Gail Macrae - A Nurse's Journey to Advocacy and Reform #15

Gail Macrae is interviewed by Steve Reiter. Welcome to "Every Patient's Right." In this episode of Every Patient's Right, host Steve Reiter interviews Gail Macrae, a former nurse from Kaiser Permanente in Santa Rosa, California. Gail shares her firsthand experience on the frontlines during the COVID-19 pandemic, revealing how strict hospital isolation protocols negatively impacted patients, families, and healthcare workers alike. She discusses the moral dilemmas and trauma nurses faced and explains why she ultimately left hospital medicine to advocate for ethical care and legal reforms. Together, Steve and Gail examine the essential role of family presence in healing and call for the restoration of humanity and patient rights in our healthcare system. Outline: (00:02) Balancing Grad School and Work (11:12) Post-Recovery Vaccine Concerns (13:14) Unprecedented Summer Hospital Crowds (17:24) Grad School Data Analysis Insight (22:51) Fighting Legal Injustices for Families (28:16) Family's Role in Patient Care (37:26) Empathy and Ethics in Crisis (42:35) Revisiting Unethical Hospital Protocols (48:54) Moral Injury in Healthcare Journey (52:17) Sabotaged: Clinician's Setback Tale (01:00:11) Peer Acceptance Limits Self-Identity (01:01:33) Rethinking Educational and Leadership Norms (01:07:23) "Pursue Dreams for True Happiness"     About the Guest: Gail Macrae began her nursing career as a new graduate at Sutter Health, one of the largest hospital organizations in the United States, in 2013. Driven by a passion for both clinical care and teaching, she then expanded her horizons internationally, spending a year at a teaching hospital in Africa. There, she balanced providing primary care with instructing aspiring Tanzanian nurses, gaining invaluable global experience. Returning to the U.S., Gail joined Kaiser Permanente in 2015, further solidifying her expertise in hospital medicine. By the time the pandemic began, she had accumulated seven to eight years of hands-on experience, earning her reputation as an expert nurse. Despite some unique experiences abroad, Gail sees her journey as grounded in the core values and challenges of hospital nursing. About The Host:  Steve Reiter is the founder of the Never Alone Project and the host of its podcast, "Every Patient's Right, Ending Isolation and Healthcare." He lost his wife to forced isolation on May 19, 2020, and believes no one should die alone. The show delves into the significant issue of forced medical isolation that began in March 2020, examining its profound effects on patients and exploring ways to balance essential medical care with the nurturing human contact that aids healing and recovery.  Share your story, learn more, listen, and subscribe at:  neveraloneproject.org