Over 100 YorkU Nursing students thank front line nurses for their dedication to world health in the fight against COVID-19.
Every shift that you show up, you take us one step closer to world homeostasis. You know the risks, yet you still show up and get things done! Despite this pandemic, you are no stranger to death and sickness. You have seen society at its worst every day—whether violence, abuse, or mental health-related. Your innate nature for care is unprecedented. What we are hearing from you is that: Will I bring this disease home to my family? A disease that could kill my spouse and children? Here, you are still making selfless sacrifices for others, because that’s just what you do! Your dedication is inspiring to me as a nursing student. When I look around and see you and the few standing with you, scared, but fierce, and staring adversity right in the eye. Be filled with HOPE and know that you are not alone…because that’s how you make us feel.
The leadership that nurses embody in this pandemic is the perseverance—seeing it through. Leaders can lead by example. In pandemic planning, you and your family are at increased risk. These disaster planning can range from repurposing buildings, adding more beds, increase supplies and equipment, to new technological innovations. However, we cannot conjure up nurses and other healthcare professionals. It takes years to train and educate them; there is no repurposing them from other jobs. There is no reserves, no replacement on the shelves. We cannot risk losing you, because it will be hard to plan without you. It is so easy to give up, yet instead your colleagues from different nursing disciplines step up and find time to train and prepare in light of this crisis. You do not run from duty, you run to it, and those are the leaders that take us into tomorrow.
You are nursing the country! Every decision you make carry such a widespread ripple effect. You use correct PPE in the clinical setting to protect yourself, clients, and colleagues. You go home and practice proper safety precautions to protect family and loved ones, sometimes very extreme measures. Above all, your health teaching makes a great difference. You educate patients and their families upon discharge, ensuring that they understand and may be able to teach others. You do this for your family as well, and you constantly reiterate it on the floor. The world is now watching. It is sad that this is what it takes for us to see what you do, but we appreciate you, I admire you, and I want to be just like you someday.
Stay Great, Stay Safe,
R.W., York University Nursing student