Nursing in the Time of COVID-19

At a time when people are looking to our frontline workers for care and reassurance, I want to acknowledge all hospital staff who are turning up during this time — from cleaners and hospitality staff to physicians and nurses. This is my story as a nurse on the front line.

“We have a suspected COVID-19 patient on the ward.”

It wasn’t the first time in the past month my manager had uttered these words, but this time seemed different, more serious. She looked over all our faces, having to look out the door where some nurses stood so that we could keep social distancing within the staff tea room, as she spoke the next words:

“I’m asking for volunteers for this patient and for others who may come in the next week.”

Before she could even finish the sentence, my hand was raised. I felt the Holy Spirit had prompted me in a way I had never felt so strongly before. I volunteer as a tribute. No, I’m happy to volunteer to look after her.

The words of the psalmist flowed over me as I walked toward the designated isolation room:

“He will cover you with his feathers,and under his wings you will find refuge;his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.You will not fear the terror of night,nor the arrow that flies by day,nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,nor the plague that destroys at midday.A thousand may fall at your side,ten thousand at your right hand,but it will not come near you”(Psalm 91:4-7, NIV).

The words gave me such peace as I walked into a potentially dangerous situation. Putting on my gown, goggles, mask, and gloves to go into the room for the first time, I was grateful that I had enough personal protective equipment (PPE) for my shift and that God had provided extra for our hospital. With God’s protective hand over me, I stepped into the battle zone without fear. And there I met and cared for the loveliest woman who — even though she only saw a girl in a gown, mask, and goggles — I hoped saw a glimpse of Jesus that day.

This year has been set aside by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the Year of the Nurse and Midwife. I don’t think anyone expected what 2020 would hold for nurses, but it seems this year will definitely show the world what a special group they are.

Here in Australia, nurses — along with the rest of the hospital staff — play a crucial role across the patient-care journey. Nurses are working in COVID-19-dedicated wards, providing support, comfort, and guidance to people in emergency rooms who are worried they have contracted the disease. They are putting in place vital infection control processes to protect patients and themselves.

They are holding hands (with gloves on); they are providing reassurance. They are skilled in or training in working with respiratory machines, critical care medications, and critically ill patients. Nurses are adjusting to constant new information, policies, and guidelines. They are tired, anxious, and scared of bringing anything home to their families, yet they are showing up. So many nurses are putting their hands up to be a part of the frontline fight against COVID-19. That’s just what nurses do, almost like it’s in our DNA.

Nursing began in the crisis of a world war. Today, we are in a coronavirus crisis, and we fight this war with similar principles of good hygiene, particularly hand hygiene. We are going back to the basics, the heart of nursing, and it’s working just as it did in the war decades ago.

Every day, thousands of nurses and health-care professionals — including hundreds at Sydney Adventist Hospital (the San) — will turn up and fulfill their duties to serve our communities and implement evidence-based practice and protective and preventative health measures for the safety of every patient.

I am so grateful for my experiences these past few weeks at the San. It has been stressful and hard at times, but to see a group of people come together to work each day, knowing they may come into contact with the virus, but choosing to care for people anyway, is a beautiful thing to watch and be part of. I am constantly in awe of the people I work with — who the San is blessed to have. They are amazing, resourceful, intelligent, brave, and kind people.

Seventh-day Adventist Church cofounder Ellen White writes in Counsels on Health, “The Lord wants wise men and women, who can act in the capacity of nurses, to comfort and help the sick and suffering. O that all who are afflicted might be ministered to by Christian physicians and nurses who could help them to place their weary, pain-racked bodies in the care of the Great Healer, in faith looking to Him for restoration!” (p. 388).

God has put on my heart this verse: “Do not grow weary in doing good” (2 Thess. 3:13, NKJV). It’s never rung more true to me than during this time. I pray for our church and encourage everyone to continue to do good where you can, even if it is just a message to a health-care worker saying you’re thinking of them and praying for them today.

Thank you for your continued prayers for our health-care workers and our hospital, and I praise God that He is our Protector and Provider.

The original version of this story was posted by Adventist Record.