Jen Woods: Facing COVID-19 adversity together to deliver excellent patient care

Since graduating from university, Jen Woods has been drawn to practicing as a Registered Nurse in rural hospitals. After working for several years in northern Ontario, she found her way south and joined Campbellford Memorial Hospital on the Inpatient Unit (IPU) in 2013.

“With a rural hospital, the teams are smaller and you have a different level of resources, which means you have the opportunity to take on greater responsibilities,” said Jen, who has served as Team Leader on the IPU for several years. “The other bonus of working at a small hospital is that everybody gets to know each other on a personal level.”

Those personal connections have proven to be a great strength as Jen and her team navigated — and continue to endure — the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The toll of COVID-19 on the Inpatient Unit

COVID-19 placed significant strain on staffing levels across the province, and CMH felt this impact acutely. The Inpatient Unit faced periods where team members and their families became ill and required testing and isolation, while also managing increased admissions and caring for patients who tested positive for COVID-19.

“Because it’s an older building with a limited number of private rooms, it is difficult to manage isolation requirements for patients,” shared Jen. “During the peaks of COVID-19, there was a lot of shuffling patients around and figuring out the best way to keep people safe.”

Isolation requirements and evolving COVID protocols increased the workload for Jen and her team and changed the typical workday on the unit.

“We’ve done a good job of supporting each other — we’re all in the same situation, so everybody understands what their colleagues are going through.”

Proudest accomplishment

More than two years after the pandemic was declared, Jen is proud of how the team successfully navigated three COVID-19 outbreaks while continuing to provide excellent care to patients.

Through it all, Jen takes great pride in being part of the CMH team. “I think it’s the small-town feel — our team really cares about the hospital, and we’re committed to making it a great place to work.”