There is no question, the healthcare industry is in the midst of an unprecedented situation. The fact is COVID-19 has had a profound impact on all of us. Everyone is facing challenges in their personal and professional lives, and healthcare workers have been hit particularly hard.
This year’s National Nurses Week takes on a special significance because of the pandemic. We are all in this together, but handling this crisis is testing our grit. The challenges all health professionals face at this time have been well documented, and they are very real. Nurses on every level can attest to the fears everyone is experiencing – concern for their families, fear of catching the virus and possibly bringing it home to their families.
Here are some of the challenges nurses and the nursing profession face today and in the future:
Uncertainty during COVID-19: The uncertainty of COVID-19 creates a new level of stress. This is true for all of us. Healthcare professionals however are exposed to the virus at a higher rate than the rest of the population because we are more likely to be in proximity to those who have it, those who are admitted to the hospital and those who are extremely ill. We must continue to work diligently to keep our environment safe. Then we have the concerns that all parents with essential jobs face: how do we deal with childcare, how to successfully cope with the challenges of long-distance learning, how do we care for an aging parent, and more.
Communication during a pandemic: There is a constant flood of new information. While healthcare professionals are accustomed to keeping up with the latest medical news, the deluge of new and changing information coming from government agencies can be overwhelming at times. However, in our position as frontline healthcare workers, it is vital that we keep up to date. I appreciate that Holy Cross Hospital does an incredible job of communicating with us daily, providing the pertinent information that we need to have at our fingertips.
Changing technology: I began my career documenting on paper charts before the launch of electronic medical records, telemedicine and the newer software and platforms that are now available. These advances in technology have certainly changed the face of medicine for patients and healthcare professionals alike. Technology does not stand still. Continuous changes and updates each come with a learning curve that we as nurses must navigate, bringing with them new challenges. Of course, the good news is that with this technology, patients have easy access to their updated records, they can connect with healthcare professionals directly and they are now more knowledgeable than ever before about their care. On the healthcare side, the process and turnaround time is greatly reduced, and we have access to information instantaneously. It’s a win-win. From a nursing standpoint, the learning of new technologies never stops.
New graduates are looking ahead: One challenge for the nursing profession in the future is the lack of bedside nurses. Times have changed. In the past nurses started and ended their careers at the bedside, but this is no longer the path for many of our new nurses. As nurses seek to advance their career as Advanced Practical Registered Nurses (APRN), Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA), etc., it further exacerbates the current nursing shortage if they cannot be replaced immediately.
In the face of fear and uncertainty, nurses show up with courage and compassion and place the patient’s need above their own. That is a HERO!
