There have been many challenges since the beginning of this pandemic, not just for me but for everyone who is a part of this world. There are very few people who have managed to avoid the effects of COVID-19. What has kept my peers and myself going since we were sent home last March were the small moments of hope that we were  lucky enough for the universe, as well as our healthcare governing bodies to bestow upon us. The first glimmer of hope that we encountered was back in April when we were a month into quarantine. At this point we were told to shelter in place by our state governments. My family was scared to go outside and into public spaces, as we still knew very little about the disease. There was very little to do and, for lack of better words, I was “losing my mind” being locked in my house for so long, joining zoom class after zoom class. The news we received in April from President Herbert is a flashbulb memory for me. I remember it very vividly: I was on a zoom for Pathophysiology and all of my friends, as well as classmates were celebrating together via text message about the bold statement he made about the decision to resume in person classes at UNE in the fall. More glimmers of hope include the ability to hold in person clinical, a vaccine being available as early as January, the good humor and resilience of the people in my life. Living through this pandemic has affected the perspective of other nursing students and my own regarding various personal, professional and global considerations.

            During quarantine in the fall, I had to find new and effective ways to practice self care. To escape the stress of my fundamental nursing classes, my friends and I would embark on hikes during the weekend to the White Mountains in New Hampshire, as well as a few mountains in Maine. I recognized that running was no longer enough for me, as a measure to practice self care, so I bought myself a camera so that I could practice photography on the hikes during the fall to provide me with a fresh, creative outlet. I thoroughly enjoyed capturing the views of the fall foliage and winter wonderland-like scenes during my hikes in January. Hiking was a great way for me to take a day off during the week from the stress of nursing school, spend quality time with current friends, as well as make new ones. Finding new ways to practice self care is so important for nurses, as well as their patients in order to take a break from the reality of everyday life and focus on positive activities that they truly enjoy. Exercise as a means of practicing self care is a great way to take care of one’s body and recharge so that they can focus on the task at hand. Throughout this time, many have experienced the sting of loss. Personally, I experienced the loss of my grandmother back in March. I decided to return home to support my father in his loss and perform a reading at her funeral mass. It was difficult for our family to bear this loss in particular because we are a family that, under normal circumstances gathers every month to celebrate members of our family’s birthdays. However, during the age of COVID we have been unable to hold these special gatherings with which our grandmother was at the centerpiece of. Those gatherings were a primary source of joy for her. She has been unable to interact with members of our family for several months prior to her death. Supporting my dad throughout this loss, regularly checking in with him, coming home to support him in the middle of the semester and allowing him to express his feelings to me are all components to the basic nursing concept of caring. I truly was able to experience the caring aspect firsthand throughout the challenges that March had to offer me. Caring for others under adverse circumstances such as during a pandemic and finding new ways of self care can contribute to building a firm constitution of  resilience. Caring under the adverse circumstances of nursing school has taught me different ways to cope with putting my own needs on the backburner to show up for other people. Self care can serve as a coping mechanism for when I experience many stressful emergent situations as someone who wants to become an emergency department nurse.

            The local and global discussions that are currently being had surrounding the pandemic are reinforcing the nurses role as an educator in the community. The development of nursing students is most likely going to focus heavily on client education. A lot of discussion surrounding COVID-19 has been on the topic of how long people should have to quarantine for if they come in contact with others that have the virus or who have been exposed. There is a lot of misinformation that develops as a result of conversation amongst lay-people regarding quarantine timelines. Should there be another pandemic, client education regarding quarantine guidelines will become a huge role in preventing the spread of a disease. Public awareness, with correct and up-to-date information is key in the management of a pandemic. Vulnerable populations such as the elderly who are already at risk for isolation have been facing increased isolation and depression at unprecedented levels during the pandemic. Nurses must take an active role in advocating for that vulnerable population. Older adults have been somewhat left behind during this pandemic and it is essential to ensure that they get the care that they deserve in the years to come following the period of herd immunity from COVID-19. The pandemic has highlighted the prominence of the nurses professional role as a patient advocate through answering questions patients may have regarding quarantine, the new disease with which we are being provided information on daily and maintaining the well being of the older adult patient population.

            I foresee that the global sphere in healthcare is going to shift to a demand in psychiatric healthcare. The pandemic has been a source of many psychological issues for clients, including but not limited to depression as a result of isolation, PTSD from hospital stays in ICU as well as in healthcare workers who have had to handle emergency situations in COVID units and an uptick in the amount of substance use disorder cases. People have been turning to substances such as alcohol and illicit drugs as a maladaptive coping measure to deal with the struggles related to the pandemic. More and more patients will be presenting to the hospitals in mental health crises. As a result of these mental health concerns due to the pandemic, I can see psychiatric nursing and psychiatric nurse practitioners in an even higher demand. The current healthcare system is not built to handle the increased volume of mental health cases. An increase in nurses going into the mental health field may fill the gap when it comes to the demand for mental healthcare professionals, providing them an opportunity to become the professional leaders in that field.

            Overall, the pandemic has created many challenges but it has also provided many with the opportunity to reflect. People may be more inclined to not take quality time with friends and family for granted as much as they may have done in the past. It has made me a more resilient student. If UNE is following a regular, more “normal” semester this fall, it may feel easier than it did this year for other students, as well as myself, having lived through this.