Hey, I’m Asia, co-founder of The Aura Bracelets and a year 1 student nurse :)
This pandemic has shaken our world to its core, with fear and uncertainty vibrating its way through every continent across the globe.
With lockdown rightly enforced, and billions of people staying at home to help stop the spread of the virus, many key workers have continued serving their communities.
Although not a fully qualified nurse, I volunteered to work as a Nursing Assistant during the peak of the global crisis, as I felt a duty to help where I could…
…as the wards were in urgent need of extra hands to deliver the fundamentals of nursing.
This includes simply communicating with the patient, escalating any abnormalities, personal care, making sure patients are well hydrated…
…generally being by their side and comforting them during the most vulnerable and frightening time of their lives!
The main challenge I’ve faced whilst working at the hospital has been a personal battle with fear of the unknown…
...due to very little being known about covid-19 at the time, and the mass hysteria associated with the virus on social media and in the news.
Before my first shift, a little voice inside my head said…
“What if I contract Covid-19?!”
“I’m only a student nurse, what if I can’t do enough for my patient”
“Or worse, what if I lose a patient!”
I could feel my anxiety growing, and knew I was out of my comfort zone.
Although I acknowledged those thoughts, I did not let them consume my mind and dictate my feelings or actions…
…because at the end of the day, we are NOT our thoughts, we are just spectators of those thoughts, and it is us that has full control over how we react to them.
So, before and after every shift, I reflect…
I remind myself of my WHY.
Why do I want to be a nurse?
Why do I want to dedicate my life to helping others?
Why am I going in to work during a global pandemic?
By doing this I am able to silence those negative thoughts inside my head, and empower myself with feelings of pride and purpose, which allow me to serve both patients and fellow workers to the best of my ability.
So the next time you feel out of your comfort zone, please remember that it is OK to feel fear.
Fear is a natural and essential part of growth.