Never did I think I would live through, let alone care for patients, through a pandemic.
In the beginning, COVID-19 presented a steep learning curve for all of us. We knew very little and were suddenly overwhelmed with information; guidance and policies were changing constantly. The media was relentless and at times added to the confusion.
There were many conversations with loved ones about my safety; my husband was worried sick for me as I continued to come into work. Those fears only mounted as my co-workers, one-by-one, became ill with the virus. I began to question myself – was I safe, was it worth exposing my family?
Caring for COVID-19 positive patients had its challenges. We were told to limit our time at the bedside to reduce our exposure. This proved difficult when we were the only human contact these patients had. They were isolated from their families, very ill, scared and fighting for their lives. They relied on us for hope, care and support.
Thankfully, the majority of patients at our hospital recovered. Sadly, some did loose their fight and I personally will never forget them.
Now, well over a year into the pandemic allot of us are experiencing COVID-19 fatigue leading to many considering early retirement. For me, I am just grateful I have a job to come to.
My job became my social event and what I got to leave my house for. I enjoy meeting and caring for people and maybe making a small difference in their lives. It is why I became a nurse in the first place.
I would like to acknowledge and thank our local community for all the moral support; from the woman who sewed caps to food donations and spontaneous cheers given to us at the least expected times. It was heartfelt and made it easier to come back and try do more.
My hope is that we get back to partaking in activities that we took for granted before the pandemic. I want to see smiling faces, hear children laughing and playing outside. I want to visit without fear with my loved ones and hold my first grandchild for the first time.