Alumni Spotlight: Stephanie (Greif) Klappholz (X06)

As we continue to navigate the uncharted territory of the COVID-19 pandemic, we wanted to check in with an alum who is a medical professional to gain a better sense of how life has changed for them. We recently sat down with 2006 XHS alumna, Stephanie (Greif) Klappholz, who has served as a nurse for 10 years and currently serves as an Education Specialist III for the Emergency Department at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids.

What did life look like for you in March and April as a nurse?
March and April feel like a whirlwind and we are just starting to get our bearings again. My role in this pandemic has required that I remain very fluid and help where needed on a day-to-day basis. Every day that I presented to work, I was not exactly sure what I would be doing that day. Because I am a nurse, and clinical educator, my job is split between working the frontlines in the Emergency Department caring for patients, and teaching other Mercy employees to fulfill roles that they were not accustomed to. We did a great job at Mercy redistributing labor where it was needed most. A lot of my job entailed training clinic nurses how to work in the COVID screening tent and inpatient nurses how to care for even more critical patients in a very short period of time. During this time, we also maintained a great deal of our typical staff competencies such Basic Cardiac Life Support, Advanced Cardiac Life Support, and Pediatric Advanced Life Support. There was always a job for everyone, whether it was working in direct patient care, or delivering goodies and coffee to each department!

States of emergency such as the COVID-19 pandemic are true trials of the strength of an organization and the teams within. I feel extremely fortunate to work for Mercy during this time, as the Mercy family has proven their strength time and time again through trials such as the flood, H1N1, and now the COVID-19 pandemic. I have developed such deep trust and respect for my Emergency Department and Organizational Development teams, as they are able to maintain “normal” operations with one hand while juggling a disaster in the other. I think many people do not realize that healthcare workers cannot drop everything else they are doing to solely focus on the next big agenda, they must do their work simultaneously. It has also become an even more important part of our jobs, to reassure the members of our community that they have a safe place to take refuge when they are in need of medical care. We have witnessed such amazing support from our community through many letters of support, donations of delicious food, and amazing artistic expressions. I am sure I can speak for everyone in healthcare when I say, the support means more than people will ever know.

In comparison, what does life look like for you now?
Life now feels like it is slowly returning to a new “normal.” The COVID screening tent has been taken down, clinics are resuming their day-to-day operations, elective surgeries have been on the rise, and now we feel like we have a little more room to breathe (behind our N95 masks that is)! We are beginning to see a lot more of our typical chief complaints in the Emergency Department which has been a relief, however COVID-19 has not gone away. I feel that we are now each learning a little more how to live with the pandemic, rather than against it. It has become a piece of everything we do, rather than the centripetal force. We, as healthcare providers are still on high alert and are taking extra precautions. Patients with respiratory symptoms that do not need emergent care are still directed to a designated clinic, a section of rooms in the Emergency Department are still isolated for potential COVID patients, and you will still see our frontline workers wearing appropriate personal protective equipment in the hospital, among many other things. 

What are your thoughts regarding the state opening back up?
Even as a healthcare worker, it is difficult to form a solid opinion and stance on this with all of the conflicting information out there. Honestly, I do not think anyone has a black and white answer. This is all new to the United States. I have most definitely developed an appreciation for people of countries for which anxieties of pandemics and infection are a part of everyday life. I do feel that we are doing the right thing adopting healthful habits in an attempt to resume life as normal as possible.

Additionally, what are your thoughts regarding COVID-19 in relation to this coming fall?
COVID-19 is not just going to disappear, as much my 6-year-old daughter prays it would. I hope that people continue to fully support medical research and community health efforts. I think the development of a vaccine will provide great inertia into dissipating this COVID “season.”

How has the pandemic impacted your home life?
Having young children at home has definitely put me on higher alert during this pandemic. Frontline healthcare workers are exposed to many infectious diseases every day, the concept of precaution is not new to us. I find myself doing all of the same things that I did before, but maybe more frequently, and more contentiously. When I am working around infectious diseases, I wear the appropriate personal protective equipment, wash my hands frequently, and change my clothes and often shower before I go home to my family. I do not bring anything into the hospital building that is not necessary, and I keep an abundance of hand sanitizer and bleach wipes in my car.

The anxious thoughts that loom in the back of my mind have really given me a new appreciation for our general good health and safety in this country. Each time I go to the store, I think of all the items that have been touched by others, when I go to hug and kiss my children, I take a second thought on whether or not that is really a good idea, when I know I am going to see my parents or in-laws, I have to consider that they are in am at-risk age group. I would much rather not have to think of these things every day.

What specific precautions have you taken in recent months because of this pandemic?
In addition to those things I mentioned before, I have also found myself being more contentious of my and my family’s overall general physical and mental health. Taking care of our bodies and minds is even more important now than it has ever been. Eating healthy and moving our bodies is one small way to provide yourself with the best tools should you actually become ill. Taking the time to assess your mental health during this odd time of isolation is also extremely important.

Are there any specific ways in which you have seen good come out of these times of such uncertainty?
I think we have seen a great deal of good come out of this generally negative time. I think healthcare workers feel more appreciated than ever through all of the community support. I see people appreciating other professions that they may have before taken for granted such as food distributors, sanitation workers, and teachers. We have really embraced the digital world of text, phone calls, and Facetime; even my grandparents have learned to embrace more technology. We even recently partook in the trend of drive-by birthdays for our now 6-year-old, which I really actually enjoyed!

Do you have any advice to those battling COVID-19, or struggling with the outcome of it / the loss of a loved one?
This one is tough, but I suppose I would give the same advice that I give to anyone going through a tough time or overwhelming experience: Take things second-by-second until you can handle minute-by-minute, hour-by-hour, then day-by-day. Sometimes looking too far ahead can be overwhelming or discouraging.

How would you say Catholic education helped prepare you for not only your profession, but role as a wife and mother during a global pandemic?
My Catholic faith and education has played a much larger role in my identity than I ever anticipated. Stepping back, I realize that after attending Catholic schools for elementary, middle, and high school, I chose to continue my education at a Catholic college for my BSN and a Christian college for my MSN. I have even fostered my career in a Catholic organization, Mercy hospital. I have found that as I am surrounded by like-minded, Christian people, I am able to express and build upon my faith in everything I do. Faith has been a building block in every facet of development of my whole self. I have learned so much through opportunities such as volunteering over the years, and I cannot imagine an environment where we cannot start a day or a meeting without prayer!

Is there anything else you would like to share?
I feel so fortunate that my parents saw the benefit of faith-based education even when I did not fully understand the depth that it would carry throughout my life. It has carried me through some very trying times and helped me to also appreciate this wonderful gift called life!