Nursing has always been a noble profession and sometimes more prestigious than a specialized doctor. In 2020, the world experienced the COVID pandemic, which changed many things along with medical professions. The pandemic initially claimed many lives as the medical world was unprepared and didn’t know much about the treatment and precautions. Many medical professionals lost their lives during the pandemic, especially nurses, as they were the first point of contact. If you are thinking about enrolling in a nursing course, visit academicpartnerships.uta.edu/programs/bachelor-of-science-nursing.aspx to learn more about a bachelor of science in nursing. Nursing has changed and become more vital to the medical profession in the post-pandemic world. Have a look at the following discussion to understand why nurses have become more influential in the medical world.
More Duties
Before the pandemic, nurses used to perform duties assigned by doctors or other simple tasks like caring for the patient or administering medicines. They were not allowed to make critical decisions as they had to wait for the doctor’s approval. However, since the pandemic, the nurses’ duties have been updated. They can make quick life-saving decisions without waiting for the doctor’s approval. This already shows benefits as their quick thinking saves lives in emergency rooms.
Specialized Nursing
The pandemic showed the medical world how poorly everything is structured. There were no specialized nurses to deal with extreme conditions. Most nurses are given some training for dealing with natural calamities and other such scenarios, but most nursing programs fail to include the pandemic as a real scenario. However, new nursing courses rectify this issue and have included this pandemic as a case study.
Response Time
One of the reasons patients suffered in the initial stages of the pandemic was that the nurses didn’t know what to do. This was also down to poor communications between departments. For example, it took time to receive the patient’s medical history from the other department, as most nurses didn’t have access to the software. This is where the nursing profession has changed massively as more nurses are given access to the patient’s medical history. As a result, their response time has become quick, which makes all the difference in saving a life.
Global Interaction
Nurses are now able to communicate with other nurses on a global scale. Before the pandemic, such a thing was unimaginable; however, due to interaction with the nursing staff of other countries, there has been a noticeable change in nursing practices. The practice will also help the medical world tackle new scenarios more effectively, especially for nurses. This will also help in revising current nursing policies and protocols.
Although the pandemic caused much pain and destruction, the world emerging from it is strong and ready to tackle future pandemics. We might not see another pandemic in our lifetime; however, the current changes will ensure that future generations don’t have to endure the same pain and suffering. Enroll in a nursing program today and make a difference in the medical world.