Covid-19 is affecting every aspect of life – personally and professionally, and it is redefining the way society and the workplace are organized. At a personal level, people have to adapt to the changing dynamics including observing social distancing, washing hands regularly, avoiding handshakes, wearing masks in public spaces, and staying indoors. Additionally, learning has been moved online, and the traditional social landscape is changing in its entirety. Consequently, personal health is being affected negatively with mental health and domestic abuse cases on the increase (Coe & Enomoto, 2020). The spread of Covid-19 has reshaped personal life in all aspects.
Professionally, specifically in healthcare, the impact of Covid-19 is manifold given that caregivers are at the frontline in combating this pandemic. Normally, the health system’s resources are strained, and this outbreak has compounded this problem. In nursing, leaders have to make critical decisions on how to deploy the available resources optimally. In addition, nurses who are not used to working under emergency conditions, at a higher level of care, or with scarce resources need to be supported to decrease tension and burnouts. The outbreak has overwhelmed the healthcare system, and nurses are specifically affected the most because they have to take care of the increasing number of patients. Therefore, in some cases, nurses are required to work for long hours, forego their off days, or call in even when sick to help as much as possible. Additionally, nurses face the risk of contracting the virus and becoming sick themselves with the possibility of losing their lives. Some nurses are breaking down during emergency codes, and clearly, this disease is taking a toll on their mental health.
Reference
Coe, E. H., & Enomoto, K. (2020). Returning to resilience: The impact of COVID-19 on mental health and substance use. McKinsey & Company. Web.