I have been an RN for 13 years and these past two have been emotionally and physically exhausting. And as nurses we push ourselves to keep going and be strong however it has recently become so untenable that I had a massive panic attack at the beginning of my shift.
The constant abuse from family about the inability to see their family, the executive decisions on who can and can’t enter COVID wards to see dying patients. Abuse from patients because they can’t go for walks, have a cigarette, don’t like the food, the list goes on… and then the PPE that has us sweating to the point of almost fainting and inability to get enough water intake on shift because your too busy to stop caring for your incredibly unwell patients.. these all amounted to a full on breakdown in front of my colleagues.

I don’t know one nurse right now that isn’t feeling overwhelmed and exhausted on our covid ward.

We feel unheard and absolutely disrespected by the governments lack of regard for us. We don’t want chocolates or pens, we want action to improve our conditions at work!

We want what we are entitled to..