Faces of Cedars-Sinai Shawn Estebo RN Cedars-Sinai Skip to content Close Select your preferred language English عربى 简体中文 繁體中文 فارسي עִברִית 日本語 한국어 Русский Español Tagalog Menu Close Call 1-800-CEDARS-1 toggle search form Close Share Email Print CS-Blog Cedars-Sinai Blog Faces of Cedars-Sinai Shawn Estebo RN Aug 17, 2020 Nicole Levine Share Tweet Post Meet Shawn Estebo, a nurse who volunteered to work in the Intensive Care Unit with COVID-19 patients. Shawn usually works in the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU), where patients recover from surgery. "I'm just so proud to be of service, proud to work through it and be part of it. I've pitched in where I could. It feels good to be able to say that. I've been able to help out wherever I could help out." While bracing for a potential influx of patients, Cedars-Sinai's Nursing Department developed a team approach. Experienced nurses from other areas worked with critical care unit nurses on the Intensive Care Unit to ensure plenty of nurses with the right skills would be available to help people critically ill with COVID-19. Shawn was among the first to volunteer. Read: Healthcare Heroes: ICU Residents and Fellows Why did you volunteer to work with COVID-19 patients Shawn Estebo: It was an excellent opportunity to be of service and be helpful. In this situation, I want to do whatever I can to help and provide extra support. I went the first day they asked for volunteers, saying I'd do it. I'm just so proud to be of service, proud to work through it and be part of it. I've pitched in where I could. It feels good to be able to say I've been able to help out wherever I could. Read: Faces of Cedars-Sinai: Patient Navigator Weihao Qu Are there moments in your work during the COVID-19 pandemic that really stand out to you SE: I will always remember one patient I had for three days. She was on a ventilator and intubated, but she was awake and alert, looking at us. She couldn't speak, and she spoke mostly Spanish. Since patients with COVID-19 can't have visitors, I tried really hard to communicate with her. A few days later, she got her tube out. I stopped by her room and saw her through the window. She was making these heart symbols with her hands, and my heart just filled with love. It warmed my heart for the whole day. She was one of the success stories. Read: Faces of Cedars-Sinai: Cancer Nurse Angela Schleuniger Where in the medical center do you work now SE: I'm back in the PACU, and it's a great place. We have lots of patients scheduled for surgeries—we're very busy! What do you do to manage your stress SE: It's not always easy. My husband, Bobby (Mayers), and I are getting back to working out and taking daily hikes. We don't live too far from Runyon Canyon, so that's one of our favorite places to hike. Read: Faces of Cedars-Sinai: Nurse Yvonne Prado What activities do you most look forward to returning to after the pandemic SE: We really miss movies and concerts, but my favorite thing is travel. We got married in November, and right before COVID-19 we took a trip to Australia and New Zealand. We had such an amazing adventure. We went jet skiing and ziplining. We saw the Great Barrier Reef. I have lots of travel aspirations. I want to go to Antarctica, Greece—it will be exciting when we can plan some travel again. Right now, we're planning a road trip to Montana to some quieter areas with no one around. Tags COVID-19 Faces of Cedars-Sinai Share Tweet Post Popular Categories Health + Wellness Science + Innovation Community Blog & Magazines catalyst Blog & Magazines Home CS-Blog Blog CS Magazine Cedars-Sinai Magazine discoveries magazine Discoveries Magazine Embracing our Community Embracing Our Community Blog & Magazines catalyst Blog & Magazines Home CS-Blog Blog Embracing our Community Embracing Our Community CS Magazine Cedars-Sinai Magazine discoveries magazine Discoveries Magazine Popular Topics In Our Community Faces of Cedars-Sinai Patient Stories Los Angeles Behind the Scenes Make an Appointment Find a Doctor Schedule a Callback Call us 24 hours a day 1-800-CEDARS-1 Support Cedars-Sinai Make a Gift Volunteer Share Email Print Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility