This made me cry. My nursing colleagues are experiencing moral distress at a magnitude never felt before. Wearing full PPE (not a simple face mask but a tight N95 filter mask, with a respirator hood, covered head to toe in an impermeable gown, gloves, and booties) for 12+ hours, being the surrogate for families at the bedside who can on…
This made me cry. My nursing colleagues are experiencing moral distress at a magnitude never felt before. Wearing full PPE (not a simple face mask but a tight N95 filter mask, with a respirator hood, covered head to toe in an impermeable gown, gloves, and booties) for 12+ hours, being the surrogate for families at the bedside who can only say their goodbyes to a loved one via an iPad or telephone... this is not work for the feint of heart. We are warriors, indeed, but we are tired. Nurses have been the most trusted profession in America for over 20 years, yet we are now mocked, called 'sheep', and vilified. Our frustration and anger arises from the willful behavior of those who should know better (politicians, and yes, even some renegade health professionals) who have stymied the conquest of this pandemic. I used to believe we were a better people than this, but the truth is now out there.
Wearing full PPE for 12 hours is akin to torture, IMHO. And doing it to care for folks who declined to protect themselves rubs salt into the sacrifice.
My mom was an RN why back when 1930s etc. worked in poorer section of NYC as a public health nurse. # Cannot imagine the sheer frustration alone in being denigrated for DOING YOUR JOB & saving peoples lives. There should be an actual true public outroar towards these people who truly ARE sheep - allowing it to go on & treating all of this as if it were "one side" of the issue - rather than the absolute CAUSE of this pandemic right now is just asinine! Of course you & your colleagues wear full PPE! Thank God for that. The thought (or lack of) process in these individuals - whether "politicians" or folks who follow behind? Beyond belief. Thank you and all others for doing your humane jobs. (sorry not putting as well as I should)
This work is extremely physically demanding in ordinary times. To be doing it in full PPE is beyond description. I only occasionally have to put all that on for a half hour or so at a time to test an ill student and I can barely stand it. I DO NOT know how you and your colleagues are doing it 12+ hours a day over and over and over again. It's incredibly concerning to me that so many nurses are not getting vaccinated themselves, which contributes to others not trusting the vaccine either. So not only are some of us exhausted in every way by the work, but there is also the tension of knowing some of your colleagues, maybe many, depending on where you work, are contributing to the problem. But we bite our tongues for the sake of not making morale any worse.
Well, as of yesterday, with FDA approval of Phizer vaccine, hospitals & nursing homes, schools as well as many other businesses can now make it a condition of employment to get vaccinated. Especially in the health care field is this necessary.
Yes, and I caught a bit of an excellent Q&A session on Maine public radio this afternoon in which the doctor being fielded questions was asked about the mandate in Maine for HCWs to be vaccinated. He very calmly and reasonably explained that for many years being vaccinated and/or tested for several diseases we could unknowingly give to colleagues or patients has been a condition of employment and Covid-19 and the associated vaccines are no different. He maintained that it is still a personal choice; one can choose to accept the conditions of employment or go elsewhere. Loved the low key no nonsense approach.
Just try to remember there are many of us out here who admire, respect and think of you often. Please pass on to your colleagues that you are appreciated and are amazing!
This made me cry. My nursing colleagues are experiencing moral distress at a magnitude never felt before. Wearing full PPE (not a simple face mask but a tight N95 filter mask, with a respirator hood, covered head to toe in an impermeable gown, gloves, and booties) for 12+ hours, being the surrogate for families at the bedside who can only say their goodbyes to a loved one via an iPad or telephone... this is not work for the feint of heart. We are warriors, indeed, but we are tired. Nurses have been the most trusted profession in America for over 20 years, yet we are now mocked, called 'sheep', and vilified. Our frustration and anger arises from the willful behavior of those who should know better (politicians, and yes, even some renegade health professionals) who have stymied the conquest of this pandemic. I used to believe we were a better people than this, but the truth is now out there.
Wearing full PPE for 12 hours is akin to torture, IMHO. And doing it to care for folks who declined to protect themselves rubs salt into the sacrifice.
My mom was an RN why back when 1930s etc. worked in poorer section of NYC as a public health nurse. # Cannot imagine the sheer frustration alone in being denigrated for DOING YOUR JOB & saving peoples lives. There should be an actual true public outroar towards these people who truly ARE sheep - allowing it to go on & treating all of this as if it were "one side" of the issue - rather than the absolute CAUSE of this pandemic right now is just asinine! Of course you & your colleagues wear full PPE! Thank God for that. The thought (or lack of) process in these individuals - whether "politicians" or folks who follow behind? Beyond belief. Thank you and all others for doing your humane jobs. (sorry not putting as well as I should)
This work is extremely physically demanding in ordinary times. To be doing it in full PPE is beyond description. I only occasionally have to put all that on for a half hour or so at a time to test an ill student and I can barely stand it. I DO NOT know how you and your colleagues are doing it 12+ hours a day over and over and over again. It's incredibly concerning to me that so many nurses are not getting vaccinated themselves, which contributes to others not trusting the vaccine either. So not only are some of us exhausted in every way by the work, but there is also the tension of knowing some of your colleagues, maybe many, depending on where you work, are contributing to the problem. But we bite our tongues for the sake of not making morale any worse.
Well, as of yesterday, with FDA approval of Phizer vaccine, hospitals & nursing homes, schools as well as many other businesses can now make it a condition of employment to get vaccinated. Especially in the health care field is this necessary.
Yes, and I caught a bit of an excellent Q&A session on Maine public radio this afternoon in which the doctor being fielded questions was asked about the mandate in Maine for HCWs to be vaccinated. He very calmly and reasonably explained that for many years being vaccinated and/or tested for several diseases we could unknowingly give to colleagues or patients has been a condition of employment and Covid-19 and the associated vaccines are no different. He maintained that it is still a personal choice; one can choose to accept the conditions of employment or go elsewhere. Loved the low key no nonsense approach.
Just try to remember there are many of us out here who admire, respect and think of you often. Please pass on to your colleagues that you are appreciated and are amazing!
Thank you