Photo By Sgt. Michael Ybarra | Lt. j. g. Leah Hammaker, an active-duty registered nurse assigned to the Navy Medicine...... read more read more
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ABILENE, Texas – Lt. j. g. Leah Hammaker, an active-duty registered nurse assigned to the Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command, Portsmouth, Va., is one of 80 Department of Defense medical personnel supporting COVID-19 relief efforts in Texas. Hammaker has been assigned as an emergency department nurse with Hendrick Hospital located in Abilene, Texas, since Jan. 26, 2021.
This assignment is not her first mission involving COVID-19. Hammaker first supported efforts against the virus in Spring 2020 when she was assigned to the USNS Comfort, a hospital ship. There was little known about COVID-19 during Hammaker’s first mission, since the virus was brand new.
“The difference in my last COVID mission, which was the USNS Comfort, compared to here (Hendrick) is that the Comfort was a hospital ship and we didn’t know as much about the virus,” said Hammaker. “I was in a totally different environment to being in a hospital where we are partnering with Hendrick Hospital and trading best practices which we’ve learned throughout the response to COVID-19.”
Hammaker spoke about her responsibilities and how working at Hendrick has shown her a different way to achieve a new level of autonomy.
“The nurses have a lot of responsibility here,” said Hammaker. “They are the first ones to see the patients and they have to do what’s necessary to keep them safe until the doctors are ready to see them. That’s a little bit of a difference from my surgical nurse background. The nurses really are the frontline healthcare workers and it’s incredible to see. It’s a privilege to learn from them.”
There has been a learning curve for Hammaker as well. She had to adapt to new protocols, learning the locations of supplies and equipment, and being in a new environment.
“Everyone here has been so helpful and nice,” said Hammaker. “There’s a difference in the patients in the community here than what I’m used to at Portsmouth’s military community. I think I’ve seen more death here than I have at home. I’ve seen more critical situations, more codes, daily here in the ED (Emergency Department). And I don’t see that at home as much. Being exposed to that is a little trying.”
Hammaker says working with both the ED and COVID patients has taken its toll because of the vast difference in care. She also said those situations have taught her a great deal.
“I look forward to learning more, we all need to learn” said Hammaker. “There are a few things I do here that I don’t get to do back home. I’m looking forward to taking those things back to our nursing floor. I think people are going to be impressed when I come back. They will say, ‘oh wow she’s seen a lot and experienced a lot to improve her skills.’ ”
Speaking on how her experience has helped the ED and, how the ED has helped her, Hammaker said the relief she and her fellow DoD nurses have provided is greatly appreciated. She plans to take back some lessons learned from the nurses at Hendrick.
“The nurses here are incredible,” said Hammaker. “They are really powerful and they have a lot of say in patient care. They are truly major advocates for patient care. I want to take that back with me to Portsmouth.”
| Date Taken: | 02.08.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 02.17.2021 14:08 |
| Story ID: | 389218 |
| Location: | ABILENE, TX, US |
| Hometown: | ABILENE, TX, US |
| Hometown: | PORTSMOUTH, VA, US |
| Hometown: | WASHINGTON, DC, US |
| Web Views: | 220 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, From Ship to Shore: U.S. Navy Nurse Supports Hospital in Abilene, Texas, by MSG Victor Gardner, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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