Poet’s corner: a nurse’s COVID reflections

Last Thursday (10 December) marked the United Nation’s annual human rights day and the theme, unsurprisingly, related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to ‘build back better’ by ensuring human rights are central to recovery efforts.

Faculty of Health, Education and Society academics provided some expert comment about this but the Nursing team decided on something a little different, to share as we approach the end of the year.

Lecturer Shev O’Brien turned to poetry after a standard, 12-hour stint on the wards, with observations that sum up her and her colleagues’ views on the pandemic.

So COVID hit and the goal posts moved
We had to raise our game
We shut down services and upped our skills
Redeployment of staff came

The wards filled up and policies changed daily
There was a nervous worry about
But love for our NHS shone bright, hands clapped, donations were raised
Human kindness was never in doubt

We cared for loved ones, families were separated
But our natural instinct for touch was broken
With faces covered communication was challenged
It felt like our rights had been taken

The world was divided and opinions trolled
But we carried on caring and above this we rose
We saw first hand the effect of this virus
Yet our professionalism as always remained composed

Mistakes have been made along the way
And COVID is still an unknown factor
The powers that be can’t decide right for wrong
That’s why the science matters

The first wave was tackled and some summer fun was had
But it started again with a second hit
With hands face space not being enough
Even a pre-Christmas lockdown could not tame it

We thought it was bad first time round
But this is now another high
No beds, staff sickness, and the pressure of winter
It feels like human care and compassion is running dry

Should our actions be collective or individual
It’s a question we are asked each day
It may just be that we have to show compassion
And take time to ask yourself, your loved ones, your neighbours: “Are you ok?”