News headlines in 2020 have been dominated by the Covid-19 pandemic which has wreaked havoc on health systems and economies. Lesser known news is the fact that the World Health Organisation has designated 2020 as the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife. This important designation recognises that, in order to contribute further to health systems, healthcare professionals, including peri-operative nurses working in operating rooms, need support to overcome these challenges. It recognises that the formidable conduct of healthcare professionals and nurses exemplifies how human beings can resiliently rebound from the coronavirus crisis.
The role of nurses in healthcare systems
Nurses have constantly and consistently been a crucial pillar of strength at the front line of our healthcare systems in hospitals, homes or health centres. Nursing demands a high level of specialised education in areas such as care and prevention, management, nursing education and research. Nurses are constantly developing their skills and knowledge to improve processes in the healthcare system, making valuable contributions as members of the inter professional team with physicians. In this manner, they confidently seek to improve the quality of patient safety, the cornerstone of high quality care in healthcare systems.
Support from #Caring4Nurses
Due to a number of the challenges, including budgetary constraints in today’s healthcare system, better administrative and financial management is slowly being introduced. However, there is continuing documented evidence that nurses are still struggling with the challenges of fatigue, discouragement, overwork, low pay, conflict and psycho-social problems.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, these challenges are unprecedented. Operations are cancelled and peri-operative nurses are being relocated to other wards such as emergency and intensive care. In this complicated environment of anxiety, fear of the unknown, fear of contamination, fear for themselves and for their families, healthcare professionals have shown fortitude and strength to cope. #Caring4Nurses, is now more important than ever in supporting healthcare professionals and our peri-operative nurses.
Bouncing back
Nurses are instrumental in leading the way forward with their resilience to bounce back from the coronavirus crisis and rebuild battered health systems. Resilience allows us to stay active and proactive and to look towards the future by implementing dynamic strategies for the benefit of patients and the nursing profession. Let’s build that together.
May Karam
President European Operating Room Nurses Association (EORNA): www.eorna.eu