By: Mehar Sighat
As this global crisis continues, it is no secret that nurses play one of the most important roles in keeping the spread under control, and providing emergency care to those affected by COVID-19. However, we do not see the worsening conditions for these nurses behind the scenes as they work long stressful shifts in high risk environments throughout the province of Ontario. The biggest concern has become the overflow of patients. As the number of cases increases, the number of patients hospitalized increases, and there are fewer nurses to watch over more people. This has simply become too stressful for many nurses, causing them to quit, retire, or transfer to private sectors. Watching over multiple patients for 12 hours at a time is not only exhausting physically, but also drains a person mentally. Nurses see an increasing number of deaths everyday, and watch entire families be hospitalized together. Many have reported that this has taken a toll on their personal lives, left them anxious, stressed, and often feeling guilty and selfish. Additionally, as COVID-19 cases increase, hospitals are experiencing shortage of supplies. Many nurses have had to fight to be supplied with necessities such as gowns, gloves, thermometers, etc. Some of the most critical members of society are in extremely fragile positions, and the wellbeing of the population lies in their hands. While the government has failed to support these nurses, it is our responsibility as citizens to follow guidelines and take precautionary measures to decrease the number of cases in our communities and hopefully release some of the pressure our nurses are feeling.
References:
Renzetti, E. (2021, May 01). Opinion: COVID has taken a devastating toll on Canada's nurses. But the pandemic offers a chance to heal a broken system. Retrieved from https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-covid-has-taken-a-devastating-toll-on-canadas-nurses-but-the-pandemic/
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