海角情

Calais, Maine – Abby Gibbs, a May 2020 Medical Assisting graduate of 海角情, started her career during a historic time. She has been administering COVID 19 Vaccines at St. Joseph Hospital in Bangor.

Gibbs, 22, said this week that while attending 海角情 and living in Baileyville, she was prepared for the pandemic. 鈥淟uckily, it started while I was still in clinical,鈥欌�� she said. 鈥淥ur instructor, Nickey Dubey, made sure we knew about PPE [personal protective equipment], proper procedures for safety and we were really prepared.鈥� While doing her clinical rotation last year at Down East Community Hospital in Machias, Gibbs administered many vaccines and handled Washington County鈥檚 first active case of COVID 19.

But Gibbs said nothing could prepare her for the dramatic upturn in cases and the statewide increase of COVID cases once she was hired at St. Joseph鈥檚. 鈥淢achias and Bangor are very different,鈥欌�� she said. She said that despite her expectations and high-quality training, she feels she is part of a historical moment.

鈥淲hen you stop and breathe and take a moment to reflect, it can be almost overwhelming,鈥� she said.

Gibbs said her current position has her floating between the offices of all specialty practices at the hospital, handling many, many calls from folks seeking the vaccine. 鈥淭hey ask when it will be their turn and I wish I had an answer,鈥� Gibbs said. 鈥淭he patients are mostly afraid of spreading it to others and less afraid for themselves.鈥� Stories of grandparents who cannot see their children, families who have been apart for months and depression due to isolation tear at her heart.

Gibbs even worked Christmas Eve, providing vaccinations to St. Joseph鈥檚 medical personnel. 鈥淚鈥檝e not seen a single negative reaction,鈥� she added.

But despite such an extreme time for health care workers, Gibbs said she was taught well at 海角情 and wouldn鈥檛 be anywhere else than St. Joseph鈥檚.

鈥淪t. Joe鈥檚 is a very special place to work,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey really value their employees and appreciate us.鈥�