The effects of Covid-19 on the population has been detrimental. It can be seen in all aspects such as physical, psychological, and social well-being. People mask up for going into the grocery store, maintain at least 6 feet social distance, and remain sheltered in their home for most of the pandemic. These precautions to contracting the virus have physical and mental effects that have damaged many. Society as we once knew, will never be the same. This pandemic has caused lasting effects in society and the health of civilians. Even though vaccinations have been on the rise, the effects of the pandemic can still be seen by everyone day to day. Personally, this pandemic has caused physical and mental stress that required perseverance and guidance to get through.
Within the medical profession, I can see a side of the virus that most people are not able to see. As a health care aid, I get to be in contact with potential Covid positive patients that are going through a slew of symptoms. Seeing patients in a resident home at such a critical time makes me reflect on what I will be doing as a nurse. It makes me think about the care I am providing to the patient. I strive to help as many people as I can while providing the most efficient care. This is challenging when I have family and friends who are currently suffering themselves. I reflected on the situation at hand and it made me think deeply about what I was doing. I had to set aside my emotions of the pandemic and hold myself accountable. This was done through the right mindset and perseverance. I focused on the task that was currently right in front of me and achieved what I had to do. This allowed me to focus on my job and discover how important basic nursing concepts are through my role. I was educated on how important safety, decision making, and prioritizing is when it comes to being a nurse. I got to participate and observe in patient care in one of the most challenging times in health care. Without the essential nursing concepts, the patient would not receive effective and efficient care. This would ultimately result in a deteriorating client who would not be able to over come the effects of their disease. I reflected on the role of a nurse and how important it is to focus on the patients and what they need. The patient not only needs someone to physically take care of them, but also a support system through this unprecedented time. This pandemic has delivered a lot of questions as it relates to ethics, nursing practices and the development of nursing students.
A student nurse has it challenging enough to get their feet wet during nursing school. A lot of practices and procedures are new and require hard work and dedication to achieve success. This pandemic has thrown a curve ball into what nursing students can expect from all aspects of what it takes to become a nurse. Yet, what still holds true, is that a nurse still needs to hold a leadership position in the community, profession, and social circle. The CDC has guided the community as to what prevention measures should be taken to reduce the risk of contracting the virus. The job of a nurse is to be a primary educator to patients and people around, so they understand these prevention measures. Remaining at least 6 feet social distance, preforming proper hand hygiene, wearing a mask, and getting regularly testing are all factor into key prevention education. The nurse should practice what they preach to ensure that the people they are educating understand the importance and know how to do such tasks. By holding this leadership role in the community, the prevention measure should become more effective as more people know what they should be doing. There has been a lot of debates surrounding the efficacy of the Covid-19 tests, whether masks are effective, and exactly how the virus works. It is best that the nurse educates themselves by looking at evidence-based articles that provide substantial evidence as to what is effective and not. Sharing this information should be a priority for the nurse as nurse’s don’t just care for their patient, they care for everyone in need. Doing so can more challenging than anything. There is always going to be people who disagree and that is okay. It is important as a nurse and a leader, that the information is spread just so that people are educated and can make decisions for themselves. The community needs nurses to step up to influence and help citizens during this time.
The pandemic will have everlasting effects on the community. I believe that hygiene and prevention will play an important role in how things are done. The wellness of the community will become cleaner and focus on how to prevent further instances like this from happening again. This also brings along the negative effects of the pandemic that has been brought up. The mental health aspect of being in solidarity and isolated for an extended period can be challenging to many. The community is going to need time to heal after this prolonged exposure to a new way of life. It is going to need a strong support system full of many health care professions that are available for everyone. There will be new leadership positions for nurses that include further care in education, prevention, and treatment. These can include new practices for talking about mental health, delivering vaccines, and being apart of the patients support system. These things may not have been prevalent in past years, but with this pandemic, they should become priorities for every nurse and health care profession. These changes will not come easy, but everyone needs to do their part to keep themselves and their community safe.
Society has been challenged to their limit during this unexpected pandemic. We collectively have come together as a group to solve this prevailing issue. We are unsure of what the future holds for us. With vaccine roll outs in full effect, we need to hunker down until we can return to some normalcy. The obstacles that we have faced have been overcome by dedication and hard work. Things will return to normal at some point, and it is important to keep that in mind. The well-being of people will return, and we will be stronger than we ever were. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, and we all need to stay focused, dedicated, and advocate for one another to achieve harmony.
