The-Laker-Issue3-Fall-2020

After graduating, she accepted a post as a charge nurse in a rehab unit at Thompson Hospital’s continuing care center. In the six years that followed, she also held jobs as a community health nurse, an RN case manager and a clinical specialist for a variety of health care providers, sometimes at the same time. The Hospeace position offered an opportunity to work in her hometown and provide “person-centered” care. Board President Bob Brancato said her compassion combined with skill and administrative background have made her an excellent fit. He wasn’t surprised when Jennifer said she wanted to help in a COVID-19 hotspot. “We were concerned in regards to her health and what she was going to be facing,” he said. “She prepared herself well and we were very much respectful of what she was going to be doing and proud we had somebody as our executive director who was willing to help in such a critical time.” Jennifer accepted a post as an assistant director of nursing in the hospital’s behavioral and psychiatric outpatient clinic. “At the time I was thinking, OK, of course there’s going to be some exposure, but it wasn’t like I was going to be standing in the COVID unit,” she said. “I thought, I can go and I can help and do it from an administrative position and still keep myself a little bit safer.” She arrived at the hospital on April 20. “It was chaos and all hands on deck were needed,” she said. “We were dropped into the ‘Twilight Zone.’” Shortly after her arrival, an administrator took Jennifer from what she thought would be a desk job into the war zone. All around, she saw patients on ventilators. Jennifer hadn’t been offered personal protective equipment, or PPE. She thought of another former FLCC nursing professor, Barbara Selvek. “She always told us, ‘You constantly have to be assessing your situation and your surroundings,’” Jennifer said. “I realized I was brought to a COVID unit, so I backed up and said, ‘I’m sorry but I am going to at least need a mask to enter.’” Every long, chaotic shift was followed by a methodical routine of carefully removing her armor — gloves, gown, shield, and mask — before returning to the hotel she called home during her stay. On the worst nights, when doubt and hopelessness crept in, Jennifer remembered something one of her FLCC instructors told her in a class years ago: “Never forget why you became a nurse.” Those words, from the now retired Emily Kuryla, became a mantra. ‘Twilight Zone’ Most nurses will say their profession was a calling. Jennifer Emmons is no exception. “I had always wanted to be a nurse from the time I was 3 years old and my grandpa Scott let me help him with his insulin shots,” she said. “He would say, ‘You’re going to be a nurse just like your aunt Barbie, right?’” Jennifer enrolled at FLCC when her four sons were school-aged. “It was close to home and had one of the most difficult and highly recommended programs,” she said. Emmons soaked up the lessons of faculty and staff like Emily Kuryla, Jean D’Abbracci, Lisa McAnn, Susan McCarthy, Barbara Selvek, Mary Coriale, and Kylene Abraham. the LAKER | 5 When she could, Jennifer Emmons ’11 held the hands of patients who could not have visitors during the peak of the pandemic. Sometimes, she sent photos like this to their loved ones. The occupants of this room were among the many casualties during Jennifer Emmons’ stay at Bergen New Bridge Medical Center.