International Nurses Day 2021: For working long hours in hospital tirelessly even when things get out of control, Thank You!

Nurses have always been at the forefront of every healthcare crisis, from Florence Nightingale during the Crimean War to Fatu Kekula, who helped treat Ebola patients in Liberia. They are a crucial contributor in the healthcare system that not only assists patients in regaining their health, but also serves as the primary source of support to the family of the sick.

Nurses' roles have changed dramatically, particularly during this pandemic, with significant responsibilities and numerous challenges. A typical day in the life of a COVID war nurse is full of great confusion and a never-ending marathon. Every change has the potential to be historic, thrilling, draining, energising, or all of the above. Nurses see people at their worst and most vulnerable on any given day, as well as their best and most resolute.

Nurses serve as patient advocates, ensuring that the appropriate care is provided to the patient at the appropriate time. They are so used to seeing the aftermath of life-threatening accidents and illnesses that they have become routine. This, though, is just the tip of the iceberg.

Furthermore, the stories and experiences that nurses have had since the pandemic are incomparable, but the lessons learned will endure.

The pandemic of COVID19 has thrown the entire healthcare community on trial. A trial that put every healthcare provider's stamina and resiliency to the test. Nurses were no exception. The obstacles were numerous, but healthcare has evolved to meet the changing needs of the population. To handle even the most serious situations smoothly, infrastructure and process improvements such as the construction of specialised isolation units, negative pressure zones, the availability and efficient use of manpower and PPE, regular mock exercises, patient flow control drills, and so on have been introduced.

Throughout history, doctors and nurses have braved numerous crises hand in hand with great determination, it was only after the pandemic that their true worth became apparent. Despite being overcome with stress and anxiety, witnessing deaths on occasion, being infected themselves, and even passing the infection on to their families, each young doctor and nurse has returned to work.

The most difficult difficulties were adapting to adjusting procedures, nurse preparation, and wearing PPEs for several hours at a time. The fear of being infected and infecting loved ones contributed to the stress and anxiety. Despite this, they did not lose hope; they had to keep on. This was one of the country's most severe healthcare issues in many years. They had to deal with patients and incredibly scared patient families who didn't know whether they'd see their loved ones again, and the stress of a small workforce and scarce resources just made it worse.

COVID19 patients' data is now being collected and analysed by infection control nurses. They are the ones that compile and send data to local authorities so that COVID19 patients can be notified. Nurses also lead mass sensitization campaigns by regularly participating in webinars and online workshops to raise awareness about the COVID19 pandemic's prevention and management.