St. E’s Chief Nursing Officer: Balancing Work, Family

Stacie Call, market chief nursing officer at Mercy Health Youngstown, is hanging tough with her family. You can read more about Mercy Health Youngstown at its website.

What are some ways the COVID-19 outbreak has changed your work life?

It started out like a sprint but has now become a nice paced walk.  I had just moved into my new role as the Market CNO about three weeks before this started, so I was learning a new job when suddenly the pandemic was a top priority.  My focus was keeping our nurses safe while providing excellent care to our patients.  We all learned to be more flexible and work in areas that may be outside of our usual norms.  It’s been amazing to see how people have stepped up. In my role, communication is very important. During the pandemic, we’ve had a lot of communication, which has been very helpful, especially with bringing about changes quickly.  We have followed guidelines, so I shared information on how we are approaching a situation today and how that may change a little the next day.  Therefore, flexibility for everyone in healthcare has been so important.

How about your personal life?

My life at home has experienced many changes.  As we began this journey, my husband and I went from being new empty nesters, to moving our two college students back home from Kent State and YSU due to classes transitioning to online.  We learned quickly that keeping two young adults at home was a challenge.  My husband, Dale, is also a nurse who works in surgery, so we were sure to practice safe techniques when coming home from work, so our kids were safe.  We had to learn a new normal: social distancing with our parents, cooking at home more, dealing with excess laundry and finding something to keep us busy without leaving the house. I have enjoyed time with our kids, whom I was really missing, so there is a silver lining.  

What steps are you taking to hang tough?

I think being a nurse for 30 years instinctively makes you tough.  I have found ways to balance work and family, which has always been a priority for me.  During this time, I have reflected on a quote from Maya Angelou, “Every storm runs out of rain,” and I know it will get better.  A sense of normalcy will return — it may look a bit different — but we will fall back into an everyday routine and continue to persevere. 

What advice are you sharing with the people you love?

Our family never leaves each other without saying, “I love you,” which is so much more than words. At a time like this, when you can’t show affection with a hug or a handshake, be sure to tell people how you feel.  Also, be kind, take time to appreciate a beautiful day and enjoy life while staying safe.