1,166 Mississippians are hospitalized with the coronavirus, a record that has risen five times in seven days. Healthcare workers are fatigued, and there is a nation-wide shortage of workers. Recent Jones College nursing graduate Jamie Ramsey says she wants to work in medical surgical nursing on the front lines of the pandemic to help treat COVID-19 patients. "It's like a two-edged sword," says Ramsey. "Being that I'm coming in during a pandemic, but at the same time I'm trying to try my best to help as much as I can because there's only so much I can do sitting at the house, but being that I'm going into the field where it's needed the most, I feel like I'll be essential to help end this pandemic."
Coronavirus outbreaks in long-term care facilities are at an all-time high. Recent graduate Candice Ball of Laurel is fulfilling a lifelong dream to become a nurse. She has accepted a job at a nursing home, and Ball says she is ready to face the challenges posed by the virus. "I think right now with COVID-19, and keeping families out and all, it's really important now that we show some extra love to these residents here and just love on them a little more and be there for them and make sure that their spirits are staying up as best as they can," says Ball.
A coronavirus vaccine is expected to be made available in Mississippi to front-line healthcare workers next week. Long term care residents and employees will qualify in the following weeks.
