Sarah Paul, BSN, RN, RAC-CT

VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA

NOVA Chapter 226

As healthcare professionals, we have many responsibilities and roles, but one of the most important roles of any healthcare professional is to be an advocate. Now more than ever, advocating for our patients is vital. In these unprecedented times, full of uncertainties, fears, and new norms, healthcare professionals find themselves part of making history and paving new ways. To help reduce exposure, hospitals have put a No Visitor policy in place with few exceptions. While this policy helps protect patients, it also prevents the same patients from receiving support from family. It is now up to the nurses to truly give our patients a voice. During this ongoing global pandemic, it is crucial to come together with care, kindness and willingness to go above and beyond for every patient. It falls into the hands of educators more than ever to make each patient aware of their rights and ensure they all receive equal access to medical treatment. 

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as face masks, face shields, goggles, are meant to protect the patients and the staff,but those protections have also added extra barriers. How do we help patients see us beyond the gear? See our smiles under the masks? Feel our warmth under the gloves? We can start with  caring words from our hearts. Little actions like getting them apple juice instead of cranberry because we know that is what they prefer. The small things we do for our patients can have the biggest impact in this new world we currently reside. 

Our days are extra-long, exhausting, physically, mentally, and emotionally taxing and full of worry. We have become a surrogate family to each patient. We want to protect them, our families, and  each other. Our work and dedication can be a sacrifice, but we continue to  fiercely fight for our patients, keep them informed and provide support when needed. 

Patience is needed as we  navigate  new territory. Together, we can learn to show compassion, empathy and caring that transcends the new barriers we face daily. 

If  our patients face their darkest hours here with us, we shall be there to listen, share their last laughs, thoughts and tears. I pledge that our patients will not be isolated and alone.