26 THE QUEENS COURIER • MAY 7, 2020 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
nurses week
Astoria nurse takes pride in caring for
patients during COVID-19 pandemic
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
cmohamed@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
V i k t o r i y a
Laskina of
Astoria takes
pride in
her career
work ing
as a regi
s t e r e d
nurse at
M o u n t
S i n a i
Q u e e n s
Ho s p i t a l ,
where she
has spent 20
years caring for
patients.
“It’s always
been my passion
and the
patients
come fi rst,” Laskina said. “Th ere are certain
days it is stressful being a nurse, but
at the end of the day I go home knowing
I helped people. I don’t think I would be
satisfi ed with sitting at a desk shuffl ing
papers.”
In February, Laskina was recognized
by Mount Sinai Queens
with a DAISY Award for
Extraordinary Nurses, which
was established to celebrate
the extraordinary compassion
nurses provide their
patients and families every
day.
“We are in the medical profession
and it’s our job to help
patients get better. The country
is in a crisis, and as a nurse
it’s my obligation to put my
heart and soul into my work
and do what I can to help
them.”
Viktoriya Laskina, registered nurse
at Mount Sinai Queens Hospital
Since graduating from Adelphi
University in 1999 with a bachelor of science
degree in nursing, Laskina said she
knew it was her calling to help people —
especially at a time when healthcare professionals
are battling the coronavirus.
“We are in the medical profession and
it’s our job to help patients get better,”
Laskina said. “Th e country is in a crisis,
and as a nurse it’s my obligation to put my
heart and soul into my work and do what
I can to help them.”
For 20 years, Laskina has been working
in the Medical/Surgical 4 Department,
where surgeries have been canceled as
nurses and doctors treat coronavirus
patients in respiratory distress. While
treating coronavirus patients, Laskina
also became ill in early April and was
quarantined in her home for two
weeks. Following her recovery, she
returned to the hospital to continue
working on the frontlines with her
colleagues.
“I was nervous, but yet happy to
return because laying in bed makes
you feel like you’re not productive with
your time,” Laskina said. “Th anks to my
family and being able to quarantine,
taking antibiotics, other treatments, and
having a good immune system, I am one
of the lucky ones.”
Since the beginning of the coronavirus
outbreak, it’s been mentally and
physically challenging for Laskina as
the hospital became overwhelmed with
patients, she said.
“It’s been devastating seeing patients
sick, intubated and passing away. We
put on our protective equipment, two
masks, shield, gown, gloves, and it’s a
lot of time and energy disposing of PPP
than taking care of patients,” Laskina
said. “A lot of our staff gets sick and
between everything — my recovery,
kids being out of school, and husband
working from home — it’s been quite an
adjustment,” Laskina added.
During the spike of coronavirus hospitalizations
in March and April, Laskina
has been working a few extra hours in
the evening to help her colleagues on
the fl oor.
“It makes me happy that I work with
no left overs for the evening shift to do,”
Laskina said. “I try to complete my work
to the best of my ability and help all of
my coworkers around me.”
In response to the overwhelming support
healthcare professionals are receiving
for helping to save lives during the
pandemic, Laskina described it as gratifying.
“I see the support from the local
restaurants and delis, pretty much every
day they have been giving free lunch to
the nursing staff ,” Laskina said. “Th at’s
very nice because a lot of restaurants are
closed and as busy as you are, you don’t
have time to go out and see what is open
and what you would eat.”
Although the job is diffi cult but yet
rewarding, Laskina doesn’t have any
regrets of becoming a nurse.
“Taking care of our patients — whether
it’s in-patient or out-patient — it
makes me happy to help whether they
have pain or are recovering from an
orthopedic surgery, or any kind of surgery,”
Laskina said. And as the city continues
to fi ght the coronavirus, Laskina
is reminding everyone to take the necessary
precautions to protect themselves.
“Don’t get comfortable too fast
because we can have a resurgence of
cases. It doesn’t take much to go backwards,”
Laskina said. “Eat healthy, exercise,
take a deep breath and everything
will be okay. We will get through this.”
On behalf of the Jamaica Center BID, we are in awe of and
humbled by the resiliency and bravery of our medical
professionals and all essential workers
Together we are #QueensStrong
For a list of open essential businesses on Jamaica Ave, visit: Jamaica.nyc
B U S I N E S S I M P R O V E M E N T D I S T R I C T Jamaica Center BID @JamCenterBID @jamcenterbid
JAMAICA CENTER BID
Viktoriya Laskina, a registered
nurse at Mount Sinai Queens, was
presented with a DAISY Award
for Extraordinary Nurses,
which was established to celebrate
the extraordinary
compassion nurses provide
their patients
and families
every day.
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