The Seattle nurse describes burnout and abuse that push many healthcare workers to their limits

While caregivers struggle to care for COVID-19 patients, they face frequent criticism and abuse at work.

SEATTLE – Nurses in Seattle and across the country feel pushed to their limits caring for patients during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to burnout, nurses are often at the forefront of public frustrations.

“At first there was a sense of camaraderie and people really applauded the health care workers,” said Sam Conley, an acute neuroscientific nurse at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

Conley, also a member of the sister union SEIU Healthcare 1199NW, sat down with KING 5 to voice their concerns.

“We felt like people really understand what we are going through and they understand that we are making a sacrifice,” she said.

But nearly two years into the pandemic, in a new phase of vaccine requirements, mask enforcement and staff shortages, Conley said the pressures of the job had been as difficult as ever.

“It is the verbal and physical abuse of visitors and family members that is one of the most difficult aspects of caregiving,” said Conley. “I have to ask the visitors several times, ‘Hey, you have to put the mask back on.'”

She understands that dealing with difficult patients can be work-related, but she never thought that any part of it would enforce the wearing of masks in the hospital.

“What nurses are experiencing now is really different from what we’ve ever had before,” said Conley.

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In a briefing from the Washington State Hospital Association on Monday, Jon Hersen, president of Salmon Creek Medical Center at Legacy Health in Vancouver, Washington, said employees there are also being pushed to their limits.

“We are seeing extreme burnout and fatigue among our clinical and support staff,” Hersen said on the call. “Many are now choosing to quit the job.”

Conley said she also heard from her coworkers who wanted to quit the job because of burnouts.

“A lot of my coworkers are leaving and if they haven’t left they are just waiting for the opportunity. People who normally would never have left were the Lifers,” said Conley.

The Washington State Nurses Association has also noticed the problem, calling it an “unprecedented crisis” with a staff shortage reaching critical levels.

“Amid a fifth wave of COVID powered by the Delta variant and hospitals overflowing with patients in need of critical care, our government health workers continue to do their work heroically after a year and a half of this pandemic,” WSNA said Cabinet Chairman Julia Barcott said in the press release.

The state has recently looked for solutions to keep employees in the workplace and protect them.

State legislation that came into force last year extends workplace violence training to other health care institutions. It also requires volunteers and security personnel to receive the training, and includes additional training on violence prevention.

Conley said she received the training and was grateful for it.

“Now that it’s required by law, this training is actually getting through to people,” she said.

But she adds that staffing issues could become a serious problem.

“I’m just really worried that now we’re getting into a cycle where nurses are burned out and they’re leaving and it’s time to catch up,” Conley said.

RELATED: COVID-19 Deaths Rise in Washington as Hospital Admissions Hit All-Time Highs

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