It’s not business as usual for Markham nurse Alyssa Couture.

The clinical leader of acute medicine and inpatient oncology at Markham Stouffville Hospital is one of the thousands of health-care workers fighting the COVID-19 pandemic on the front lines.

There are many differences right now in the daily routine at the hospital like screening, heightened stress and empty hallways with no visitors. “We look each other in the eyes, taking a few extra moments to recognize each other as everyone has to now wear a mask,” she said. “We exchange our normal lighthearted banter once we do.”

One of the biggest concerns right now, Couture said, is ensuring there are enough resources, like personal protective equipment, to provide the best care for patients while prioritizing the safety of staff.

The difficult decision to not allow visitors has also been very hard, Couture said. Nurses have had to get used to a large increase in call volume from family members who are checking on their loved ones. “The hardest challenge though, from the front line, is being as supportive as possible to our inpatients who now are in hospital without the presence of their support systems,” Couture said. “We want them to know that even though they are not here, we are — and we are doing the best we can do help fill that void.”

Unlike the majority of the community which has been told to stay home Couture said health-care workers have to go to work. “We are keeping our scrubs and shoes out of the house, we are running into the shower when we get home before we even say hello to our loved ones. Our hands have never been drier from all the hand hygiene,” Couture said.

“We are scared, too — and that is challenging. We reassure each other, remember our training -- we remain calm and collected. But we are scared. We are scared that we will get sick. We are scared that we may bring something home to our families. We are scared that we won’t have enough resources. We are scared that if the public does not value the severity of the warning to stay home, we will not be able to care for the volumes that will end up in the hospital.”

Through all that has happened so far Couture said the teamwork of health-care staff and the support they feel from the community has been motivation to keep going. “The largest source of motivation for me when I’m driving in to work, stopping for screening before entering and putting on my mask is knowing that inside I work alongside the most amazing, compassionate and kind health-care providers,” she said.

While there is added stress, Couture said the kindness from community and fellow staff has come shining through during this time. Whether it's doctors offering to do certain tasks in a room to conserve PPE, or nurses holding up an iPad so a patient can FaceTime their family, Couture said it all matters.

“I strongly believe that we need to remember that though this is contagious, so are kindness and gratitude — and practising those are within our control and we need it now more than ever,” she said.