“The patients during that time were scared. It’s overwhelming for them. It’s all unfamiliar faces and all they could see were our eyes. But they also said they could tell when we were smiling.”
Erin Hallinan, unmasked
In the latest episode of Hartford HealthCare’s More Life podcast, Erin Hallinan, a nurse practitioner in the Intensive Care Unit and chair of the APRN Council at St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Bridgeport, shares her professional and personal experiences during the COVID-19 surge.
Erin reflects on the onset of the pandemic: “The patients came so quickly — so many of them — and they were so profoundly ill. It was a very overwhelming experience, both in a negative and positive way. When else in my career would I be on the forefront of a novel virus that had never seen the human population before?”
Listen as Erin describes how her relationships with colleagues, patients and family members drastically changed in a time of crisis – in ways she had never imagined.
Hartford HealthCare has treated thousands of COVID-19 patients, many still struggling with lingering side effects. If you or a loved one needs help after recovering from COVID-19, Hartford HealthCare’s COVID Recovery Center can help. Call 860.827.3200 to schedule a virtual or in person appointment.