A letter to my Nursing Students during COVID-19
To my students and prospective colleagues,
First and foremost, I hope you all are coping as best you can during these peculiar and anxiety-invoking times. Remember that you are the most critical asset that you have, always. Remember that during this time, were so many in our profession are exhibiting the phenomenal quality of selflessness. Still have balance and remember the saying that you cannot pour from an empty cup. It’s natural for us nurses, for all of us in healthcare, to step up in times of need even when we aren’t sure about what it is we may be facing. This is the gift and the burden we carry, but we do so willingly.
In my role as a float pool nurse, I have the unique privilege of seeing how various units are responding to this, and it has been spectacular to see the unity this has produced. Admittedly the atmosphere in the hospital is tense. You can feel people's uncertainty and anxiety hovering in the air. For me, investing in self-care when off work has been vital during this time. I know that this term has become somewhat cliché and is a very ”Millennial” term, but it has merit. I also know that not all of you may be able to practice self-care equally. So many of you have families and many responsibilities outside of school and work, and I acknowledge that. However, even if it's taking 10 mins to have a coffee in peace and silence, I implore you to invest in yourself in some way.
Though the circumstances we are in are unfortunate, it also serves as proof of the impact that nurses can have in such time. This situation will allow us to show the world why the World Health Organization (WHO) proclaimed 2020, the year of the nurse and midwife. Of course, we are on the frontlines, providing care in the face of this pandemic, yet we are in so many more places making a difference.
We are in boardrooms making decisions that will impact hundreds of thousands. We are in congress, helping guide the nation's response to this virus. We are in labs and public health centers, trying to understand this virus more effectively and how it could impact our communities as we move forward. We are also in virtual spaces giving debriefings, sharing accurate knowledge to those in our communities, and helping our student nurses continue to learn so they can join us in our work. Don’t let anyone tell you that nurses only belong in hospital units and nursing homes. Don’t let anyone limit what roles nurses can fill. Now, more than ever, we need nurses who think in new and creative ways. We need nurses and future nurses who are ready to shatter glass ceilings and nurse outside of the box (my theme for this year) and propel the profession forward.
This virus has served as a reminder for the world that modern nurses exist in many places, both in direct care roles and in other unique positions. We are clinicians, we are leaders (formally and informally), We are entrepreneurs, we are inventors/innovators, we are scholars, and we are scientists. Now the world understands that being a nurse means being many different things and wearing many hats.
Know that we will navigate these times together, as that is our nature as RCC nurses. We show up, and we make a difference, and we do it well. I am here as a resource for you, folks. I am still honoring my office hours if you need support in some way. I am also always available via email and will try to respond as soon as I can.
From one RCC nurse to the future RCC nurses,
Patrick McMurray, BSN, RN
