Ladies with lamps... and hearts of angels

As Swaroopa Rani, head nurse at Niloufer Hospital, breathed her last fighting Covid-19 on Friday night, the total number of nurses who died of the pandemic in Telangana state has reached nine. Swaroopa was due for her retirement at the end of the month. These incidents throw light to the plight of millions of nurses worldwide who run the risk of succumbing to the killer virus, yet work with utmost dedication to save lives of those hapless souls affected by the pandemic. May 12 is observed as International Nursing Day, and the week is observed as nursing week.

According to statistics, a total of 2,710 nurses have died of Covid-19 and 1.6 million nursing staff have been infested so far globally by the Coronavirus.

This newspaper interacted with a few nursing staff working in different hospitals. They expressed their feelings of being a nurse in medical field. This is a profession where care and compassion come first. Nurses should upgrade their knowledge as technology is advancing. In the present situation where there is a shortage of medical staff, nurses are showing extraordinary courage and sincerity in handling the crisis.

— RAJESWARI MUPPIDI, Dean, Care Nursing College

This pandemic has highlighted the services of nursing staff. People know that despite difficult conditions, nurses work tirelessly. Those who are just out of nursing schools can join as staff, even before the results are out, due to the shortage. — LAXMAN RUDAVATH, General secretary,

TS Nursing Officer Association

I am not afraid of the Coronavirus. I feel more dedicated while treating Covid-19 patients. At this point in time, I feel like this is a great opportunity to serve humanity. At Nims, we nurses numbering around 500 share the feeling.

—D. ROSY, Staff nurse on contract, Nims

Ebola, swine flu, chikungunya, viral fevers, and now Covid-19. At Gandhi Hospital, we have seen so much, and we conquered all diseases. Covid-19 is a challenge; we will overcome it. We are like warriors. We dedicate our lives to save our patients.

— DHARANI PADITHEM, staff nurse, Gandhi Hospital

I love my profession as it is challenging. At the end of the day, we feel we have given back to society, when the patents hold our hands and say thanks while getting discharged. We feel on top of the world.

— VIJAYA UPPARAM, Head nurse, Government Chest Hospital

There are so many challenges including shortage of staff, extra work hours and the rage of patients’ attendants, but nothing can give us more happiness when we see the patients getting cured. With great satisfaction, we go to sleep.

— SAIDAMMA PAGILLA, Staff nurse, King Koti District Hospital

We take nursing as a choice. We stay awake the whole night while taking care of patients. Along with the patients, we also battle for their lives. We give them back to their families as a gift.

—MARINA NETTO, Assistant Nursing Superintendent, Apollo Hospitals, Secunderabad

We get attached with the patient. We see their suffering, we feel depressed if something wrong happens to them. Their relatives consider us their family members while getting treated. When they recover, we feel as happy as their families.

— PRASANNA PAIDIPOVA, Nurse, Haemato Oncology, ESI Hospital

When the patient recovers, the happiness that we get cannot be expressed. At the same time when the patient is declared dead, we are depressed. We get so much satisfaction at the end of the day if everything goes well.

—KANAKADURGA ERRA, Outsourcing nurse, Gandhi Hospital

I was always fascinated by nursing as a profession. Now, as the world knows the importance of nurses during the Covid19 pandemic, we are getting wide recognition. Nurses play a vital role in the treatment of patients.

—UMAPRIYA GUNIGANTI, MSc nurse at a private hospital