Hello, I am a frontline nurse.

My job is to stand at the drive through testing site for long hours wearing a mask, faceshield, gloves and protective gown. Currently at the moment im seeing so much panic in people, I know this because they line up at the testsites at 4am and have just started camping out in the carparks. In my state other test sites have closed down due to a whole backlog of tests. But my site still remains open. I give up my personal health and my families to test you. Yes a stranger that I shall never see or meet again. I will get covid-19, it is in evitable because im putting my health on the line to provide you with health care. Yes I get paid for this, but nursing is just not a job for me it is about caring for the sick and vulnerable. I do however get angry when people come to get tested and they dont wear a mask! It is selfish, why are they even coming to get tested when they are being so careless? I hand them a mask and tell them you are here because you think you have covid, you should be wearing a mask to protect me who is testing you and others in the community. I wish I could have denied this person a test for their stupid behaviour (they had no exemption either), but as a nurse I cannot deny health care based on a person's silly behaviour. As a nurse you have to have a thick skin! some try and take advantage of getting tested they will decided because the person in their car is getting tested they will too! Ive told them to drive back around and wait in the line again. As I have no time to fill oput paper work on the spot for them when there are hundreds of other waiting in cars behind them and to try getting them a test pack. Its brutal out there with the way some people are behaving and this is the internal stuggle I am having. I have had to turn away family from visiting their loved ones at hospital, I put myself in their shoes and can feel my heart sink when only one parent can see their child, or a wife cant accompany her husband for chemotherapy. The stuggle is real! keep going everyone we will get there. It might be a long time before we do, but we got this okay.

Thankyou for your service in such a difficult time especially for health professionals.This pandemic has bought at the best in people and unfortunately the worst in people.Their is a lot of anger in people as people's lives have been turned upside down and are scared and this brings at anger in people.I see anger at the supermarket and the staff copping it when it's not their fault their is no toilet paper on the shelves.The long waits in lines to get tested in the heat some with kids does effect the persons mental health.The government needs to do more with shorting test lines maby making the RAT free to everyone but then will become the problem of supply and getting it to the people.We will get through this even though we can't see the light at the end of the tunnel at the moment but we will get there.

Take care,

Mark.

Hello Positive vibes..

I have always admired and respected the incredible job that nurses do...Thank you for being a nurse and the service you are providing the community...,

I think a lot of people who’s lives have been interrupted are just not happy, because they feel they are no longer in control of it....and this bring out a lot of anger, fear and frustration within them....

I don’t watch or listen to the news...I have been told I should...to keep up with what’s going on in the world with COVID...It’s not that I don’t care...I do a lot...I found out that feeling angry and scared isn’t going to make COVID go away, isn’t going to keep COVID away from my family and loved ones....(my dil’s dad passed from COVID)...Yes it is so real!....and very sadly effecting so many lives...

Anyway...I really popped in to say, that front line health workers are doing an incredibly hard job....you as well Lovely Positive vibes and I think that 90% of the community do realise that and are very grateful for the services you are providing....while putting themselves into harms way...

Hugs lovely Positive vibes...(COVID free of course)...

I hope so much that you stay safe and these angry frustrated scared people, begging to realise that if it wasn’t for front line workers, like yourself....I think that Australia would be in a much worse position...

Stay safe...and please look after yourself ...both physically and mentally...

Grandy..

Hi there Positive_vibes,

I have a friend who is a GP and exhausted as two out of his five colleagues are off isolating as they've been close contacts and he and the other doctor are trying to manage the whole patient load.

His wife and daughter are nurses working at the vaccination centres and he said they're exhausted.

I can imagine how rude and angry some people must be to you, taking out their own stress/anxiety at you! I am so sorry you have to put up with this behaviour. You were quite right to get that person to put on a mask, how selfish of them!

I truly thank you for all the work you do.

I'm a former hospital nurse myself.

I truly hope things will get better for you. Hang in there knowing people do appreciate you!

🙂🙏🌹🌻🥀

Dearest positive vibes 89....

Thank u for sharing.

Ur job being a calling or a passion.....what a soul driven person u are...those who u help are Lucky to have u.

I'm a consumer in the public mh system.

I've heard that ATM it is very hard to find staff and it's a difficult time to work. We as consumers are so grateful to those who show up for us.

I am so beyond grateful my therapist sees me face to face and I'm sure he and all the workers get nervous as anything.

Just letting u know how grateful we are to u,

Hi Grundy I don't watch the news either

I guess I truly am a sensitive type and I can't handle it....I don't know how ppl watch the news and stay calm. I relate to u as ppl sometimes encourage me to as well.

I guess for front-line workers that isn't an option, the news is in front of ur eyes daily.

There are so many ways to cope and survive. A hug and a comforting cheer to anyone struggling

Hey mark, RAT is free to members of the population. But there is a shortage evrywhere im affaid. I hope you are keeping well and safe. I actually have been lucky not to catch covid-19 yet.... touch wood. I credit to good hand hygiene and not touching my face or mouth with my hands as much as possible. Also teying to stay away populated areas as much as possible only the supermarket. But yes good hand hygiene is very essential i believe to keeping oursleves safe. Im at the point where my hands are peeling because i wash them so much haha.

All the best keep safe okay

Dear Grandy,

Yes the world is full of uncertainty and we have lost the power of choice. We cannot live the normal life we once lived and I do agree this makes people have all different feelings. I dont watch or listen to the news either, I solely rely on the information im provided through the hospital that I work at. I feel that it is like a broken record on repeat all the time. I am sorry to hear that you have experiened a covid loss. I hope you are taking care of youself. I cannot emphasise the importance of good hand hygiene. My hands are dry and peeling lol.

Thank you so much for you kind words, i feel as if this is our world war tbh. Different to our ancestors but this is our war and we are battling on. I say we just go with the flow. Look after yourself and stay well. we are all in this together at this point kindness and compassion goes a very long way. I do my job because I love it , its an amazing experience.

All the best and stay safe.

Dear Hanna3, thanks for your message. how are you doing?

Yes shortage everywhere staff have been dropping like flys. But we must go on I just worked a 6 days week totalling to 47hrs, I was so tired but its so worth it as I enjoy every moment of my work. You have to have a thick skin in the nursing profession, I tell them no test if they are nasty. I dont let people push me over.

Have you been asked to renew your registration? I do believe aphra have been trying to get nurses to come back?

Keep safe and thanks again for your message

Dear Sleepy21, thank you for sharing. I hope you are taking great care of yourself.

It is a challenging time specially for our mental heath, it is great to hear that you have a good therapist. I do believe that the MH system is struggling a bit with the demand. I am hoping to get into the mental health sector or work in the emergency department! I just want to help people. Im glad that you have found not watching the news to be beneficial, i do as well. I dont like hearing negative things and thats all we seem to hear. What else have you been doing as some self care?

stay safe, pos vibes

Hi!

I first wanted to say thank you so much for doing this work. I had to get a covid test last week as I was a close contact and I thought "wow I could never do this work, it is a lot" and I have a lot of respect for the nurses and doctors doing it. Especially with the high volumes (I waited 2.5 hours in line for the test)! It makes me angry to hear that people are not doing the right thing. I am sorry.

I hope things start to settle.....at some point. But for now, thank you for being amazing !!! I respect nurses so much.

Jaz x

Sorry have I missed an announcement that the RAT is free to everyone.What I heard it is going to be free to pensioners and health card holders but not free to the general population as this is what the states agreed in a national cabinet meeting.I know their will be a shortage of the RAT kits and is a huge thing just to get them out there.Our government seems to be a bit slow with things and has had plenty of time to sort these things out as what was happening overseas was happening well before it hits Australia.

I have a burning sensation in my hands from using hand sanitizer all the time.I don't know if this is normal.My doctor as closed its doors to it practice due to the latest outbreak.

Thsnkyou again for putting yourself on the frontline and for your service.It is something you would have expected when you became a nurse.

Take care,

Mark

Hi positive vibes, I have a case manager in the public system. I don't grt along with them so well and they talk to me like I'm a 3 year old.

Self care means getting sunshine and some reading in, and lately smoothies and smoothie bowls.

Hi Positive_vibes89,

I just want to say a big thank you for all your hard work - keep fighting you are helping to protect us all and I cannot thank you enough for your work! I hope that things ease up soon and you can take. awell deserved break