Healthcare services do not face human and material shortages only during the confinement period, they are there all year round.
Becoming a nurse is not a trivial choice. Some would say that being a caregiver is a vocation. For us, this is above all a profession which combines benevolence and gift of care. Know-how and know-how as in many professional sectors. In ours, it is the human, the patient who is at the end of the chain. We come from a complete training over 3 years in which we have acquired theoretical knowledge and expertise through field experiences. Then we chose a specialty: resuscitation.
Resuscitation, a world apart
Access is restricted. The cold neon lights illuminate. The therapies are sophisticated. The anatomy-physiology links are preponderant. Sharp clinical observation. The important technicality. The organization is millimeter. Anticipation is essential. Multipurpose care. The ringtones are constant. Numerous equipment. Monitoring is continuous. Patients with vital failures. Families in distress. Numerous and united teams. The atmosphere is special.
It’s a world apart, few realize it until it’s around. The health crisis has highlighted this sector. The hospital at the heart of the media. Resuscitation services in the spotlight. We saw a lot of images, reports, videos. Many maddening slogans in this very anxiety-provoking context. A crisis that we experienced right in the heart with less impact from the Grand Est.
The health crisis experienced from the inside
The first Covid patients arrived with us in mid-March. First, isolated cases requiring the partitioning of an area. Then a repatriation from Corsica and all the resuscitation became "Zone Covid". The protocols and the organization have been reviewed and specialized. Adapted premises. Displaced pharmacies. The corridors have been transformed into a long supply of materials. An airlock has been created. Our service has been transformed into a closed sector. Restricted access in an already restricted access. A bubble in a world apart. Our usual blue working clothes have been supplemented with protective layers: on shoes, over-blouse, gloves, FFP2 mask, charlotte, glasses, visors or full ventilated suit. Getting into resuscitation then required a whole ritual of dressing and protection. Our service has chosen to partition this sector in order to limit cross-contamination and save material to last. The shift in the “Covid Zone” was 12 hours with a single break. A single cut after 6 hours. 6 hours in a closed sector with an FFP2 and this accoutrement. 6 hours without drinking, eating, urinating. 6 hours in this anxiety-provoking context. 6 hours is a long time.
The loneliness of the patients, the absence of families and the anguish of loved ones were overwhelming. The mortuary toilets and the systematic movement of the bodies in covers were difficult
At the same time, our continuing care has been transformed into intensive care. And yes, non-Covid patients and our daily care: ruptured aneurysms, accidents, cardiac arrests, have not disappeared on the pretext of Covid. We therefore continued our versatile resuscitation care in continuing care rooms.
Management by professionals in the field has made it possible to react to this crisis. Medical, paramedical and logistical coordination has shown its effectiveness. We have lived through days, exhausting hours and we thank the team cohesion and all the expressions of support that we have received. It is thanks to reinforced, united, organized teams, donations (protective equipment, meal trays, food, comfort …), attentions that we have been able to face and spend this difficult Covid period. Again thank you to all of you citizens, families, professionals, restaurateurs: you have touched us so much.
Daily care
Beyond the Covid, resuscitation confronts us every day with difficulties. Receiving multi-trauma, young and old accident victims, supporting suffering families, being in mourning remains our daily life. The Covid had an important impact but the heaviness of the care, working days usually exists. Nursing requires organization, versatility, physical condition, mental load, discipline, empathy and caring every day, no matter where you exercise, no matter the pandemic. Healthcare services do not face human and material shortages only during the confinement period, they are there all year round.
Unfortunately, awareness of hospital conditions and lack of medical care was late. But we are not defeatists, luckily it has happened. We still have a lot of hope for the future of our profession. Mobilization days are coming even if during these, we are requisitioned from patients. It is with them that we evolve every day. To whom we give the best of ourselves. With them we find inspiration.
Make you discover our world
The @anaanas__ account has been shaking the web for 6 years now. Innovative will of a student who became a nurse who wanted to transmit her strength, her experiences, to her peers during the training course, all with kindness. An Instagram account that has taken on an unexpected scale and has made it possible to live great adventures, including the creation, in collaboration with the Vuibert editions, of a bullet agenda specially dedicated to IFSI students. Anaanas, student yesterday, nurse today, ambassador for caregivers tomorrow. And when an enterprising resuscitation nurse meets another, it gives a creative duo and the setting up of beautiful service projects: opening the doors of our versatile resuscitation and inviting the population to discover us. Discover our professions with a new look. Discover in pictures what is happening within our walls. Explain, transmit life in intensive care.
From this initiative was born our Instagram account @dansnotremonde__. A sharing account managed by two nurses motivated to reveal their profession, their values, their team, their daily life, beyond the Covid-19.
Behind the objective of our Nurse-Photographer-Influencer Anaïs, we combine professional photography and educational, humorous or reflective text. We pass our eyes and our nurses' words to you. We invite you behind our doors and welcome you to our world.
Anaïs and Aude
To find us on Instagram:
@in our world__
@anaanas__