospital is vulnerable to this virus right now. Adding 800 beds for Covid positive patients only increases that risk. It is a bandaid solution for a gangrenous infection. More beds will not fix this.

[Kristin Zelyck @kzelyck]

@bulldogsforme @RichardKnack @CMOH_Alberta We want everyone to realize that this cannot be dumped on our healthcare system. This a world wide pandemic. The healthcare system will bear the brunt of this. But keep in mind that these numbers and statistics, have much more meaning than an empty bed or an available ventilator.

[Kristin Zelyck @kzelyck]

@bulldogsforme @RichardKnack @CMOH_Alberta Finally, every life matters to us. Whether our patients have lived long, full lives or they are living with comorbidities. These patients who are dying, are not the exception or the “other”. These are persons who deserve our attention and protection.

[Kristin Zelyck @kzelyck]

@bulldogsforme @RichardKnack @CMOH_Alberta This pandemic that may only cause common cold symptoms in some is dangerous for so many others. And furthermore, there is also the cost of burnout, mental health disparities and moral distress that frontline healthcare workers will have to work through when all of this is “over”

[Kristin Zelyck @kzelyck]

@bulldogsforme @RichardKnack @CMOH_Alberta Frontline healthcare workers are fighting fiercely, working tirelessly in the current climate. We are desperate for public and government support.