James Clemens grad says helping others aboard USNS Comfort is once-in-a-lifetime experience
NEW YORK CITY – A James Clemens graduate serving on the USS Comfort hospital ship in New York City says she is thankful for the opportunity to help others in the city ravaged by the COVID-19 outbreak.
“I think it’s really awesome that we came up here, with such a quick turnaround,” said U.S. Navy Ensign Megan Arnett. “The city clearly had a need for us to take on these patients. It is a unique opportunity for me. I normally work in pediatrics, so this is a new environment and we’re learning quickly.”
Arnett, a 2015 graduate of JCHS, went on to graduate from Auburn University’s nursing program and was commissioned into the Navy this past fall. The ship was dispatched to New York Harbor to assist in the COVID-19 crisis.
As a member of the patient transport team, Arnett is responsible for testing patients of unknown COVID-19 status to determine correct unit placement before transporting them onto the Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20).
Comfort cares for trauma, emergency and urgent care patients without regard to their COVID-19 status.
“We are doing everything we can for them the minute their ambulance gets here,” Arnett said. “We want the patient to know where they are, and to relieve as much of their stress as we can. The ship is new for us, and its brand new for the patients. It is not a typical hospital experience, and we want to help the patient understand as much as possible about what is happening around them. The entire team is working hard to make sure the patient is comfortable and getting the best care possible.”
“I am so glad I’m here. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and it’s an honor to be a part of it,” she added.
Comfort is working with Javits New York Medical Station as an integrated system to relieve the New York City medical system, in support of U.S. Northern Command’s Defense Support of Civil Authorities as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Madison City School District recently posted a photo Ensign Arnett in front of the Comfort on its Facebook page thanking her for her service.
Megan Arnett in front of the USNS Comfort.
