Meet Emily Shands, a new critical care nurse who volunteered to work in her hospital’s COVID unit less than a year out of nursing school. Emily, an ICU nurse at Mercy Hospital in St. Louis, shares how the opportunity to learn and contribute as part of a COVID care team outweighed her fears and pushed her to stretch beyond her “new nurse” comfort zone. She also talks about lessons learned, shifts in perspective, having more autonomy and gaining a deeper appreciation of teamwork.

The vital role nurse leaders play in maintaining a healthy work environment becomes even more critical – and complex – in times of crisis. In this podcast episode, we welcome New York neurosurgical ICU nurse manager Kishun Moolsanker, who led his team through the COVID surge in one of the nation’s early hot spots. Kishun relates his experiences adapting to new realities, innovating creative solutions and supporting his team mentally and emotionally during the pandemic.

As critical care nursing moves toward a post-surge “new normal,” it is natural to pause and consider where we have been and where we are going. Join direct care ICU nurse Niki Raymond as she reflects on facing challenges and overcoming barriers at the bedside along with her nurse colleagues during the height of COVID-19. By sharing her experiences of uncertainty, doubt, fear, hope and support, she demonstrates the strength and perseverance of all nurses through the most chaotic of times.