COVID-19 A nurses response

COVID-19 PART 2. The last couple days have been particularly tough for me & I’d like you to please take the time to read this message.

I did it. I finally gave in to responding to one of the many individuals that think they know more about what’s going on with the healthcare system than the people who actually work in it. This is similar to what I said to him:

Let me start by saying I strongly believe that coming into these discussions with opposite opinions we need to do so with respect towards the other person. I don’t believe majority of the people who refuse to believe in the concerns of COVID-19 or follow the restrictions are bad, selfish, ignorant people — they may very well be fighting for what they believe in their mind is the compassionate & right thing to do. This constant disrespectful banter is counterproductive to solving the problem & contributes to the increasing polarization of society. Despite how much you disagree with what the other person is saying we need to continuously strive to repair our social fabric. Here are my 5 points:

1. The statistics: Let me clarify - if a person has co-morbidities/pre-existing health conditions, it does not mean it’s an elderly person or already extremely sick person on their death bed. Here are some examples: My dad is 56, but has hypertension, high cholesterol & diabetes. He is otherwise healthy, active & the hardest working person I know. A 12 year-old boy has leukemia & is awaiting treatment. A 17 year-old girl has diabetes and down syndrome. A 65 year-old man has coronary artery disease, a bit of COPD & anemia, but has just retired & is looking forward to living out the rest of his days after working for 50 years. Do you think that none of these people sound like their life is possibly worth protecting? Because when you say “oh it it only affects people with pre-existing health conditions” these are the people you are talking about! & yes, I know you’re thinking “but the fatality rate is so low!” Okay, but what about the people who survive & have to deal with health complications for the rest of their lives because of it? They might not have died now, but who’s to say they won’t down the road due to recurring medical issues and long term effects? Furthermore, it’s not about people dropping dead left right and center, it’s about healthcare capacity. For example, if all/most of our ICU beds in Alberta are taken by COVID patients and you get in a car accident OR your uncle has a stroke OR your friend suffers a serious workplace injury there is a very high chance there soon will be NO ICU BED FOR YOU/THEM. Or your little cousin suffers a severe asthma attack, EMS might not get to her/him in time because they’re busy transporting a COVID-19 patient. As someone who is currently working in this in Alberta I can tell you that people are already being pushed out of ICUs and we are being told to try to conserve our oxygen supply.

2. Masks — people have shared pictures of surgical mask boxes that read that they don’t protect you from the virus — yeah they’re not intended to. They’re intended to protect people FROM YOU & the bigger droplets that would be expelled if you coughed or sneezed. N95 respirators are worn by healthcare professionals when someone is a probable/confirmed case of COVID and there is a risk of small aerosolized particles flying into the air and getting through the “leakage” areas of surgical masks. N95’s need to be specially fitted to each individual person (yes this is pre-COVID) so if you weren’t fitted, you won’t be protected. Masks are also not meant to reduce transmission by 100% but to offer enough protection to slow down the spread of these illnesses. Their efficacy also decreases when masks are not used properly. Social distancing is also in effect for these 2 reasons.

3. Restrictions - The reason restrictions are so tight & research keeps changing is because this is a novel virus... it is brand spanking new. Plus viruses often mutate (hence why we have to get the flu vaccine annually). New research means new findings means we understand it better. The knowledge gaps leads us to taking more precautions because we’d rather be safe than sorry. Inconsistency in guidelines is also unhelpful & damaging to small local businesses & I too am upset about this. I would also like to bring attention to other issues, such as suicide, addictions and abuse — yes, these issues are worthy of our intervention and attention but COVID-19 did not invent them. COVID-19 has brought to the surface many societal problems that clearly need to be dealt with. One of the most prominent being our unsustainable global economy & massive wealth gap. How can we generate change on a much larger scale once this virus is contained? — so if this issue arises again we don’t have to choose between money or a human life or human life vs human life.

4. Fear - No one is asking you to live in fear. If you’re feeling panicked, turn your TV off & talk to some healthcare workers, like myself. All we’re asking you to do is to trust us. To think with reason, be cautious and to act with compassion. That’s it. You would not be acting in fear you would be acting with love

5. Freedom - People say they’re fighting for their freedom & everybody’s rights, but what about the people who are more likely to fall ill and die of it? What about their rights? Are they voided because you feel yours are being infringed upon? The cost of a small inconvenience for you for a short period of time in your life could legitimately save someone the rest of theirs. Wouldn’t you rather that?

I’m going to finish this by saying we as healthcare professionals are EXHAUSTED with having to defend our knowledge, experience and expertise outside of spending exponential amounts of energy at work on sick people. We’re disheartened, we’re drained and so incredibly frustrated. So I ask you to please hear us out. We’re the ones living IN this, on the literal frontlines. My final note is, in the (paraphrased) words of Courtney Jewell: I want you to close your eyes & remember if you or a loved one ever ends up in hospital you will be greeted with compassion, kindness, no lectures & no judgment. I want you to remember that no one will ask you what you did to prevent yourself from getting sick. Because saving your life is our #1 priority, even though you may have put ours at risk.

- Jamie MacQueen RNBN