TODAY, in a world threatened by Covid-19, nurses' devotion to their professions is tested.
As Aldwin Sagabaen, RN, assigned at a Covid facility said: "The fear to acquire the disease at times may shake their oath to give care for all the needy, but despite the health threat, they opted to passionately care and continue their service."
I would like then to share more about nurses' lived experience in caring for clients admitted in a temporary treatment monitoring facility where they are assigned.
Sagabaen said that they worked as a team boosting each other's strength, but still, at times they become so weak. It is inevitable for them to think of acquiring the disease even though they are following the strict protocols and safety measures like using personal protective equipment (PPE) upon entry to patients room. It also saddens them to see patients suffering from comorbidities of hypertension, diabetes, etc. that they also need to monitor. And they also feel the pain of these patients missing their families that at times are crying, some are even thinking of death that they can no longer see their loved ones the following day. At night they can ever hear their prayer whispers "Ginoo, hinaut isalbar ko sa aning pandemic."
He added that as a frontliner, the worst is when they can hear negative criticisms that any nurses would not want to hear. It hurts them to listen to insensitive people saying "Dagko man na sila og sweldo, gibayran man na ilaha serbisyo." It's easy for these people to say these words without knowing the sacrifices nurses have to go through such as 14 days straight clinical duty. The frontliners can't be with their families as they need first to be quarantined and have a negative swab result.
Nurses are also hurt by how their close friends became more distant. "Sakit, pero sa Covid-19- pwede diay mawala ang atong mga amigo ug amiga nga pinakalit."
But despite the fear of acquiring the disease, nurses make sure that the needs of those suspected or diagnosed are provided with utmost compassionate and competent care.
So, let us show our love and care to them who are risking their lives even in the face of anxiety and uncertainties. Stop treating them like the disease itself. Nurses are one of the true heroes in this Covid-19 pandemic. They are not the virus that caused Covid-19.