Lehigh Valley Health Network’s (LVHN) first-of-its-kind documentary honors its nurses by sharing stories about their heroic work throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The documentary features four nurses who, throughout the pandemic, found the bravery, courage, and resilience to continue working through some of the most challenging career experiences.
The documentary, called “The Strength to Heal,” is a testament to nurses worldwide who learned how to persevere in the worst of times. The featured LVHN nurses share how the bonds forged with their patients and learning to care for themselves outside of work allowed them to keep going, even when the going was getting tough.
“I believe that the foundation of great medical care is nursing, and LVHN’s nurses are among the best you will find. During the challenging initial years of the pandemic, the community turned to LVHN and its nurses not just for stability and care, but for compassion and emotional support,” says Brian A. Nester, DO, MBA, President and Chief Executive Officer of LVHN. “The strength, resiliency, and commitment to patients in the face of uncertainty demonstrated by our nurses are nothing short of heroic. We’re thrilled to showcase that dedication and strength of character in this documentary.”
The documentary highlights nurses’ commitment to their patients and the critical role they are still playing in the community’s fight against COVID-19.
Each of the LVHN nurses featured in the documentary exemplifies dedication to providing high-quality patient care that drives improved patient outcomes and leaves an indelible mark on those in their care. From brightening birthdays spent in the hospital with COVID to bringing loved ones together when difficult goodbyes were made – many virtually – these nurses provided compassionate and personalized support.
This commitment shone through even as they faced challenges, such as isolating themselves from friends and family so they could continue reporting to the front lines to care for others or facing fears of bringing COVID home to their children. Their strength and resiliency are characteristic of LVHN’s approach to patient care.
The detailed stories featured in the documentary provide a complete view into the lives of nurses during those challenging times. Like those of their colleagues in the nursing community, their stories reflect the difficulties that nurses faced across the nation – providing a complete, detailed look into their lives inside and outside of their work during the height of the pandemic.
One story, in particular, comes from nurse Nichole Persing, Director of Patient Care Services, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Lehigh Valley Hospital–Hecktown Oaks, who likened navigating the challenging time to the athletic endurance training she completed to compete in multiple Ironman competitions.
She shares in this documentary how her passion for training for Ironman races allowed her to apply the endurance mindset to her nursing work, helping her persevere in the most daunting situations as she led an ICU unit through the pandemic and provided care firsthand to affected community members.
“The nursing profession has been irrevocably altered by the pandemic,” Nester says. “This documentary provides an opportunity to pause and reflect on our shared experiences and find meaning in what we will carry forward.”
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