Throughout the world, nurses are playing a pivotal role in this Covid-19 pandemic situation, where many people affected are suffering and dying due to Coronavirus. They are the caregivers helping so many patients in this circumstance. It is seen that they did their duty in many pandemics which happened in the past-history, for instance- in the plague, flues and so on.
Nowadays, in the time of corona, nurses have to head multiple responsibilities. No doubt care is a concern of vulnerable and dependent people, but it is also the concern of all human being. Each and every person requires care in all the time. Nurses also need care. The pandemic condition also affects their physical, mental health and social life.
The day and night duty of nurses changes their life. They are also vulnerable to diseases and sometimes nurse also lose their life. In this Covid- 19 period, many cases of the nurses emerge, working for Corona patients, getting affected by the infection of the virus. In the real sense, they are fighting against Covid-19, but there are numbers of factors which can help to protect them. Through some studies, it is seen that preparations in advance for such kind of pandemic surly become helpful for nurses. If we think deeply, there is a lack of policies regarding health care of nurses all over the world.
Due to shortages of protection kits and resources against Covid-19, in so many areas, nurses have to take on the other works of employees. These factors don’t only create multiple burdens on nurses but also create a greater risk for them. Unfortunately, health workplaces of the modern and globalized world continue to expose nurses and midwives to many problems and challenges. In such a condition, the safety of patient and nurses both become important. It means the safety of the workplace is as important as the safety of patients.
There is a close relationship between workplace safety and patient safety; it will help to reduce the risk of a pandemic. The safe working environment supports the ethical practice and treat workers fairly. Workplace injury creates new problems and challenges in front of nurses and midwives. It can badly affect their life, their personal and social relationship, their careers and their financial condition. For some instance- injuries are career-ending. There should be a preparation to combat such kind of pandemic.
Proper medical facilities and training of nurses should be provided to fight against such circumstances. We can’t know that when will other problems and challenges come in front of the globe. Therefore preparation can be one solution for this and for nurse also. In fact, due to lack of PPE kits many providers, who are not nurses, are not entering in the patient’s rooms and no nurses (since it is already a necessity that they enter the patient’s room) are being prepared to conduct the role of others. Nurses have to do many works for the safety of patients for instance- cleaning the bed, emptying the bins, entering the patient room and check continually and so on.
Most of the nurses are feeling the burden of taking on additional roles and multiple responsibilities. The most important thing, as I understand through Covid-19 is that we should invest and create a fund for such type of pandemic for the future. It should be also made at the global level as well as the local level ( in India can be started from Panchayati raj to the Block level, district level and so on). There should be planning, especially for nurses through funding, medical kites/ PPE kits, more employees with planning and trained way and so on.
States should make the team-based supportive structure, person-centred care, at the right time and in the right place. For doing such type of things, it is very necessary to train to administrator health care (nurses/ midwives/ doctors) in a safe and supportive work environment which will not result in damage to the health of the professional administering the care. The government should make every effort to supply PPE kits. At the global level, the government should understand through pandemic that the preparation for any potential public health crisis must include ensuring that nurses have the training, resources and support to help as only they can. We must care for the caregivers and invest for nurses.