Dear Nurses

I am so proud of all of you.  You have applied yourself to everything that is new. You have patiently listened as we explain protocol after protocol, and then frustrated  you by changing it the next day. I am proud of how you showed care to my 99-year-old patient whose hair is perfectly coiffed and her makeup is ready for a BBC interview.

Like you I don’t know what day it is. I need to check a calendar to see if it’s a working day or a weekend. Not that it makes any difference to you, working shifts and three-day weekends every second weekend.

I try, and yet I fail to talk to you in the corridors and in the nurses’ stations and in your offices in management suite.  

I failed to act ten days ago when someone asked me to write something motivational for you. This is a time when failure is commonplace: the only solution is to acknowledge it, learn from it and move on. With this letter I hope to move on.

We are facing a global crisis in our little hospital that has always served our community to the best of our ability. It seems sometimes that nothing we do is enough for our patients, our hospital, the whole world. But we have not failed!

The sense of failure, the fear of not being in control, the quarantine, the concern for our families causes us all to feel anxiety.

Feeling anxious about things in today’s world is completely normal. Although I am no master, I’d like to share with you how I have learnt to deal with my anxiety over the years and what works for me now:

We need to deal with it. Learn from our failures. Consolidate and move in a new direction with calm and strength and compassion. I believe we all, and especially you, have this ability.

In our medical training and our experience at the workplace over the years we have all faced stressful moments: a patient’s death, a complication, a disagreement with a colleague. Think back to those times. Now empower yourself by reminding yourself that you dealt with those crises before, and you have the tools to deal with this crisis. You have achieved so much, and will continue to achieve.

Over the last decade I have been blessed to meet many wise and caring people who have helped me deal with fear and anxiety. The essence of their help for me can be distilled into three words: 

Remember to breathe (even if it is behind a suffocating mask).

Breathing is the essence of life, and we can control it. In the beginning just acknowledging your breath is enough. Start to feel the place where your in–breath gently fades into your out–breath. Feel your diaphragm move. If you want you can pause, and count to four at the end of each breath.

It is as simple as that. Now you have something you can control. In controlling that you can reduce your fear and anxiety. 

I salute you all. For once the world is recognising your calling.  They are appreciating your service for the greater good of humanity. They understand your sacrifice. 

Stay safe.

Ask for help if you need it.

Best wishes

Basil

Sunrise over the Indian Ocean …

21 thoughts on “Stay safe..”

  2. Hi Basil.
    Beautiful, thoughtful, caring, warm, empathetic words encased by a deep compassionate understanding of our nursing compatriots. Thank you. Sabs

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    2. Well written by a caring, compassionate surgeon as well as an accomplished photographer. Someone that has love and empathy for his community, colleagues and staff. Thank you Basil.

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  6. A wonderful piece of writing about a remarkable group of professionals. Basil, I am so glad that you have resuscitated your blog so that more anxious souls may draw inspired courage from your wisdom and compassion. Huge respect for all the health care practitioners at
    the forefront of a not very normal situation, to say the least. Thank you for your sacrifice.

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  7. Thank you to every one of you for what you do every week, every day, every hour, and every minute. Thank you for continuing when you are exhausted, when you are uncertain, when you are scared. Thank you for giving so much all the time. Thank you to the cleaners, the cooks, the nurses, the physios, the doctors, the interns, to every one I have not listed. THANK YOU!

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  9. Well done Dr. Stathoulis, the staff needed encouragement and to know you are thinking about them in this trying time.

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