Essentially Nursing

Everybody wants to be a Nurse until you have to be a Nurse. Everybody wants to be a Provider, Health Care Professional and to make a difference until you are called to do so. Then it gets a little iffy - then we really see what you are made of.

Essential |

Absolutely necessary; extremely important

Disclaimer: Non- Essential does not equate to not important, despite the hilarious comparison above (gotta laugh to keep from crying right?) Let's explore how an essential staff is expected to navigate the current state of affairs with this Coronavirus pandemic.

Expectations: Physically attend work regardless of the restrictions placed on the organization/community/ or city/state.

Let's further break down the expectations and its significance, as I think this gets glossed over. For instance, my organization a community health clinic has shut down all "non-essential - non-patient facing" roles. There are a lot of roles that help indirectly in the care of a patient's overall health (social work, social programs, dietary counselors, patient education, behavioral health, etc). However those roles with the best interest of the public and patients to which we serve, were instructed to work from home until further notice. Health care professionals however perform direct patient care skills and duties that are considered essential - so we do not have this option.

The community is a ghost town ! Playgrounds are deserted, libraries & schools are closed, recreation facilities are locked, corner stores & local coffee shops are shut down ! The businesses that give your neighborhood its flavor and culture are closed. As a nurse I count on these places as a release from my daily work or sometimes its apart of my commute as I make my way into work to start my shift. My commute is now a lot more intentional and direct to and fro.

Your respective larger community (mine DC), is following guidelines from the CDC. This along with new updates from your organizations new protocols & guidelines are hourly, ever evolving and intense. This can feel very isolating and overwhelming. To tell you the truth I want to be home with my kids & my husband. Nurses and other health care professionals have a social responsibility to our patients, to follow guidelines that impact communities on a large scale. If I don't uphold it, it could trickle down and directly affect the ones I love most.

How are ya'll doing with these expectations ?

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One thing that this public health emergency has showed us is our "nice to haves" and our "must haves". What is essential in your book ?

Here is a few of mine.

NICE TO HAVES:

• Manicured nails

• Starbucks Coffee

• Casual Friday

• Ordering lunch

• Trips to public places with my kids

MUST HAVES:

• Scrubs

• Breakfast/Lunch/ Dinner

• Water

• Meditation

• Packing lunch

• Plants

• A Passion Project

• Boundaries

• Family Time

I have always taken my OFF-Days seriously. But as of late I have been on a do not disturb, logging off social media, and really taking a mental break kind of an OFF-Day! This is always necessary, but now I am reminded just how much !

Be Safe Nurse Friends...and remember You is ESSENTIAL | You is SMART | You is IMPORTANT !