Local nurse comes out of retirement to help combat coronavirus

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — As conditions intensify inside hospitals, one local nurse said she’s coming out of retirement to help.

Deb Martindale told Channel 9 that she is ready to apply for work at Atrium Health, where she said she spent nearly 40 years working before retirement.

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She said the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on hospitals prompted her to spring into action.

“There’s always been a nursing shortage my whole career. That’s why I just feel if there is a need to jump back in, I will do it,” Martindale said.

Anonymous workers told Channel 9 that Atrium is asking “medical staff to volunteer for unlimited hours at company-dictated locations.” They’ve also talked about a shortage of personal protective equipment inside hospitals.

“I am in the higher-risk age group so, that is a little bit of a concern, but then again as a nurse you do the best you can with the situation you have. If I was called back to work to do this, I would not hesitate,” Martindale said.

Channel 9 learned that more than 700 retired medical workers have applied and been screened so far to help support a surge at hospitals.

Before the pandemic, a federal study predicted North Carolina would have some of the most severe nursing shortages in the nation with 13,000 nurses needed in the state by 2025.

Atrium Health sent Channel 9 the following statement:

Given the current state of emergency, we are preparing for a significant surge of patients who have a virus the world has never seen before. And we couldn’t be more proud of our healthcare workers who are on the front lines of caring for our patients and communities.

At a time when thousands of organizations and many health systems across the country and even locally are facing significant financial hardships and laying off workers, we are striving to ensure our employees maintain meaningful roles. Further, we are working tirelessly to ease the personal burdens that many of our teammates are facing by significantly enhancing childcare benefits, providing food and lodging options, and creating a Caregiver Heroes Fund for employees with special financial needs caused by the coronavirus – to name a few. We have also created additional choices for teammates who are willing to take on alternative assignments in this time of need.

Above all, the safety and well-being of our teammates and health of our patients remain our highest priorities, and we are guided daily by our mission to improve health, elevate hope, and advance healing for all.

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