Cameron Cook '18 BSN, RN, FIEL

Staff Nurse, Hematology/Oncology
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia

April 28, 2020

My Covid-19 story may not necessarily be the same as many you are hearing from front line healthcare workers. Yes, I am working at the bedside currently as an oncology nurse at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, though I am not directly caring for these patients. There have been a lot of moving parts at my hospital and especially my unit as my normal unit transitioned to a designated COVID floor early on in the crisis. I then relocated with my oncology patients to continue their care as we consolidated all of our oncology units.

Since then my efforts, along with caring for my oncology patients, have now shifted to focus on ensuring our front line healthcare workers are properly equipped to safely care for patients during this crisis. This has taken two forms over the past few weeks. First has been my involvement with the Society of Nurse Scientists, Innovators, Entrepreneurs and Leaders (SONSIEL) and our SHARE PPE initiative to make sure we provide the proper personal protective equipment to our front line healthcare workers across the country who have a dire need.

Secondly, I have been involved with the planning of an awesome upcoming event in the middle of May, called Nurse Hack 4 Health: COVID-19. Presented by Johnson & Johnson, SONSIEL, Microsoft and dev up. This event will bring together engineers, IT, developers, designers, entrepreneurs, etc with the frontline healthcare workers and the problems they are facing during this crisis. The intention is to create rapid, actionable products that can be immediately applied within our current healthcare landscape to aid in the fight against this virus.

As can be seen, my role during this crisis has not taken on just one single form. I attribute this to being a part of the Nova Nation. I am so thankful for Villanova’s education and its emphasis on the care and compassion for others not only within the nursing field, but for our communities as a whole during a crisis like this. The nursing program has provided me with many of the tools necessary to adapt and overcome while at the same time maintaining compassion for both the patients and my fellow healthcare workers I am working to serve. Everyone stay safe and healthy!