Brianna Corwin and her brother Cameron Corwin both knew as students at Platte County High School that they wanted to someday work in the health care field. And now like millions of health care workers around the world they are on the front line in the battle against COVID-19.
The siblings work at the University of Kansas Hospital. Brianna is a COVID ICU nurse and Cameron is an ortho nurse who is serving as a “tele rule-out float” nurse during the pandemic.
“I have cared for dozens of patients that are known COVID positive and many more that have been tested and are awaiting results,” Brianna said. “The biggest challenge at KU that I have experienced is trying to have families feel like they are still a part of their loved one’s care.”
Although KU and the providers have done a wonderful job utilizing Zoom and other networking platforms to include families in on physician rounds, Brianna said for her personally it’s been extremely rough to have a patient pass away and only one family member present because of the current visitor guidelines.
“Normally, a celebration of life would occur with the patient surrounded by family and loved ones,” Brianna said. “I am so honored to take care of these patients and pour out my love for them and their families to try and get them through such unfortunate times.”
Cameron’s job entails ‘floating’ to all areas of the hospital to help support any areas that need more staffing whether that’s a normal med-surg unit or on a COVID-19 rule out unit.
“On a rule out unit I am taking care of those patients who are waiting minute by minute to see if they test positive for COVID-19, so my job is to comfort them, reassure them and provide the most holistic care I can while we wait together for their test results,” Cameron said.
When Brianna, who was in the class of 2010 at Platte County High School researched careers there was no doubt in her mind that she wanted to enter health care. She was just not sure in what capacity.
“I initially went to the University of Missouri where I played softball and double majored in biology and health science,” Brianna said. “After graduation I got my accelerated nursing degree from William Jewell College. Next month I will be starting CRNA school (certified registered nurse of anesthesia) at Truman Medical Center. I am so thankful for my time at PCHS. Teachers were supportive both in the classroom and on the field and because of this I was able to excel in both.”
Cameron graduated from Platte County High School in 2015. He liked that the high school gave him the freedom to be who he wanted to be.
“We had the full spectrum of cliques and it lets you spread your wings,” Cameron said. “The guidance counselors helped me to find a great nursing program as they were alums of Pittsburg State University. I ultimately wanted to serve others by loving on them in some of the most difficult moments of their life, and it is an honor to do it.
“I decided to be a nursing major junior year of high school. My sister and I are the only health care professionals in the family but our father is a retired KCPD officer and our mother is a university teacher/faculty, so service to others runs in our blood.”
For Cameron the biggest challenge in his work is remaining calm and collected for his patients.
“The last place they want to be is the hospital let alone be in the hospital when a global pandemic is looming,” Cameron said. “I am that calming presence for them. Even when I’m concerned about what is happening to the point I am not sleeping at night, my patients must know that I will do everything I can to keep them safe and protected while I worry about keeping myself protected.”
He lives with his parents in an attempt to save money since graduating last May. So when taking care of a patient showing symptoms or is positive for COVID-19 the safety of his parents is very much on his mind.
“I’m not so worried about my safety, I’ve signed up to a profession where I am expected to do what others wouldn’t,” Cameron said. “The amount of patients I interact with daily depends on the unit. If it is a rule out unit all of my patients have symptoms (two to three patients), and typically on the med-surg units one out of my four patients will be a rule out as well.”
Both Brianna and Cameron believe that much like H1N1 the world will see another large peak of COVID in the fall when flu season hits.
“COVID will be unique though and another surge will happen once businesses start opening up again,” Brianna said. “But COVID won’t go away. This will be with us forever. It’s time we adopt good personal hygiene habits, things we should be doing anyway but will become immensely more important as we move forward. All these things will be extremely important as people will continue to be carriers and be asymptomatic. The most important advice I can give is to follow the guidelines of professionals. We have to learn from the past.”
When reopening commences Cameron believes social distancing and extreme sanitation must still be a daily battle or we will see waves of this virus that are worse than the one we are going through.
“Do not change your current lifestyle until we are a couple of weeks into that restriction being lifted,” Cameron said. “It will take time to truly know if it is safe to go out. Cases will sharply rise a week after these restrictions go away if we are not in the clear yet. Be cautious.”
Both siblings describe KU’s allocation of resources and distribution to employees and patients as amazing. And as CDC guidelines constantly change KU continues to adapt and ensure that everyone is safe.
“I am worried about being exposed to the virus,” Brianna said. “I was quarantined at my home after caring for a positive patient and then spiking a temperature. I went to KU’s drive up swab clinic and was extremely impressed with their efficiency and safety taken.
“I fortunately tested negative and was allowed to return to work just a couple days later. The virus isn’t going to disappear. As a health care professional we will always run the risk of coming into contact with it.”
Cameron is not concerned about his own exposure but he is worried about loved ones who are in the higher death vulnerability category.
“For my shifts we have been blessed enough to have had all the personal protective equipment that has been required,” Cameron said. “I am the last one who wants attention or recognition for a way of life I have chosen. I am more proud of my sister and coworkers, they are the true heroes to me.”
As the pandemic continues to bring much-deserved attention and appreciation to the world’s health care workers for the courage and devotion they’ve shown, Brianna said that she is also in awe of the support they are receiving from the public.
“I do feel a little guilty however,” Brianna said. “There are so many other people working to help keep everything running smoothly. All the grocery store employees, police officers, EMTs — even environmental workers — they are keeping the world spinning and I appreciate them every day. My dad is a retired major with KCPD so I have always had a deep appreciation.”
Working in ICU has given Brianna some unique experiences and she said the most rewarding part of her job is working so hard for 12 hours straight to try and save someone’s life and seeing them eventually walk out of the hospital.
“The time, energy, and passion poured in is worth it when you see the smile on the patient’s and family’s faces,” Brianna said. ”Another rewarding part is being the nurse taking care of a very sick patient at the end of life. Being able to make that moment a positive memory for the family and ensure the patient is not in pain is a gift not many can say they’ve done.
“I frequently think about these patients and families that I got to know so well as they are usually with us for a very long time.”
For Cameron the rewards that come with his job are being able to unconditionally love people in some of the hardest of circumstances.