It was Friday, February 28, 2020, when the HCGH Chief of Infectious Disease and the Infectious Disease Manager walked into the office of Clinical Education Program Manager Roslyn Katz, MSN, RN, CEN. It was just the beginning …

The pandemic was surging. Quickly the Emergency Department became the epicenter for patients with COVID-19 to enter the hospital. HCGH ED nurses found their roles and responsibilities in a constant state of flux.

As the pandemic hit HCGH, it became critical to address the needs of nurses and clinical staff serving on the frontlines. A multi-department initiative was launched to support the staff’s greatest challenge – the need to stay resilient.

In 2019, the 12-month nurse residency program at HCGH was accredited with distinction. In March 2020, the new cohort of nurses had just begun their residency when the pandemic struck.

As the fall months approached, the HCGH Chief Nursing Officer had an idea for an event that would support HCGH nurses and incorporate the community. The Race Across Howard County was born.

In the ICU processes and protocols for caring for patients with COVID-19 were changing and evolving constantly. Patient volumes were increasing steadily. ICU Clinical Coordinator Ash Caretti, RN, CCRN, explains how the ICU flexed and staff learned along the way.