How the Emergency Room works in my workplace

Triage Area

• Patient will be seen by a nurse and a doctor

• Vital signs will be taken such sa blood pressure, pulse rate, respiratory rate, temperature and oxygen saturation

• Covid-19 screening will be done by asking if they developed symptoms like cough/colds, sore throat, fever and shortness of breath for the past two weeks.

Patient with no covid-19 signs and symptoms will be brought to the Emergency Room Clean Area.

Patient with covid-19 signs and symptoms will be brought to Covid-19 Emergency Room. (Tagged as Covid-19 suspect)

Emergency Room Clean Area

• Admission papers of the patient will be done

• Doctors orders will be carried out (ivf insertion, ngt and ifc, giving initial dose of meds, etc)

• Will be brought to ward for the continuation of care

Covid-19 Emergency Room

• Admission papers of the patient will be done

• Doctors orders will be carried out (ivf insertion, ngt and ifc, giving initial dose of meds, etc)

• Will be brought to ward for the continuation of care

Are you thinking the two are just the same? Yes, in the a way. But there is a big difference on the admission papers.

Admission on Emergency Room Clean Area has no burial form.

Burial Form

This is the hardest part to explain to the relatives or to the patient itself. My dilemma.

The form contains that once you are tagged as a Covid-19 suspect, once you are admitted, you will be isolated. You can't go out in your room and no visitors are allowed.

Other than that is, when a patient's condition worsened and unexpectedly he/she died, the body will be placed on a metal casket that will be buried imeediately or will be cremated.

Imagine relatives hearing that as we explained. Can you imagine the look on their face and the hesitation to sign the form?

Others become aggressive after learning about the burial form and asking question why it is like that. The only thing that I can respond to their questioning is to prove me that the patient is 100% free from the corona virus.

I know, it's a little bit harsh but i'm just following the rules set by the hospital.

Being a nurse on times of this pandemic is very exhausting. It is not only physically but also mentally.

This article is not a rant. I'm just giving you an idea how hospital works as of today.

Well, I don't know if the other hospital has the same policy as we.

For all the health care workers like me, "Never give up! And thank you for your hardwork."