What our key workers think about COVID-19 and how their lives have changed:
As we cross the threshold of 100 days in lockdown, it is important that we appreciate those who have been directly fighting the virus. Whether it be our key workers on the frontline or those behind the scenes providing us with our essentials. I wanted to share their lockdown stories.
Time has flown by since the panic buying, everyone rushing back to their family homes, and not being allowed to see family and friends. That has been the norm for the majority of people in the UK. However, we must recognise what our key workers have and still are experiencing, as they battle the virus hand on, as well as other key workers who have had to face the scrutiny of the public.
I interviewed a few key workers to understand their perspective. There is so much that the media and our own government doesn’t tell us. I wanted to write this piece, so people are aware of what our key workers have gone through and still are. Some who I interviewed have asked to remain anonymous.
Being an ITU Support Nurse during COVID-19:
It was extremely important to me to get in contact with a key worker on the frontline. Someone who has been risking their life to save others on a daily basis. However, a nurse that I spoke to explained that this is her job and purpose; this is something she would be doing regardless, just fighting at a greater degree. Previously as a theatre recovery nurse, but since COVID-19 an ITU support nurse, she explained to me what it is like working in ITU (intensive treatment unit) with critically ill positive COVID patients.
When asked about how she felt when she first learnt about COVID-19 she said: “I didn’t think it was going to be anything.” A very similar response to what the nation was thinking back in early March, naïve to the severity of the situation thinking that it would “come and go very quickly”.
This was not the case. Changes were immediately made at work, as she shifted from part-time to full-time. Shift patterns were altered, having to adapt to 13-hour long days, but also working nights and weekends. In addition to these changes, it was required to learn very quickly how to use ventilators and of course for this nurse learning how to use ITU equipment after the sudden change from usually working as a theatre recovery nurse.
Mental health and juggling home life:
Working as an ITU support nurse is extremely challenging and can take a toll on your mental health. The nurse said: “To begin with I didn’t think my mental health was affected, I cruised through, but further along I’ve dealt with sad stories and felt a lot lower. I didn’t want to go to work as I felt anxious.” Alongside these feelings, as a mother she has had to juggle home-schooling. Although as a key worker, her child could have gone into school, her child is diagnosed with ADH. She decided that it wouldn’t have worked. A new school setting is difficult to settle into and therefore home-schooling was the only option.
Being labelled as a keyworker:
The term keyworker can be interpreted in many ways. For some it is honourable but for others they don’t quite understand the labelling as it is their job! This nurse explained that “nursing is nursing” and said: “I didn’t like it because it is my job, and this is what I get paid to do.” She also showed compassion for those who have lost their jobs and haven’t gotten any praise. In addition, she found the clapping “awkward” as there are so many other people who deserve recognition.
Challenges and thoughts for the future:
Fighting against COVID-19 is extremely difficult and can be disheartening at times even when you are trying your hardest. The nurse said: “I am d43567oing everything I can, knowing most of them are going to die regardless of what I do.”
Working on the frontline is exhausting, pressurising and it is frustrating when non-key workers don’t realise this. Although the death rate is decreasing and lockdown restrictions are being eased, it important for non-key workers to realise that their actions have massive consequences.
She said that the unit is almost back to their limit which is overwhelming. Having just got rid of every critical patient, the unit is starting to get full again. She thinks that the government has eased the lockdown too early, confusing the nation with the guidelines and could have done a lot more to help.
She said: “A lot more people without their families in the unit who die without saying goodbye.” Those who break guidelines are making hospital admissions higher and it is vital that people understand this.
Although these times have and still are difficult, she has learnt that “family is the most important thing”. She explained that on a day-to-day basis, we really do take our family and friends for granted. Having gratitude for a more basic life is something that she has personally learnt during this time.
However, she said: “I hate my job right now, but I will like it when it becomes normal again.”
Working as a dental nurse and epidemiology field worker:
I also wanted to interview a dental nurse as they were not allowed to see patients face to face. As a dental nurse, this job requires assisting the dentist in all aspects of the patient’s journey and epidemiology involves gathering statistics for public health England to determine the health of teeth within the local area.
A change in lifestyle:
When first learning of COVID-19, Leanne said she was “very scared” because of the uncertainty. She said: “I guess it didn’t really hit home until the schools shut and we went into lockdown.” Leanne was grateful that the companies she worked for were flexible with the situation as she was in a position where she had no childcare for her two children.
Like the majority of the nation, she became obsessed with cleanliness, constantly using hand gel and ensuring that her children were not touching things when they were out. Leanne said she struggled to become a stay at home mum, working part-time as a teacher as well as a nurse, summarising it as a “juggling act”. However, she was able to create her own pro-active educational tasks including growing frogspawn!
The highs and low:
As a key worker it is frustrating as non-key workers don’t use gloves and masks properly. As for the government she described it as them “winging it”, guessing what to do with their plans and being questionable. Leanne said: “it all feels quite surreal still”, as she faces challenges when doing her food shop. However, she feels as if her job has a purpose and therefore is happy being labelled as a key worker.
Overall Leanne explained how she doesn’t believe anything will go back to normal for a while. She said: “I can’t really see the light at the end of the tunnel yet and just feel I can’t do what I enjoy anymore.” Nevertheless, Leanne is grateful to still have a job and to be able to help people during this hard time.
Honouring our shop workers:
I interviewed two retail managers working in ASDA to understand how they have coped during this time. At first, they said that they were scared and didn’t know what to expect in retail especially with the panic buying. Social distancing was put into place, PPE for staff and they were having to control customers and their behaviours when rules were not followed.
The pair said: “Working is not physically tiring, just mentally as we have to think twice.”
However, they are flattered to be known as keyworkers as someone has to do this job even if it means being exposed and at risk.
Lessons we should take from this:
Although restrictions have eased, the way we shop hasn’t changed. As retail managers they explained that people need to respect each other more. They have had experiences with nasty customers, some who threatened them when not following the guidelines which they said was “frustrating”.
They said: “over the last 14 weeks it has been tough, and it still is tough.” Working in the shops means that every day is different, they don’t know who will follow rules and who will disobey. As restrictions begin to ease, they say that they are still “uncertain about the virus”.
Overall:
As lockdown restrictions are easing, I hope people realise that the virus hasn’t disappeared. There is a long way to go still and although it seems like a sense of “normality” has come back, remember those who are still battling the virus on the frontline and our many other key workers. These were just a few stories that I had the opportunity to share but there are so many people we should honour for tirelessly working during this pandemic.
This Sunday also marks 72 years since the NHS and social care system was established. 2020 has been the most challenging year for the NHS as they continue to battle coronavirus. So, on behalf of them, and all our key workers, wear a mask, continue to social distance and stay safe.
