There are a million reasons why so many healthcare professionals feel disposable during the pandemic process. Nationally, healthcare professionals feel disposable because they do not feel heard, supported, or protected by people who have the power to protect them.
YOU ARE THE FIGHT.
You are NOT disposable, you are valuable, and without you, there would be no one to care for the acutely ill patients packed into the national hospitals like sardines. Without you, the fight could not go on; heck, there wouldn’t even be a fight.
TAKE ACTION.
There are things you can do to gain a sense of control, not to feel disposable. Your voice matters, and the only way anything is going to change is if enough people come out of silence.
Why is it common to hear or say that there is nothing I can do? Or my voice doesn’t matter, or nothing I will do will change anything anyway. The least you can do is try your hardest to address topics, then at least you can say you did your part.
We all can change the course of this pandemic. As a profession, we all can ensure that we are being valued and not seen as disposable PPE standing between the epidemic and the rest of the world.
SHOW YOUR VALUE PROUDLY.
Show your worth by respecting yourself enough for your voice to be heard. Even speaking up in small ways can cause a ripple effect.
Get involved with your union, nurse practice committee, and start brainstorming, sharing ideas, and working together to find solutions to implement to make an impact.
You can be a leader in this by simply standing up and doing your best to protect yourself and everyone around you.
Applaud corporations that are doing their part to lead by example, reach out to the corporations, and ask how they are doing it so processes can be implemented.
