Healthcare Workers are Not the Bad Guys in Covid-19
My heart broke last week.
The sadness took over. The overwhelming weight of Covid-19 pressed into my chest. Tears streamed down my cheeks as I wiped them away. I tried to wipe away the pain that Covid has brought into our lives. It’s been 18 months of constant turmoil in healthcare and I let myself feel its weight.
I’ve been an RN in Calgary for a decade now. I’ve worked in a Neuro ICU for a big portion of my career. I’ve seen patients die- far too many over the years. I’ve held patients hands when they got intubated. I’ve told family members that their loved one has passed. I’ve had to explain the complications of their disease and why the patient will never get better.
Having these difficult conversations takes its toll over time.
None of it compares to the sadness I felt after seeing the protests outside of Foothills hospital last week. From hearing that Doctors have received death threats on social media. From knowing that some of my previous co-workers are on stress leave because of the trauma from the past year.
Here’s the thing. Regardless of whether you support vaccines or not, know that healthcare providers are NOT the bad guys in this.
We went into our professions to help. We want to make a difference. To support others though the challenges that arise from various medical conditions. To give back to society.
We are not brainwashed. We are not pawns of the government. We are not silenced.
Do you know what we are?
We are human beings. Just like you.
We have feelings. Just like you.
We have reactions to what happens in our work day. Just like you.
We have good days and bad days. Just like you.
A chasm is growing between the vaccinated and the unvaccinated. It’s dividing families and friends. It’s fracturing our health care system. A system that we all depend on- now more than ever.
Healthcare workers are being yelled at for supporting vaccinations. They are also getting yelled at for not supporting vaccinations or not doing enough.
We are in an impossible position.
We can't win, regardless of what our stance is on vaccinations.
Why is it so hard to leave our judgement at the door? Why do we feel we need to be right? Or to slander other humans for their opinions?
I’ve been yelled at, put down, called every name in the book. I’ve been peed on, pooped on and puked on. I’ve been pushed, pulled, and pinched. I’ll accept that some of that comes with the job I willingly signed up for.
What’s happening to healthcare workers right now is unacceptable and far beyond what any of us signed up for. No one should have to go to work feeling threatened for their safety. Or to feel demoralized for their hard work.
Have their been mistakes in judgement during Covid-19? Possibly. But rather than lay blame, what if we looked into ourselves and approached things with a genuine curiosity to understand the other side.
What if we asked, how we could play a role in “getting things back to normal?”
What if we stopped accusing healthcare workers of all the horrible things that have been thrown at us and instead saw a workforce that is currently overworked and unappreciated.
What if you saw the healthcare worker as the human that they are. Someone’s parent. A sibling. A community volunteer. Your next door neighbour. Or your partner.
Everyone is directly impacted by a healthcare worker at some point in their life. First at your own birth. Then at regular checkups. Or when medical conditions arise. Or when you're hospitalized with covid and need hospital level care.
Our job is to take care of you during the worst time in your life. To provide care, without judgement of what brought you there.
Please respect healthcare workers and let them focus on the huge job that’s ahead of them.
Thank you.