Images(4)

Cap, Nurse's

Object number2021.66.7

Date2020

MediumFabric

Credit LineGIft of Christi Bolanos

DescriptionNurse's surgical scrub cap. Fabric cap with blue trim and two blue ties at the back. Exterior fabric is off-white, light orange, blue, green, and black and is a patchwork design of spirals, flowers, leaves, and wavy lines. Interior fabric is green and light green and white flower pattern.DimensionsHeight x Width x Depth: 3.25 × 6.5 × 8.5 in. (8.3 × 16.5 × 21.6 cm)
Length (Proper left strap): 11.875 in. (30.2 cm)
Length (Proper right strap): 10.25 in. (26 cm)
Historical NotesSurgical scrub cap worn by Christi Bolanos. The nurses called getting undressed after work the “dance of disinfection” where you would take off your shoes at the door, Lysol wipe them, strip down and put all clothes in hamper and wash them. Keep your hair covered. Many of her nursing friends slept in basements and garages to not infect their families. She continues to wear the surgical scrub cap now but not because she is concerned with virus spread on her hair but because it is easier to get the PPE on that anchors to your head and not your ears. Outside each room at Allegheny General Hospital that is marked with airborne precaution the nurse must put on full gear before entering the room. This takes an extra 10 to 15 minutes in and out of each room. A 2008 graduate of Duquesne’s nursing school, Christi started at Allegheny General Hospital in September of that same year as a trauma nurse on the surgical floor. She moved to the Emergency room in the fall of 2010, a position she still holds in 2021. A California native, Christi and her former husband moved to Pittsburgh in 2006 to start a family through adoption. They adopted 6 children through the foster system and informal connections. Christi wanted to be a nurse in order to be connected to the community as a competent and compassionate nurse. Because she believed it was everyone’s worst day when they came to the ER she had a desire to work in that department and to show love to people in their most vulnerable moments. She also is deeply committed to social justice and equity and wanted to be involved in healthcare because of the huge disparities that exist for racial minorities in healthcare treatment, especially black women in the city of Pittsburgh. In the early days of COVID there were so many unknowns and because no one was sure how the virus was transmitted she had to be separated from her children for six weeks especially because one of her children is immunocompromised. They stayed with their father for four weeks and then with her parents for two more. She then took a leave of absence from the hospital to be with her family. She was going through a divorce and her nursing community donated time to let her take leave and be with her family. She took six weeks and then came back to a position in triage in order to lessen her exposer to the virus so she could still see her family. By August of 2020, she was able to go back to her position in the ER after her son’s situation was stabilized.

Previous owner Christi Bolanos

Related institution Allegheny General Hospital

Related institution Allegheny Health Network

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