of drugs and dying

Things continue to be much the same with the COVID situation at work. Our IV room has experienced a huge surge in the amount of stat IV's made, and at times can hardly keep up with the demand for sedatives for vented patients. To make one bag of fentanyl, for example, nine 2 mL vials have to be opened and punctured. Just taking a guess, we probably make at least 25 bags in an 8 hour shift.

This is the type of vial we are currently using. Before the cap can be snapped off, the perforated top part of the wrapper has to be peeled off. Those little details are time consuming and slow down the process. The clean room workers appreciate when the ante room tech peels the stickers off before sending the drug back. Today I was the ante room tech, and at one time I peeled off the stickers on 108 vials to make 12 bags of fentanyl.

This is another type of vial, called an ampule, we had. They are also time-consuming to open and draw the drug from. The ampule is glass and since the tops are snapped off, there is potential for glass shards to be in the drug. We use a filter needle, which traps particles, when drawing out of an ampule. The needle is then changed before injecting the drug into an IV bag.

In the last week we've had several patients who work at the same local facility admitted with COVID. This is alarming and shows what can happen in workplaces once someone gets the virus. One of those patients, who was only 58, passed away today. Hearing that saddens everyone. We prepared many IV's for her in the short time she spent in critical care. I have full confidence in the elderly pulmonologist who is the intensivist (doctor who provides care for critical patients). I've seen respiratory therapists and nurses doing their jobs with their best ability. Yet all that effort can't save a life. There's another patient in critical care (employed by the same company) who is only 38 and in very grave condition. You can tell once certain drugs are being used that an all-out effort is being made to keep someone's body from shutting down. For example, when someone's kidneys are failing, they might be put on CRRT (continuous renal replacement therapy) a type of 24 hour dialysis which does the work of the kidneys. I can't remember anyone who recovered after being on CRRT.

The tone of this blog has been negative and I don't want it to end that way so I'll mention some more uplifting events. These things brighten a work atmosphere!

• Seeing a brand new baby on a trip to the birthing center
• Same baby announcing a set of strong, healthy lungs to anyone within earshot 
• Helping a patient get their meds quickly
• "Thank you" from a tired, hardworking nurse 
• Support from the community in the form of drive by's, donations, and food for healthcare workers