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My ward saw it all.
People dying. No visitors allowed.
Abuse from family members on
the phone. Abuse from patients.
Nurses’ faces red raw from
N95 face masks. Sweating through
our scrubs.
My adrenaline was
pumping when I arrived.
It was chaos. There was a sea of
healthcare professionals hurrying
around, talking, retrieving
equipment, donning PPE.
There was a focussed energy,
a heightened sense of urgency.
I felt completely lost.
Despite everything we were
going through—lockdowns, social
distancing, illness, death, changes
to work life, schooling disruptions
and the lack of physical contact
with others—we just got on with it.
My mind was also buzzing
with innovation and creativity.
I loved this aspect of the pandemic.
I loved the innovation driven by
crisis, service redesign, flying
by the seat of our pants, reading,
researching and trying to stay one
step ahead of COVID.
If we learn anything at all
from the pandemic, may it be that
we are all simply human...and that
working together—and not against
each other—brings success.