Nurse’s Resilience During the COVID-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected my life in countless ways. It halted my in-person learning, it isolated me from family and friends, and ultimately made me hyper aware of my surroundings with constant fear in the back of my mind. Looking back, I remember when COVID-19 started appearing in the news. I never thought much of it, thinking it would never affect me personally. Here we are today, a little over a year later, and this virus has changed my life in about every aspect. However, I am thankful to be in school, even with the changes brought on from the pandemic. Nursing school is teaching me how to care for those who need it and even teaching me about myself.
Personal Sphere
Throughout quarantine I had to reinvent how I stayed connected to the people I love. Even though I was unable to visit them in person, I needed to find ways to show them I cared and that I was always there for them. I held myself accountable to stay in touch and show my care and compassion in new ways. Mentally, this pandemic has affected so many and has left people feeling isolated and all alone. I wanted my friends and family to know that I was always there for them even if it wasn’t physically. Facetime calls, dropping off goodies at doorsteps, and socially distant outdoor walks became an everyday occurrence.
I have a natural need to care for and comfort people and that’s why I ultimately decided to become a nurse. Knowing that I am one of the few people patients get to see in the hospital isn’t something I take lightly. I can only imagine the struggle it is to be alone in a hospital room with no family or friends allowed to visit. Yes, I had to stay away from many of my closest friends and family, but I got to have my mom, brother, and stepdad at home with me. These patients aren’t as lucky. I acknowledge that and that is why I spend time trying to make their stays brighter. If they want to talk, I find time to listen. While working on the cardiovascular unit, I realize that patients’ health needs put them into the hospital, but it is just as important to me to care for their mental health and make sure they know they are not alone.
Professional Sphere
Nursing students have faced many academic challenges brought on from the pandemic. The goal has been to keep as many people as possible safe and for a while that meant closing hospitals to students and campuses shutting down. I, along with many other students across the country, had to adapt to online learning. This was not easy for anyone, as it put the student’s success completely on their personal motivation and willingness to work outside of school; in places that were not the best at facilitating learning
Not having a physical class to go to or the ability to talk with friends while being there, left my motivation at an all-time low. I have realized how important it is to me to be in a physical classroom with professors lecturing and the ability to discuss with classmates. I learn and can process information and apply it so much better when I am physically in a classroom and physically in a hospital providing patient care.
I do think that my lack of clinical experience is affecting my education. I don’t believe virtual simulations are an equivalent to in-person care. I know that UNE works extremely hard to get every student the clinical experiences needed to become a competent and caring nurse, but COVID-19 has affected many of those plans. Personally, I take every opportunity clinical allows me and I just hope it gives me the experience needed to become the best nurse for my patients. I may not be getting the same experience as those who have graduated before me, but I also have a unique view of going through nursing school during a global pandemic. This past year has shown me the resilience and courage nurses must have to continue caring for their patients, even when they are risking their own lives to do so. I think that being a nurse means putting everything you’ve got into your profession and giving your best to the patients you care for. I’ve seen it firsthand as a family member and as a student. Seeing what these incredible nurses do has pushed me to be my best self and work extremely hard.
Community and Global Sphere
Nurses are the most trusted health care professionals and with that comes a responsibility to teach the public ways to keep themselves safe and healthy. Nurses can be leaders when it comes to community health. We can lead by example and give scientific fact-based suggestions to encourage the public. For example, wearing a mask. Nurses see first-hand what COVID-19 and complications stemming from this horrible virus can do to a person. They also know that wearing a mask and social distancing can help slow the spread of the virus and decrease patient load on nurses working in acute care. Nurses can share their experiences and educate on how small changes to a person’s daily life, like wearing a mask to the grocery store, can stop people and their loved ones from hospitalization from a deadly virus. I believe that nurses want the best for the population and sharing their knowledge can help save people.
Nurses can provide patient education and encourage those eligible to get the vaccine, as well as administer it to them. While as nurses we must respect the patient’s autonomy, we can share the evidence-based research and hope that people make the decision to help themselves and those around them. Along with these physiological teaching points, I believe that nurses will be able to lead a movement in spreading awareness about mental health. Wearing a mask, socially distancing, and getting a vaccine if eligible are all important pieces bringing us closer to life before COVID-19. However, people have had to deal with the impacts of being isolated, afraid of getting sick, and the uncertainty of the times. This has had a large impact on mental health and that is just as important to address. Nurses can talk about mental health with their patients, check in on them, and ultimately refer them to other treatment as necessary. That isn’t all they can do. They can talk with their family and friends, get the conversations started and ensure people that they are not alone, and they can seek help if needed.
Conclusion
COVID-19 has impacted us in our education, occupations, social lives, and every other aspect of daily life. It has been a battle going on for over a year now. Many people are giving up and letting their guard down, but we are not safely there yet. Nurses can be there to educate and teach people the importance of following guidelines to stop the spread of COVID-19. Nurses can share scientific based facts and encourage people to do research before making decisions based on one social media post. It is also vital for nurses to spread awareness on mental health issues and share services to help those in need. As for me, I am continuing to follow guidelines to keep myself and all around me safe. I am also thankful to be back in person at school and in the hospital for clinical. I may not be getting every opportunity to be in-person, but I am making the best of what I’m given. I want to be the best nurse to my patients and give them the care I have seen from the nurses I have the pleasure to learn from.
