Asheville VA "Covid Circle" Unity and Resilience

The COVID-19 pandemic brought about unprecedented challenges and fears for all of us,

amplifying concerns for the health and safety of vulnerable groups, including Veterans. The constant worry for our staff and families and the need to adapt to ever-changing operations and routines became a new reality. The 𝑾𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒏 𝑵𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒉 𝑪𝒂𝒓𝒐𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒂 𝑽𝑨 𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒕𝒉 𝑪𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝑺𝒚𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒎 (𝑾𝑵𝑪 𝑽𝑨𝑯𝑪𝑺) embraced these changes with determination, following strict program office and site guidelines, including the implementation of screening protocols for staff.

To adhere to these new safety measures, we introduced paper bracelets as proof of screening. To add a touch of lightness to our days, a creative Nurse Manager introduced “fun” bracelets, not realizing this practice would continue for years. The bracelet ordering team kept diversifying the selection, celebrating special days and holidays, and offering words of encouragement through these small, colorful bands.

As the daily screening became engraved in their culture, 𝗞𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗲 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝗡𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗚𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲, began collecting the bracelets on her desk. “My collection began to mirror what I remembered of making chewing gum chains as a child,” King shared.

This collection sparked the idea of creating a "COVID Circle" – a chain made from bracelets collected over thirty-eight months of daily screenings. This circle symbolized the unending efforts and resilience of the WNC VAHCS team, mirroring the virus's spread and the iconic spikey image of COVID-19 itself. The tightly coiled circle became a representation of the unity and cohesiveness of staff and Veterans in the Community Living Center (CLC).

This chain, now framed and donated to the CLC, stands as a testament to the hard work, dedication, and resilience of healthcare workers during one of the most challenging times in recent history. King added, “Our COVID Cirlce stands as a reminder of our ability to adapt, support each other, and maintain high-quality care under the most trying circumstances.

Photo: Asheville VA 𝗞𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗲 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝗡𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗚𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲