A ‘tough’ but ‘magical’ time
Steph Anderson has been a nurse for 34 years. She trained in London then worked through terrorist attacks and the Gulf War.
‘‘That was scary, difficult stuff, but this is like nothing else,’’ she said of the coronavirus pandemic.
Anderson, a nurse at Victory Community Centre in Nelson, has been on the frontline with hundreds of other health workers since the first case of coronavirus was confirmed in the region almost two months ago.
‘‘I love working at the sharp end of keeping the community safe. It would have been frustrating if I’d been told to sit at home and wait this out.’’
She worked at the Tahunanui community-based testing centre when it first opened and now spends three days a week working at the Victory Community Based Assessment Centre.
‘‘Initially, it was quite scary, we had no idea how many cases we would find, we didn’t know how many people would come to us already infected, and we hoped the protective measures we put in place would keep us all safe.’’
Anderson has a strong philosophy of stepping up in the face of adversity.
The biggest challenge was keeping up with how quickly things changed, from setting up Covid-19 community-based assessment centres to providing welfare checks, she said.
Her office in the busy Victory Community Centre had been unusually quiet, with no-one stopping in for a chat and a cuppa which had taken some getting used to. It had also been difficult to take a hands off approach to patients.
‘‘Not being able to touch people, as a nurse this is an essential part of the role, especially when you are taking blood pressure, and reassuring people – it is tough.’’
There had been increased anxiety among those uncertain about what the future would hold.
While some people were coping well, others were struggling.
Anderson said she had to make sure she listened to the advice she gave others and that she left work behind each day.
‘‘In times like these it’s best to focus on the short term and not get caught up with longer term worries.
‘‘It’s also the small stuff that makes a difference, taking your dog for a walk, reading, and eating well.’’
It reinforced the importance of developing skills to look after oneself.
The outbreak had presented people in the health sector with the opportunity to work differently and Anderson said it had been a ‘‘magical time’’ as there was more co-operation and collaboration in the health sector.
She said health promoters, dieticians, nurses and GPs had put aside their egos to work together.
‘‘No-one is a sole expert, we all have to work together to succeed.
‘‘The strength of relationships formed through this experience is huge.’’
The centre’s partnership with Toi Toi Medical and Victory Pharmacy was ‘‘pivotal’’ in supporting the community.
Anderson said the pandemic had also highlighted the goodness in the community.
She had noticed people were more aware of those around them and were taking the time to stop and say hello to neighbours, families and the wider community.
‘‘There is some really good stuff that’s going to come out the other end.’’