During the best of times being a nurse can be a physically and emotionally draining job, but now nearly nine months into the biggest public health crisis in over a century, the health effects are becoming overwhelming.
Whether it’s the physical effects of catching the virus themselves or the emotional strain of caring for critically ill patients, nurses in this province are beginning to break down.
“We do have nurses who are contracting COVID, we have nurses who are off work because they’re named as contacts to somebody who has COVID and we do have nurses who are really struggling with the moral injury of facing the numbers of really sick patients, the numbers of deaths,” said Christine Sorensen, president of the B.C. Nurses Union.
Back in June, a survey conducted by the union found that 60 per cent of nurses were feeling burnt out from the first wave. At that point, there had been a total of 2,904 cases of COVID-19 and 174 deaths.
Since then, there has been an additional 33,228 cases and 318 deaths.
Sorensen is worried that the pandemic will lead a large number of nurses out of the profession for good.
“We know that burnout is happening and so we will have nurses that will not be able to go back because of the mental injury that they will suffer as they go through this pandemic. I have experienced, seasoned nurses who are struggling and will look towards retirement and unfortunately I have new graduate nurses who are also struggling.” Sorensen said.
Here on Vancouver Island, the health care system hasn’t been stretched as it has been in other regions, but the case numbers have steadily crept up in recent months. For those working in intensive care, thoughts of “what if” never leave their mind.
“You just don’t shut off when you go home, you’re constantly thinking about what if, and how you’re going to navigate the challenges that come at you and that’s just a whole different level of stress and anxiety,” said Carrie Homuth, manager of the intensive care units at Royal Jubilee and Victoria General hospitals
This week alone five staff members at Saanich Peninsula tested for the virus after an outbreak there.
“It certainly ways heavy on people’s minds when you’re out there on the front lines trying to provide excellent care, putting yourself on the line, putting your family on the line as well, cause if you get sick the family members are also going to get sick,” said Dr. Omar Ahmad, head of critical care for Island Health.
As the pandemic continues on with no clear end in sight, Sorensen is pleading to British Columbians to do their part to help stop the spread of COVID-19 and help take the pressure off of our front line workers.
“What’s really important for nurses is right now they are tired, they’re exhausted, they’re committed and want to help care for their patients, but they need the public to follow all health measures that are put in place,” said Sorensen.
Ben Nesbit
