Nurse awarded for fight against MERS
.jpg?w=728)
Shin Kyo-yeon, the head nurse at Konyang University Hospital, receives the Civil Merit Medal from Vice Health Minister Bang Moon-kyu at the government complex in central Seoul, July 29. / Courtesy of Konyang University Hospital
By Kim Hyo-jin
Shin Kyo-yeon, the head nurse at Konyang University Hospital, was at the forefront of fighting the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) when the deadly virus hit the country a year ago.
When she heard an 80-year-old MERS patient at an isolation ward was in critical condition, she stepped up and without hesitation performed CPR, which lasted over an hour.
Exhausted, she unwittingly wiped sweat. And that was when she was exposed to the patient’s body fluid.
A few days later, she was confirmed to have contracted the virus.
But luckily after 20 days in quarantine for treatment, she overcame it and was able to get back to her job.
The government awarded the Civil Merit Medal to the 40-year-old nurse, Friday, citing her fighting for patients suffering from MERS.
“The last year was the most frightening year of my life,” Shin said. “Diagnosed with MERS, I felt guilty that the hospital and fellow workers might struggle because of my absence.
“But what I got was encouragement and support not only from fellow workers but also the public. It helped me get over the disease and come back to where I was,” she said.
About 80 people who contacted Shin at work were quarantined for two weeks and released with no one testing positive for the virus. Her husband too quarantined himself for a while, but tested negative.
After her story was reported by the media, a barrage of messages and emails wishing her a swift recovery poured into her mailbox from all over the country.
“Though tough, I had so many happy moments thanks to the attention from caring and loving people,” she said. “I realized doing the best at what you are supposed to do can have an impact on other people’s lives. I will take this award as encouragement to carry on my mission.”
The Ministry of Health and Welfare awarded 40 people who worked in the medical field during last year’s MERS epidemic.
Cho Joon-sung, the chief of the respiratory department at the National Medical Center, and Kim Sook-nyong at the nurse headquarters of Kyung Hee University Gangdong Hospital were awarded medals too.
Cho was credited with treating over 30 patients in critical condition with MERS and Kim was recognized for her effort in preventing the spread of the virus by setting up a single occupancy hemodialysis unit.