By Kendra Hill staff writer
As covid cases continue to climb, nursing homes are put at greater risk.
“It closed down the Spa I was working at as a couple massage therapist and now work as an LPN,” said Danielle L’heureux a Licensed Nurse Practitioner at Emmetsburg Care Center. “I first became a nurse back in 1997 and have worked at many different care centers.”
Many facility’s have had to change how they work and what personal protective equipment they should use and or wear.
“Covid has changed work in a lot of ways,” said Hannah Merwald a Certified Nursing Aid at Lakeside in Emmetsburg Iowa, “Everyone is required to wear face mask and eye protection during their shift. There were a couple months where everyone had to change into their work clothes at work. Everyone’s temperature is taken when they enter the building and leaving the building. I take things day by day mainly because we never know if policies are going to change.”
When covid first started Governor Kim Reynolds closed all care centers to the public to help keep residents safe. Now some care centers are reopening their doors to let family of residents back in to see loved ones.
We have started to let families back in to see the residents. Said L’Heureux. ” The residents seem to be handling not seeing their family ok for the most part. A lot of the time I just wish that they could see my smile that is hidden by my mask.”
“The residents aren’t allowed to leave their room unless they have a mask on,” Said Merwald. ” They all have their meals in their rooms and we are not allowing large group activities and or family members to come and see them. But we try and get everyone up and moving and that seems to be helping out a lot”
As seen and heard on T.V. many nurses and doctors are taking their life due to covid and the amount of stress that this has put on them.
“I have always loved my job. Somedays are worse than others but I love my residents and I love getting to see them every time I work. Being a CNA is probably one of the best decisions I have ever made,” said Merwald.
Seeing that nurses are taking care of our grandparents during this pandemic everyone should go and thank a nurse for their hard work.
Call of the Lake 
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