Over 100 YorkU Nursing students thank front line nurses for their dedication to world health in the fight against COVID-19.
Hey you! YES YOU! THANK YOU.
As a nursing student, I get asked why I want to be a nurse always. And I have no doubt, you have too. But your actions, dedication and selflessness are exactly my reasons for pursuing this career. Through these unimaginable, uncertain and scary times, I believe it’s important to remind ourselves what drove us to nursing. First and foremost, the act of saving lives. As a nurse, you go above and beyond with your knowledge to comfort people in their most challenging times and do the absolute best to bring them back to an optimal state, for them to go home to their families and friends. Nurses bring people reassurance, and support as well as build a sense of self fulfillment and satisfaction. As nurses there are consistent silent acts of kindness and true humanness portrayed in everything you do. These are just a few key points that distinguish nurses from other professions and what you show me every day during this pandemic. I wake up every morning to media platforms blowing up about COVID 19, how many infected, how many dead, how little supplies there are, and what shines through and the front line staff, in particular nurses that brave through all the barriers and still come to work doing their very best to help society.
Your selfless gestures of being there for clients no matter the time, including now is beyond appreciated and never expressed the way it should. This act shows leadership like no other and plants the seed for young new nurses as to what it means to be dedicated and committed to a profession. All around the country you see non practising, new grads and retired nurses coming out voluntarily to assist in this critical time. With shortages of PPE’s you still continue to care for your clients and work countless hours with no true recognition. But us, nursing students, we do see it, and you are the role models that we need. This is a lesson that cannot be taught easily but your actions speak so much. Nursing is not simply a career, but it becomes a lifestyle for one’s self as well as the family and friends that surround you. Each nurse demonstrates leadership in their own way and consistently does so even when the scrubs and stethoscope come off. You present it with client teaching and bring it back home to family and friends when they start asking questions about the pandemic or even simply an injured extremity. Nurses carry a compassion and understanding that pushes them through these tough but critical times which makes them so unique and important.
Constant talk, debate and confusion circulates but you seem to ground it all. The responsibility you take to care, treat and educate everyone, including your colleagues is remarkable. This pandemic has shined a light on the fact that nurses are not just there for the clients, but they are the backbones to our health care system and team. They are the firsthand responders to everyone’s concerns, they are communicators and the steering wheel towards recovery. You show the world what concerns are there, and guide physicians and other professionals with the therapeutic relationships you build with your clients. Your endless efforts have made this a worldwide centred care.
With copious respect and thoughts,
E.A., York University Nursing student