PSEA members everywhere are mobilizing to ensure the health, safety, and education of our communities suffering from COVID-19 and its fallout. That’s especially true for HealthCare-PSEA, a group of roughly 700 health care professionals working on the front lines of this pandemic. These are nurses and lab tech professionals caring for our most vulnerable residents in hospitals and nursing homes. They’re treating patients suffering from COVID-19 and accommodating all their needs – physical, mental, and social.

While people are sheltering in place and social distancing across the country, our health care workers continue to put themselves at risk every shift. When they finally can go home after serving others, they worry about exposing family members to the virus.

“HealthCare-PSEA members are facing enormous challenges on the front lines and in their own homes keeping everyone safe,” said PSEA Treasurer Jeff Ney. “We can’t thank them enough for their exemplary work fighting for lives during this pandemic. They are true heroes to whom we owe our deepest gratitude.”

PSEA members from our Central-Western Region showed their gratitude by providing snack bags to the nurses of the Indiana Registered Nurses Association at the Indiana Regional Medical Center. It was a way to show their appreciation and try to lift their spirits during this challenging time.

“The thought that people care about us really matters,” said Monica Wheeler, a registered nurse in IRMC’s Telemetry Department and an IRNA member. “Knowing we are supported by our family and friends, and that the community values our work, is what keeps us going.”

On the other side of the state, Mideastern Region members mobilized the community in a similar show of support for the staff at the Neshaminy Manor nursing home, most of whom belong to the Bucks County Nurses Association. Neighbors collected money, and a local restaurant has started sending meals for all three shifts for all the staff in the nursing home.

“Thankfully, a supplemental Human Resource policy was implemented for the courageous employees working in essential roles during COVID-19,” said PSEA UniServ representative Bonnie Neiman. “These heroes are receiving an additional hourly supplemental wage to perform their tasks.”