key: cord-0962924-wnc35zw8
authors: Farahani, Zahra Borzabadi; Nejat, Nazi
title: Year of the Nurse 2020 and Covid-19: Opportunities to Support Nurses as Heroes of Health Care
date: 2021-09-02
journal: Iran J Nurs Midwifery Res
DOI: 10.4103/ijnmr.ijnmr_436_20
sha: 1cf1c510f7828a1bc8357c39e2f9120fca7813d6
doc_id: 962924
cord_uid: wnc35zw8

nan

The authors are members of the nursing faculty and as nurses' educators are concerned with the nursing profession and have a responsibility to strive to promote the profession. The World Health Organization had declared 2020 as the International Year of the Nurse. This is a unique opportunity to recognize and showcase the work and contributions of nurses to the health system more broadly. Moreover, by the onset of COVID-19 pandemic, the role of nurses has been thrown into sharp relief. However, they confront with many challenges under the shadow of COVID-19. [1] Nurses are more susceptible to infections due to the exposure to pathogens, long working hours, psychological distress, fatigue, sleep deprivation, and burnout. [2] Now is the time to support them as the key members of health care system to provide a standard and safe care for patients, since the coronavirus will not be the last threat to human health. Therefore, following suggestions are provided. Support and protecting nurses in a safe working place without fear or anxiety by providing personal protective equipment and prevention of violence against them. Providing spiritual care [3] and psychological consultation for nurses who care for the patients with COVID-19 and their families especially nurses' children. Providing financial support for nurses, who have been at the front line of the pandemic, so would be awarded a pay rise and first in line for financial compensation of their efforts. Providing adequate nurse staffing that improve patient safety and the quality of care and associated with significant reduction in mortality rate of COVID-19. [4] Training and employing certified nursing assistants to increase the health care system ability to manage the current crisis effectively. [4] Promoting the role of nurses' leadership to ensure their effective role in decision making and policy process. [5] Formulating fair labor policies for nurses that refers to the law of strictness and harmfulness of this profession and full implementation of the law of productivity promotion. [5] Promoting the trustworthiness of the nursing profession, dignity, and autonomy in the workplace; promote the community's awareness and perspective of nursing practice and their real position. Hope that considering these suggestions a better future will be built for nursing profession after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nil.

Nothing to declare. Zahra Borzabadi Farahani 1 , Nazi Nejat 1 1 School of Nursing, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran

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