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‘It’s not right for me…to sit on the sidelines’: Retired nurse returns to ICU to help fight COVID-19

Hundreds of medical professionals have rushed to our aide and given temporary Ga. licenses to help during the COVID-19 pandemic.

ATLANTA — Gary Nestrick has worked 30 years as a registered nurse, much of it in emergency rooms and intensive care units with Emory

In 2018, he decided to retire from the fast paced high demand job and to let go of the 45-minute commute to get there. But he wasn’t ready to simply sit at home and wait for his wife to retire as well, so he took a job working just two days a week at a hospital closer to home, caring for patients coming out of surgery.

“I thought that’s what you do when you’re toning down your career. You just kind of coast into the sunset,” said Nestrick.

Then came COVID-19. Despite his age, 64, and concerns of what would happen if he caught the virus, Nestrick said he didn’t think twice.

“It’s not right for me to just take what I know and sit on the sidelines," explained Nestrick. 

Credit: WXIA

Countless medical professionals with the same attitude, have shifted roles and added hours to help as patients pour into hospitals. Piedmont alone said it’s reached out to the physicians in its network of clinics asking them to help with the Piedmont Physician Reserve Corps.

RELATED: Piedmont Hospital to open new tower months ahead of schedule to accommodate COVID-19 patients 

“We are asking physicians to volunteer at Piedmont hospitals in their respective areas across non-specialty areas within their comfort level, such as the emergency department and ICU, in our call centers and in non-clinical support efforts,” said spokesman John Manasso.

Since mid-March when Governor Brian Kemp declared a public health state of emergency, the Georgia Board of Nursing has issued 926 new nursing licenses. 

The Georgia Medical Composite Board, which licenses doctors, said both groups have been hit with a wave of applications for temporary permits as well. So far, they’ve issued 385 short term permits for medical professionals.

Some are returning from retirement or active practice, but the bulk are nurses and doctors traveling from other states to help. While about 25 percent are coming from Florida, permits have been issued for doctors from as far away as Arizona, Washington and California. A survey of those receiving the 90-day temporary permits show the majority work in family practice or women’s health.

“Some of these folks are coming in to back fill, others are going directly to the front line. So, as you can imagine, it’s a giant chess match,” explained Bill Ryan who is leading the recruitment effort at Piedmont Healthcare.

Credit: WXIA

The hospital has made offers to hire 50 short term nurses and other medical professionals since the launch of its social media recruitment effort. He’s using Facebook, Twitter, text and email campaigns, even Instagram. The message: come help fight the virus. Ryan said the response has been overwhelming.

“They know what they’re getting themselves into and they still step up in order to help,” he said with gratitude.

Ryan said applicants are coming from various backgrounds. “Graduated medical students, nurses in academia, LPNs, nurses in the military medical corps as well as retirement.”

The Department of Public Health said it’s also seen a surge in volunteers with its SERVGA program. In one day it had 380 people sign up, to end the month of March with a total enrollment of 1,609 volunteers.

RELATED: 'I've been near tears. The deal is, the bills don't stop': Private doctors struggle amid pandemic

Credit: WXIA
This picture of Gary Nestrick was taken before COVID-19 pandemic.

DPH said 59 percent of those lending a hand have some kind of medical background. The rest have offered to help in supporting roles from security guards and data analysts to engineers.

Nestrick said many will step into an ICU for the first time, or with limited experience. That’s why he felt it was important for him to come back. He recalled an event last week, as he started briefing a nurse to take over his patients.

“I got to talking about the ventilator and she said – stop. I’ve never taken care of a patient on a ventilator. Ever," recalled Nestrick.

For many medical professionals, the work is exhausting and emotional.

“There was a patient who died and the nurse held a phone to his ear so his wife could talk to him,” explained Nestrick.

But it’s also rewarding, especially for those that have experience to offer.

“It kind of made you feel good that you’re old, but not obsolete," said Nestrick.

11Alive is focusing our news coverage on the facts and not the fear around the virus.  We want to keep you informed about the latest developments while ensuring that we deliver confirmed, factual information. 

We will track the most important coronavirus elements relating to Georgia on this page. Refresh often for new information. 

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