Today I was tested COVID –19 negative, but I am afraid……..
I am a nurse rather can be called as a frontline warrior in COVID 19 pandemic. In the bottom of my heart am proud to be a nurse by profession. As I stepped into COVID designated ICU after my donning with a mind-set as a commando enters to the war zone, happy to be a part of the war, but just after a couple of hours in the ICU with all my weapons ( PPE) the situations completely overturned, my eyes were faded with fogging of googles, head starts spinning like a globe and I start feeling thirsty, lips got dry and last I got tired & feel like falling. I got a helping hand from my colleague who gave me a chair to sit and ask me to close my eyes. Within a spin of the clock, I regain my strength and resume my duty to care for my patient wholeheartedly. After finishing my duty I doffed and showered, came back to my room with an empty stomach and full bladder, fully dehydrated, tensed and hypoglycaemic. Lost all my strength and sugars of life and mind. Following are the two experiences to share with the world:
NOT TO BE PSYCHIC AFTER DUTY
Working in a COVID ICU like an astronaut wearing all my PPE caring for my patients who are on ventilatory support struggling for life and air due to underlying disease condition. The intensity of disease which I was expecting from outside was absolutely opposite, caring them without basic needs of ours has not been met was really stressful.
Temporary accommodation has been provided by the hospital for us, but we feel a long distance away from our home leaving our families apart at 44 degrees of the burning sun just on the breeze of a fan. Staying away from families is traumatic to anyone but if that to in an isolated room. I think I lost my mind. some night I heard weeping sounds from rooms, missing the kids …keeping ourselves and feelings aside continued taking care of duties. Happy to see a certain patient got out of ventilator and rejoin with families gave us a moment of joy and gratitude but on the flip side when we miss a patient, felt bad for them and really helpless
METER OF PHYSICAL STRENGTH IS RUNNING DOWN
Working with a level 3 PPE in an ICU is really a physical burden, six hours of duty marked like sixteen and adding donning and doffing to duty a day-long process. During a duty, we can’t even think of water, washroom or even breathing with wide mouth open. Many of us fell down before completing, and many of us developed urinary tract infection. Mensuration while on duty, can’t even think of it. Allergies, skin aberrations infection added to the burden . Female collapsed, developed infections and pain during mensuration with PPE. Administration became dumb to all our concern as we are nowhere in the planning committee of the hospital. Please save us to save others.
But still, we are here to serve the needy. Today I have been tested negative but some of my friends are positive and expecting my turn may not come.
I recently had the good fortune of reading your article regarding your experience working as Nursing Officer in COVID 19 unit . It was well-written , contained , sound and practical advice. In fact, I am also a nurse working in Neuro ICU in oxford , recovered from COVID-19 few weeks back. You pointed out several things that Nurses all around the world face in this stressful situation . I look forward to reading your next informative work. Thank you.