Since corona virus entered this island in late February, numerous measures were initiated by government to get a good hold on spread of the disease. So was the hospital where I work in, was also well prepared and had put plans ahead to tackle the surge. My role with caring covid patients initially began with screening patients for virus, later continued with managing the suspected cases and now going on with caring patients who needs intensive care. Though I felt, these past 2 and half months as working in scary environment, I also felt it was one of my proud moments in my nursing career.
NUMBER SCARES
Initially it was told that 1/4th of total corona virus cases could be health care workers and by march end there would be around 15,000 positive cases in Ireland (Thank God it was around 3000). Furthermore in April, Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) said that nearly 1 in 10 of diagnosed covid-19 cases in Ireland are nurses. As I am working directly with covid patients, I always felt scary at work, thinking that I might be likely to get infected with corona virus soon!
WAR ZONE WORKING ENVIRONMENT
It was sure that, my daily assignment would be one of the covid patients in the unit. Though I wear full PPE, I still work in an environment surrounded fully by corona virus. It means I am exposed everyday to corona virus. It’s like a battlefield, where you are surrounded by your enemies, but still you need to put all your efforts to save your patients and bring them back out of this danger. At the end of the shift when I doff my PPE, I used to feel like coming out of the warzone by fighting with the enemy(The virus).
PUBLIC RECOGNITION
I feel very proud that lot more people now recognise the work of nurses. Public support for health care workers during these tough times makes me feel proud as a nurse. Frontline staffs are treated like warriors from past 2 months. Everyday Meals, sweets, cards etc have touched my heart. Dedicated shopping hours at supermarket, concession in grocery stores for health care workers are many of other measures which I had never seen before. It’s a privilege that, public recognise and appreciate the hard work of nurses.
FEELING PROUD
How hard the life might be with wearing all the PPEs and working in a scary environment, as a nurse my patient comes first. When my patient is in danger and is suffering, I cannot keep my hands tied and maintain distance thinking that, patient has virus in him. Thousands of nurses like me across the globe are rendering selfless nursing care to patients affected with this virus. By seeing positive outcomes on covid patients after all the interventions by health care professionals involved in the patient care, makes me to feel honoured to be part of an amazing team that I am working with. With Pride I say, I am a Nurse.
Dear Friends
Please share your experiences/reflections of nursing care of Covid patients in the comment section. Lets make our voice heard and learn from each others experiences.
I am not sure of the award dear OFFICER but i am sure you are rewarded in the sight of God the creator of the heaven and the earth…God bless you and prosper you in all that you do…. NITIN EMMANUEL
Very proud of you bro… Well expressed, may God give u all the strength and immunity. I pray for all the warriors.
@Vijay Kumar.. Thanks for your wishes.
Hi Prashanth….so proud of you! Keep up the dedication and true spirit of nursing. God bless you.
Thank You very much
More power to you, making medical profession a proud one , with your services.
Thank You. Let the effort of all front-line warriors be recognized..
More power to you…
Time to recognize and reward the hard-work of Nurses
We are proud of you and all other health worker fighting corona.
Thank You. Support by all makes a difference
It must be a proud moment for the nursing fraternity despite of all the hurdles we are deployed to fight against Covid19 pandemic… There was a matter of negligence in Pan -African and South Asian nations related to public health and observed lack of preparedness to deal with sudden outburst of epidemics, however Covid19 taught us a lesson and made us aware regarding how important the preparedness is ….
Nurses are the backbone of health care sector, however time proved it the best way…..
@Sharat.. Thanks for sharing your views. Rightly said Nurses are back bone of health care sector… many people didnt knew that until this deadly bug made its outbreak!
Public Recognition and support always motivates nurses despite the struggles in work place.. Good article!!
Thank You Mallikarjun..
More power to all the fellow nurses…
There might be many such experiences from other nurses….
like to hear few….
Absolutely , We are motivating and helping fellow nurses to write their thoughts out..
You have very Well expressed the true concern of a corona warrior
As always proud of you Prashanth, may God give u more strength and immunity to help patients and yourself. You are one among my favourite who bring proud to our profession.
Thank You Sulakshana… for your encouraging words….
Thank You Philomina… Most of them might have faced other concerns at their covid worplaces as well… It would be good…. if everyone writes their experiences…
We have invited many and people are coming slowly on board..