‘Eye-Opening Experience’ For Oklahoma Health Care Workers Fighting Pandemic In New Jersey

A group of Oklahoma healthcare workers now spend their days working on the COVID-19 front lines in another state.

Monday, April 27th 2020, 5:23 pm



A group of Oklahoma healthcare workers now spend their days working on the COVID-19 front lines in another state. The five medical professionals left Oklahoma on April 17 and will be in New Jersey until June.

 The group is known as "Oklahoma" in the New Jersey medical facility they now call home. They are working directly with elderly, COVID patients. 

 “It’s eye-opening, very emotional. We didn’t realize what we were getting into,” said Ashley Chandler, pathologist. “There are a lot of patients here that do have the virus and they can’t have loved ones here or anyone to be with them. So, it’s a lot harder than we thought it would be.”

Chandler and the others traveled more than 1,000 miles to work because there are not enough healthcare workers on the East Coast to meet the demand.

They said there also is not enough personal protective equipment, so they take extra precautions during their shifts.

“We sanitize each other a lot,” said Chandler. “Lots of rubbing alcohol, bleach. We wear all of our protective equipment.”

Unfortunately, death is now a part of their daily lives.

“We see patients here that are getting better and they’re doing great and they look fine,” said Chandler. “They’re off ventilation and we move them to another floor and then within 12 to 24 hours they are passing away.”

They worry for people back home as the state slowly reopens.

“If our Oklahoma government saw what we saw,” said Jaime Sweeney, phlebotomist. “They would keep it shut down for a little bit longer.”

The healthcare workers do look forward to being home with their loved ones again.

“We can’t wait to be back in Oklahoma,” said Chandler. “We love Oklahoma, we love all of you.”

The healthcare workers will self-quarantine for two weeks when they return home.


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