Nurse Loses It And Explains Why She Didn’t Sign Up For The Coronavirus Pandemic

Doctors and nurses are on the frontlines fighting the coronavirus. Their lives are now more difficult than ever and some have taken to posting their experiences online. While most internet users express their support for doctors and nurses, some tell them to “stop complaining.”

After constantly hearing how they should stop complaining because this is what they signed up for, one nurse couldn’t take it anymore and posted her thoughts about fighting Covid-19.

She went into detail about how exactly the pandemic is different from the norm and how criticizing doctors and nurses for expressing how they’re overwhelmed is just plain wrong.

One nurse couldn’t stand people telling medical professionals to “stop complaining,” so she posted her thoughts online about how they didn’t sign up for this

Nurse Loses It And Explains Why She Didn't Sign Up For The Coronavirus Pandemic

While some Imgurians supported the message of TurtMaGurt3’s post, others said that medical professionals did sign up for this and similar situations and compared them to “soldiers in a different war” who have to do their duty whatever comes their way.

Though the reactions to TurtMaGurt3’s post were mixed, you can’t deny that it started up a discussion online, especially with over 9k upvotes, as well as more than 184k views.

The Imgurian is far from the only medical professional (whether fresh out of medical school or a seasoned veteran) to point out just how untypical and stressful the current situation is. For instance, a New York City emergency room nurse with 12 years of experience told the BBC that there is a shortage of equipment to take care of patients.

She revealed to the BBC that doctors and nurses are being rationed personal protective equipment (or PPE for short). “We’re getting one N-95 mask and we’re having to reuse it for five shifts.”

“Before this pandemic, you were never to reuse this equipment. It was one-time use and it was thrown out. It was discarded. Now we are being told to use it for our shift, put it in a paper bag and save it for the next shift. After five shifts, we turn it in and we’ll get a new one. We’re running out of basic supplies because all of our patients are requiring so much,” she said.

Whether you believe that doctors and nurses did or didn’t sign up for this, it’s obvious that it’s difficult and dangerous for them to do their jobs while some are lacking basic equipment. So if you know any medical professionals in your life, send them your love and support. They need it right now.

Some people completely agreed with the nurse’s message, while others had some more nuanced insights

Nurse Loses It And Explains Why She Didn't Sign Up For The Coronavirus Pandemic

Storytelling, journalism, and art are a core part of who I am. I've been writing and drawing ever since I could walk—there is nothing else I'd rather do. My formal education, however, is focused on politics, philosophy, and economics because I've always been curious about the gap between the ideal and the real. At work, I'm a Senior Writer and I cover a broad range of topics that I'm passionate about: from psychology and changes in work culture to healthy living, relationships, and design. In my spare time, I'm an avid hiker and reader, enjoy writing short stories, and love to doodle. I thrive when I'm outdoors, going on small adventures in nature. However, you can also find me enjoying a big mug of coffee with a good book (or ten) and entertaining friends with fantasy tabletop games and sci-fi movies.

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I'm a Visual Editor at Bored Panda since 2017. I've searched through a multitude of images to create over 2000 diverse posts on a wide range of topics. I love memes, funny, and cute stuff, but I'm also into social issues topics. Despite my background in communication, my heart belongs to visual media, especially photography. When I'm not at my desk, you're likely to find me in the streets with my camera, checking out cool exhibitions, watching a movie at the cinema or just chilling with a coffee in a cozy place

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What do you think ?

POST

Gwen Pollock 4 years ago

People assume that nurses, doctors, and other people who interact with those who are ill are trained for this. The reality is, they aren't. This is something totally new, something that hasn't been experienced on this level since the Spanish Flu pandemic. The frightening reality is that they are scared because this is new, and something that training and education couldn't have prepared them for. This isn't what they signed up for. They signed up to provide care with compassion, and to be able to assist patients with their recovery that included family, and circumstances that were usually "predictable" (I.e. treatments that worked and plenty of equipment). This hopefully wont become the norm, but for now it is, and we just need to remember that nobody signed up for this, but they stay because they are dedicated to helping people. So that you to everyone who is putting their lives on the line, and we support and appreciate you!

50points

Foxxy (The Original) 4 years ago

Couldn’t have said it better myself. Thank you and thank you to everyone on the front line whether it be the medical field caring for the sick, truck drivers for getting food and supplies for everyone, retail workers for selling the supplies to us, manufacturers for making the supplies and the farmers for the ingredients etc I am sure there is more but it just goes to show that we would be pretty screwed without many people including the “little guys”. Thank you

12points

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Carol Taylor 4 years ago

and sadly at the end of all this, when we have discovered that we have lost so many of our medical staff to this virus because they had inadequate supplies, we are going to find we'll have a shortage of medical staff..let's hope that there will be enough to replace them once they come out of training..l have three family members that are trained nurses, and l hope to god that they do not fall to this virus because it would be an empty family without them..if the message has still not sunk in, PLEASE, please stay at home...we are an ingenious lot when we really put our minds to it..we CAN find stuff to do when shut up at home..if we keep following the instructions that have been lined out for OUR benefits and for the benefits of others then we will be around for when it all comes to an end..at 55 my son deems me to old, to be in the unsafe category, to see my granddaughters, even though after being locked up for nearly a month and no symptoms..P1

2points

Lyn Zen 4 years ago

I agree.

2points

KLo 4 years ago

A Nursing education in this country should prepare Doctors and Nurses to be critical thinkers and be able to prioritize in a situation like this. Sure, most generations have never seen anything similar, but this is the hour or need, this is what we were trained for. No room for excuses, just action. Nurse of nineteen years, proud at the front lines.

1point

Carol Emory 4 years ago

I guess people are misunderstanding the message here. These people signed up for this..but they aren't being given the proper tools or the proper respect to fight this thing. Every mask, coverall, face shield, glove, respirator, bed, and sanitizing supplies they're denied makes it impossible for them to do their jobs. Every person that ignores orders to stay home piles on the number of cases that are already overflowing the hospitals and emergency ICU shelters. If you can't contribute money or equipment to help these people, then at least stay the F*** at home and be a solution..not part of the problem. And the people that nonchalantly say "Well you signed up for it..suck it up," close your arrogant mouth, sit down and pray that you never need these doctors and nurses to help you during this pandemic.

24points

annabeth stoffal 4 years ago

I am a nurse. I have been a nurse for more than 20 years. I have worked in public health, hospitals and in surgery centers. No one signs up for this. That is like saying that the grocery stores signed up for this. Yes, they stock toilet paper. Can we expect them to have a plan and resources for the panic buying? No. Just like nurses and doctors did not plan for this. We had a plan and it was DISMANTLED BY OUR PRESIDENT before COVID 19 because Obama put it in place. Now we look to our healthcare workers to carry the load that could have been mitigated. Trump needed to act sooner and he dismissed the crisis many, many times before anything was done. That is tantamount to starting a war no one supports and telling the military "they signed up for it". Nope. I signed up to help people and I will continue to do so. None of us (Every U.S. citizen) signed up for this and Our leaders NEEDED TO BE PROACTIVE BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT THEY SIGNED UP FOR. We are all paying the price for very reckless c

21points

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Cold Contagious 4 years ago

Exactly, but they sign up to do the job that we usually see, have back up plans in place that get corrupted by other bureaucrats that nix the safety net. They expect epidemics to hit in 3rd world countries and Africa, like Ebola, never expected here, in the heaviest populated cities in the US. Military medics expect to see more devastation, not our city and county hospitals. This is a horrible nightmare that neither they, nor us, can wake up from. Except of course, for the people who can't get it into their thick skulls that they need to take a break from running around like heathens, doing anything anything they please, and just chill at home for a while so the virus will stop spreading to everyone that someone with or without symptoms is breathing, coughing, sneezing onto everyone else and let people start getting better already. Some people just don't seem to care who gets sick or dies as long as they can continue their lives with as little disruption as possible. It's a crying shame that the government is not taking a tougher stance on the people who violate their quarantine, social distancing, etc. If they don't want to be involved with the solutions, want to put the rest of society at risk so they can have a good time, remove them from society, remove their choice. Extreme situations call for extreme answers. We have people running around acting like it's no care for anyone, it will work itself out, like it's survival of the fittest and leave the weak to fend for themselves, but I find these behaviors morally bankrupt and unacceptable. My heart is so heavy for our doctors and nurses working without proper ppe, we need them well, they need the equipment, if we start loosing our medical providers because they don't have it and become ill and can't help us, what do we do then? As a CNA, I've worked with patients in isolation for active TB and shingles, and remember my fear for my family, and knowing it's incomparable to what these brave individuals are dealing with right now, my heart breaks for them and what agony they must endure for their patients, their families, and themselves. I can only hope for changes to happen for them. I hope that the approval of the kn95 masks by the FDA improves the situation. I wish everyone strength, health, and courage.

2points

Lyn Zen 4 years ago

Damn right.

1point

Lyn Zen 4 years ago

I agree with you.

1point

Leo Domitrix 4 years ago

I said this elsewhere ---- but yeah, you do sign up for this. It's a possibility. Always. And the job isn't impossible to do. It's higher risk. We've got medical personnel in my area using homemade cloth masks due to shortages ---- but they aren't whining. They're doing the job. It's the job. Regardless of political idiocy, regardless of hoarders and supply chain interruptions. It's the job. I'm in contact every day, exposed constantly, and I get a homemade cloth mask, dish gloves I can sterilize, and a wish for good luck ---- and we're showing up. So, yeah, it's IDEAL to have all the equipment --- and the Pandemic Response Team still in place ---- but if you quit the job b/c you might get sick? Wrong job to be in. Proud daughter of (military veteran) nurse; trained to be an MD; currently a patient advocate/information dispenser. Message remains: STAY CALM. Panic is an enemy in medicine right now.

1point

KLo 4 years ago

You don't have a down vote anymore Leo

0points

KLo 4 years ago

Thank you Carol, you get the message.

0points

Human #1,232,867 4 years ago

Time to wake up. Election is coming. Every vote count. Spread the joy, select someone with a real attention to health care...

9points

Ivo H 4 years ago

@Ben Smith, yes, because in europe, we have absolute poverty. FYI - we do not. We have reasonable taxes and free healthcare. And pretty low unemployment rates too... Do you really think that the bloody, expensive-as-hell parody on healthcare i read about every other day on BP is better idea than "our" system? Dream on...

8points

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