She spends a large part of her day jabbing people in the arm with a needle.
Wendy Bergman is a public health nurse with Northern Health and this is Nurses Week.
Believe it or not, many people have shared that when they get their vaccination against the coronavirus they haven’t felt the poke and have had to ask if it’s done.
There’s a reason for that, Bergman said.
Giving the vaccine is a two-step process for the nurses.
First they poke the needle through the plastic stopper of the vaccine bottle to draw out the dosage of vaccine that will be injected into your arm. Then - and here’s the secret to an almost painless shot - the nurse replaces the needle used to draw the vaccine with a brand new needle and that needle is super sharp and that’s why some people don’t even feel it.
“Once the needle is used to draw the vaccine out of the bottle it can get kind of jaggy,” Bergman explained. “But you’re getting a super sharp needle in the arm.”
Nurses at the Prince George Civic Centre have seen all kinds of reactions to getting a needle and have a plan to help everyone through it.
The priority is safety so if you get a little light headed or are prone to fainting, they’ll even lay you on the floor to keep you safe.
And experienced nurses can see the reluctant person coming a mile away. If you get quiet, or avoid eye contact or fearfully look at the needle the nurse will help you through the experience as best they can.
“We are as careful with the people as we are with the vaccine - both are very delicate,” Bergman, who has been a nurse since 2009, said. “We try to help people through it and so we could distract them with conversation, talk to them about their world, their life and what they’re into. Pets are a huge therapeutic conversation to have.”
And some people want to a count down to the poke and some people want the sneak attack where they don’t see it coming. The nurses are willing to accommodate the person in any way they can.
“It’s a pretty cool place,” Bergman said about the Civic Centre vaccination clinic. “It’s so well organized and everyone is very professional, very kind. The feedback we get from the clients is always super-positive. Everybody’s really good there. I am in awe of my colleagues - they’re just so fast, efficient, professional. These little old people have been isolated for a long time and it’s pretty cool to be first point of contact for them.”
Bergman said there have been many instances where she’s experienced soul-touching events during her time at the vaccination clinic.
“It’s an amazing energy when you walk in there,” Bergman said.
At the clinic, Northern Health has paired with the First Nations Health Authorities to ensure inclusivity.
“There was one lady from First Nations Health and I tear up when I think about this because it was just so beautiful but she said this prayer for us at the beginning of the day,” Bergman said. “She said you’re not only injecting a vaccine, you’re injecting hope. That just gets to me. She just said this most beautiful prayer in her language and just said it was a beautiful day - it was just so simple and so nice.”
Bergman wants to thank the public for getting vaccinated.
"We see people who are vaccine hesitant all the time," Bergman said.
"It's usually kindness and building rapport in a trusting relationship that makes them come around. You never want to pressure anyone into a medical intervention. You always want to educate and always make it their decision. I think there's always room for understanding and empathy. Kindness always wins. I want to thank the community. I am very grateful to serve them."
