Stephen J. Grindel
Within the early weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic, folks all through the world participated in nightly celebrations of well being care staff. Standing on their entrance steps, porches and balconies, they clapped, cheered and banged pots and pans.
They hailed well being care staff as heroes for placing their very own well being in danger to take care of others.
Because the months handed, it was not shocking that the celebrations light. Sadly, nevertheless, the exhausting work continued for well being care staff. After a tough winter, the delta variant led to a different surge of sufferers, together with youngsters, putting hospitals at important ranges.
This pressure, made worse by staffing shortages, has been tough to bear for well being care staff each right here and nationally. A latest survey of nurses in California discovered that almost 13% left their jobs due to “ethical misery” suffered throughout the pandemic, and 15% reported having suicidal ideas within the prior month.
What can we do to help those that have sacrificed a lot to take care of our neighborhood? The very best factor is to get vaccinated — each for COVID-19 and for the flu. Greater than anything, that can assist cut back the variety of sufferers in hospitals and intensive care models, relieving among the burden from overworked employees.
It’s additionally necessary to comply with protocols from the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention on masks, social distancing and quarantines.
However don’t low cost the easy act of telling well being care staff that you just admire them. It makes an enormous distinction in lifting spirits.
If you realize a nurse, doctor or different well being care employee, take time to thank them for all they’re doing. This contains those that don’t work within the hospitals, corresponding to faculty nurses, dwelling well being or nursing dwelling aides, and first responders. A lot of them additionally take care of COVID sufferers or have confronted elevated pressures from the pandemic.
Teams — companies, civic golf equipment, Sunday faculty lessons, and so forth. — may contemplate offering a meal to nurses or those that work within the COVID models at a hospital. The Medical Society of Sedgwick County did this not too long ago at two of the hospitals in Wichita and included a word of appreciation.
There additionally might be different methods to share appreciation, together with thank-you playing cards, social media posts, donating blood or paying for the espresso of somebody in scrubs at Starbucks.
Most everybody enters the well being occupation to serve others. They contemplate it a calling and excessive honor to assist these in want. However generally the caregivers may additionally use some care and help.
Stephen J. Grindel is a Wichita household doctor and president of the Medical Society of Sedgwick County.