A Health Worker’s Perspective
Amidst a global pandemic, one thing remains clear: healthcare workers are at the forefront of COVID-19 (Coronavirus). When schools, businesses, shopping centers, bars, and restaurants shut their doors, the hospital must keep theirs open. What is it like, then, for the thousands of healthcare workers who are working alongside this virus?
When I entered the doors of the hospital Tuesday, March 10, 2020, the hospital was functioning as it should. Patients were patiently waiting to be seen by doctors in the emergency department, and the inpatient units were filled with the sounds of call lights and the hustling footsteps of healthcare workers. As much as I believe this day was like any other, I was quickly notified of something far more dire: the hospital confirmed two active cases of coronavirus present in the hospital. Most of the nursing staff was frantic, and I, a healthy twenty-seven-year-old registered nurse, was curious. “How can we contain the virus? And why are we all freaking out about this? It’s like influenza, and we will be able to treat this once the big brains are focused on a vaccine,” were my thoughts. I followed the newly rolled out policies to the tee, and I watched my co-workers do the same. The doctors were all wearing masks which was a surprise, and that got my attention. I asked around and was shocked when I heard about the havoc COVID-19 was causing in Northern Italy. "It should make us understand that this is not a game and that there are people who are dying, and women and men who are risking their lives to save others,” are the words of an Italian healthcare worker. The more research I did, the more shocked I became. Hospitals were running out of supplies, people were dying, and healthcare workers were overworked and extremely stressed. “This is serious,” I told myself.
Two weeks later here we are. The Governor of Illinois, J.B. Pritzker, just announced a state-wide curfew constraining citizens to their homes after 5 p.m. This will go on until at least April 7, 2020. We are doing our best as a society to contain this pandemic, but here I am, sitting behind a computer on a postoperative unit surrounded by the threat of the virus. No visitors are allowed except for the families of the critically ill. I’m receiving phone calls continuously from anxious wives, husbands, daughters, and sons about the recovery of their loved ones.
It’s a ghost town.
The patrons at our large cafeteria are solely employees. I passed only one or two healthcare workers in the hallway. Where is everyone? I have never seen the hospital so, dare I say, quiet? However seldom this may seem, I am concerned. If our society struggles with controlling COVID-19 like Milan, Italy, and now New York, then this is only the beginning, “the calm before the storm.” Many of us aren’t taking the docile period of Coronavirus seriously. We see young spring breakers partying in Florida. They are complaining about how “spring break is ruined.” This is an issue, it is ignorance.
Let me end with this: I believe our government is making the right decisions in light of lacking preparation. This virus is serious, and I am thrilled that those in official governmental positions are making necessary critical decisions. As citizens in this country, it is imperative that we uphold our duty in recognizing the coronavirus is spreading like wildfire. Those who are healthy must know that they are not the ones at high risk. It is those who have comorbidities, especially COPD (a respiratory issue) and cancer, that are fighting in this biological arena. My perspective is to offer the reality of healthcare workers being physically present with those who have illnesses. We touch those who are sick and battling many chronic and acute illnesses. If we don’t contain this virus then these sick people will be hit by COVID-19, and they will be hit hard. Be humane, be present, and be responsible. This is what we must be accountable for as human beings.
Mike T. RN.