The Pandemic Ended.
The Impact Didn't.
Some Shifts Don't End When You Clock Out.
Healthcare workers witnessed extraordinary suffering during the COVID-19 pandemic. We cared for patients without their families. We held phones during final goodbyes. We worked through uncertainty, fear, loss, exhaustion, and moral distress, and then watched the rest of the world move on.
For many of us, it wasn't that simple.
The Unfinished Shift exists because what happened to healthcare workers during COVID still matters.
We are building a community where healthcare workers can connect with people who understand, talk openly about the lasting impact of the pandemic, and know they are not alone in carrying it.
The Unfinished Shift is a community of healthcare workers supporting other healthcare workers
Why We're Here
Connection
COVID changed healthcare workers in ways that can be difficult to explain to people who weren't there. We create spaces where healthcare workers can connect with others who understand, without having to explain or justify why it still matters.
Recognition
The psychological impact of the pandemic did not disappear when the emergency ended. We work to keep experiences such as trauma, grief, moral injury, and loss visible, acknowledged, and part of the conversation about the healthcare workforce.
Healthcare workers deserve more than gratitude for what they endured. We advocate for greater recognition of the long-term impact of the pandemic and for meaningful, sustained support for those who are still carrying it.
Advocacy
A Place for Those Who Still Carry It
Society has moved past the COVID-19 pandemic, yet countless medical professionals still carry the weight of those years. The Unfinished Shift unites healthcare colleagues to navigate the enduring psychological toll, addressing complex trauma, deep-seated grief, and moral injury that others might not fully grasp. Through bi-monthly digital meetups, peer-led support, and dedicated advocacy, we provide a refuge where these profound experiences are validated and shared without judgment.
Here, you never have to justify why you are still healing. We truly understand the burden you carry.
Virtual Gatherings are held twice a month by zoom. Come to talk. Come to listen. Come simply to be with people who understand.
About Us
Restoring Community After the Shift
The Unfinished Shift was born from a simple but urgent realization: the pandemic may have ended, but for those on the front lines, the impact is ongoing. We observed colleagues carrying weights that weren't being acknowledged by the world moving forward.
Our organization is built by healthcare workers, for healthcare workers. We create the spaces we ourselves needed—places for open dialogue about trauma, moral injury, and the unique grief of the modern medical professional. We believe that connection is the most powerful tool for healing the collective heart of our workforce.
We meet twice a month by Zoom. Click the link to register for our next meeting!
Advisory Board
Guided by clinical expertise and lived experience, our advisory board ensures that The Unfinished Shift remains a safe, evidence-informed, and compassionate space for healthcare workers.
Dr. Marion S. Yates, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, CCRN
Founder/Chair – Nursing leadership, advocacy, program development
Dr. Robby T. Ayoub, MD, FCCP
Physician/Frontline Critical Care Medicine
Dr. Sasha A. Rarang, PhD, APRN, PMHNP-BC, CCM
Behavioral health, trauma/PTSD, psychological safety
Dawn Brown, CPT
Phlebotomist
Dr. Toby Bressler, PhD, RN, OCN, FAAN
Research, health policy, workforce scholarship
Natalie Fiol, BSN, RN
Covid ICU RN