Jonas Kwok
Jonas Kwok and his colleagues from Lions Gate Hospital
Celebrating Our Profession
What's your unit or specialty?
Cardiac care turned COVID-19 unit since the pandemic started.
How long have you been nursing?
Since July 2019.
Why did you become a nurse and when did you know that nursing was for you?
I have always wanted to work in health care, and I knew that nursing was for me when I realized how big of an impact nurses had in the larger community in support of global health. I became a nurse because I want to address and decrease health inequities and improve diversity and inclusion for both nurses and patients.
How would you describe the work you do in one word?
Diverse.
How does COVID-19 make you feel?
As a nurse working on the COVID-19 unit, it has been challenging and emotional at times. We get a unique perspective on just how devastating the virus can be. But it has also been rewarding to see how supportive family members can be even though they can't visit. Seeing our patients get healthy and discharged is always the best.
Name one thing on your nursing bucket list.
I would love to get my master's in nursing and teach one day.
Celebrating Each Other
What do you appreciate most about your fellow nurses?
Since I started working on my unit last year, my fellow nurses have been nothing but amazing. In particular, the senior nurses inspire me everyday with their breadth of knowledge and wealth of experience. We have a very special unit because I know I can always depend on them to be there for me when I need help, and everyone always goes above and beyond to ensure the next nurse has a good shift. Since our transition into the COVID-19 unit, my colleagues have stepped up even more to advocate for both staff and patient safety in uncertain times. It has been scary and frustrating at times for sure, but we still have a lot of fun on our unit and I am always laughing despite the pandemic. The work is hard and emotionally taxing sometimes, but I always look forward to work because of all the exceptional nurses I work with!•