The importance of nurses and midwives
We posted on social media earlier this month to recognize and celebrate our nurses Geraldine, Erika and Hendrika, and all of the nurses and midwives in the Cayman Islands. This year, the World Health Organization celebrates the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife and with the COVID-19 pandemic all around us we are constantly being reminded of the vital role that nurses and midwives play on the frontline of patient care.
During these difficult times, OceanMed’s goal is to make sure all of our patients are still receiving the highest quality of care and making sure they feel safe and supported. Although our nurses go above and beyond their normal duties every day, we see and appreciate all of the extra care and attention they are giving our patients at this time – the extra phone calls to set patients worries are at ease, keeping everything meticulously sterile and clean, and helping to provide a sense of normalcy to many of the women who are about to have their world flipped upside down once again with a new baby. The long, busy, and extra stressful days do not go unnoticed or appreciated. The miracle of life does not stop in a global pandemic, and rest assured, neither do they.
Nursing: The frontline of patient care
Every day, nurses are putting themselves at risk to alleviate suffering and save lives and they are learning on the job with information that changes daily. When critical patients are isolated, the only human touch they may feel is that of a nurse’s hand.
Meanwhile, babies are still being born and midwives are still trying to provide care to make pregnancy and childbirth the safe and joyful experience it should be.
Every day, nurses and midwives are on the frontlines of administering and evaluating your treatment. For patients, your nurse or midwife is your greatest advocate. Because they spend more time with you, they can comprehensively moderate your progress. They know what symptoms might be a red flag and can assess the effectiveness of your treatment. Staying in constant communication with your doctor and keeping this open dialogue is just one of the countless things nurses do to ensure the quality of your care.
Physical care and emotional support
Nurses also provide invaluable emotional support. They understand the complexities and implications of an illness. They can counsel you and your family through everything from understanding a chronic condition to coping with death and dying. Their knowledge of illness combined with exceptional people skills provides comfort and stability. For many patients, this relationship is an anchor in the tumultuous waters of the hospital system.
And midwives? They do so much more than deliver babies. They monitor the physical, psychological and social well-being of the mother, they empower women and help them to achieve their hopes and dreams of having a family. They work closely with OBGYNs to provide expert care during labor and delivery, and also after the birth, supporting families when they are at their most vulnerable.
Thank you!
Because health workers like nurses and midwives are on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19, they’re also among the most at risk and we mustn’t forget that.
Nursing is a true calling. It’s a physically demanding job; many nurses and midwives work through 12-hour shifts on their feet. They give up holidays with their families and work through nights and weekends when needed. This selflessness is also reflected in their commitment to their patients.
To the nurses and midwives of Cayman, thank you for everything you do to support our Doctors, Mothers and families in need, we appreciate you!