Page 21 - QARANC Vol 19 No 2 2021

The Gazette QARANC Association 19
Edith Cavell’s Presence in Pandemic Nursing
Historic accounts of Edith Cavell remember her as acting with bravery and compassion. She is celebrated for saving the lives of soldiers from both allied and enemy forces and in helping over 200 allied soldiers escape from German-occupied Belgium during the First World War.
She not only was an excellent nurse, becoming Matron of the first Nursing School in
Belgium, L’École Belge d’Infirmières Diplômées’,
and again nurses stepped up to meet the challenge by redeploying to support their critical care colleagues without complaint and adapting to change with an exceptional attitude.
Within the Emergency Department nurses faced caring for patients who could not have their families present, an unfamiliar concept to today’s nursing.
she is also known for her
courage and compassion
during a challenging
time in history. She was
truly a public servant;
she thought about what
she could do to make life better for those around her rather than about profit or prestige for herself.
2021 saw its own challenges, although different to challenges faced by Edith, she remains an exemplary nursing leader of today. I believe the example that she left for us to follow has made an impact on today’s nurses and on nurse education. Her values, morals and deeds are an example to follow. I believe nurses who have worked tirelessly throughout this global pandemic during 2020- 2021 putting others before themselves, have been able to do so because of the brave acts of Edith and her matron friends who reformed nursing practice in the 1800’s.
Throughout this pandemic, many nurses were asked to adapt, move from their current departments, transfer their skills to critical care, support their colleagues in other specialities or participate in the infection control changes within their department. Edith herself nursed through a typhoid epidemic in Maidstone in Kent, where it became clear that cohesive interaction between stakeholders was the solution if the infection was to be contained. This need for collaboration was prevalent throughout this recent pandemic
Nurses reported for duty even though they themselves were apprehensive, frightened and fearful of the unknown, however they were driven to help patients, their colleagues and their families. Strong nursing leaders were present, care was delivered with empathy, and despite the challenges of the situation, I found that my working environment was full of caring, compassionate, competent nurses, who as a team became stronger and more resilient.
Nurses made the difference! Nurses were the glue that kept the team together and were the interface between families and loved ones at the time of need. Edith Cavell certainly set a professional example of good nursing care, of strong morals and pure courage.
Her values, morals and deeds are an example to follow
Nursing staff cared for patients who were critically unwell, learning new skills or up-skilling colleagues, whilst wearing cumbersome PPE that made even simple communication difficult. I witnessed
nurses adapt to the many problems they faced with positive attitudes and with optimism. There were great examples of innovation from nurses; one simple example was the stickers that were printed and placed on PPE to show patients what we looked like without our masks. This made the patients feel more comfortable and gave that personal approach.
Nurses worked overtime to support each other, and most of all, nurses cared. Despite the challenging environments, stress of up-skilling or training others, the fear of the unknown and the hot PPE, nurses led by
Edith’s Cavell’s example, practising clinical competence, courage and compassion.
Nurses made the difference! Nurses were the glue that kept the team together
Examples like this were clearly present during this pandemic from modern day nurses.
The Year of the Nurse did not turn out to be the year that nurses were expecting. However, I do believe that Edith Cavell would have been
Historic accounts of
Edith Cavell suggest
she was outspoken,
often talking about
helping people in time
of need and driven by a strong passion to do so. In my experience throughout the global pandemic as an Emergency Care nurse we had to be, more than ever, the patients’ advocate. With visiting severely restricted we became the only bedside presence and patients relied on us more than ever before.
proud to see that nurses in the 21st century were still filled with positivity, compassion and passion, courage and resilience for their jobs and their incredible commitment to deliver high quality nursing care.
Lieutenant Caroline Thijs
204 (North Irish) Field Hospital