Resilience: Powered by Care and Caring

Cynthia Plonien DNP, RN, CENP
Chair, TONL Communications Committee

Texas - Feb 15, 2021: A historic winter storm hit the state with bitter cold, heavy snow and ice. Power grid failures caused millions of residents to lose electricity for days. Every county in the state was affected – losing heat, light, communications – phone, internet, TV, as well as access to food and water. Health care facilities faced external as well as internal disaster. Without power, essential medical services were halted in clinics. Durable medical equipment was lost in homes. While most hospitals were on power grids supporting electricity, utility providers were not – affecting hospital communications as well as the use of water. The financial costs and resulting morbidity and mortality related to the power outages is yet unknown.

Many citizens had needs never met during the disaster. Amazingly though, unprecedented assistance with environmental necessities came from the community, by caring families, neighbors, churches and local businesses with very limited resources. Nurses, however, offered support unique to care providers who are face-to-face and heart-to-heart with patients suffering unexpected emotional and physical loss.

Recognized for being at the front line of health care, the role of the nurse goes much deeper than the front line. During the Texas weather disaster of 2021, nurses have led and managed the care of patients and have supported their co-workers with an ever-present resilience powered by care and caring.

 

Dr. Christi Nguyen and nursing team helping Nutrition Services to provide patient meals during the winter storm 2021. JPS Hospital, Fort Worth Texas: