Introduction
The COVID-19 pandemic is a public health crisis. At the same time, the virus affects all victims identically, but its consequences can be different, often depending on the preparedness of hospitals. COVID-19 has demonstrated underlying defects in the delivery of public services and structural imbalances that make access to them challenging. Thus, it is essential to establish how my medical institution is preparing to provide services in the case of a pandemic and the impact of health policy on my practice during an emergency.
Medical Facility
It is significant that after the first wave of the pandemic, my medical center was able to assess its own strengths and weaknesses. Accordingly, the hospital management began to prepare the hospital for the epidemic, considering the problems that arose. First of all, doctors complained that the hospitals that began to receive patients with coronavirus were not ready for this. That is, “dirty” and “clean” zones were not distinguished clearly, and the physicians themselves were not enough protective equipment (Akin & Gözel, 2020). Therefore, now the hospital management has created a plan for the separation of hospital zones. Thus, in case of emergency, the staff has clear instructions for response. Moreover, the hospital now has a large stock of personal protective equipment designed to defend the physicians and patients. This is because the hospital administration held a tender and purchased twice as many medical masks and protective suits that have extra-class security.
My hospital is preparing for the fact that the existing rooms and beds that patients need may not be sufficient. Therefore, new transformer beds were purchased, which can be used in the hallways that will be marked as “dirty” zones (Akin & Gözel, 2020). This is necessary to enhance the hospital’s ability to provide treatment to patients who will be affected by the virus. Moreover, during the first wave of the pandemic, my medical institution faced the problem of staff shortage. Therefore, now the hospital administration is expanding the staff of nurses and doctors, especially those who work in the infectious diseases field. It is important to note that all employees are gradually receiving additional training aimed at improving their knowledge and abilities about pandemics. In this way, the hospital is preparing for a pandemic based on the previous experience caused by COVID-19.
My Nursing Practice
It is crucial to highlight that the unified health policy affects my activities during COVID-19. Thus, during nursing practice, there is a high possibility of becoming infected with the coronavirus. Accordingly, there are precautions to prevent cases of COVID-19 from healthcare workers. Thus, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) provides guidance that all healthcare workers and patients should follow (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021). That is, to prevent the spread of infection among healthcare workers, it is necessary to apply isolation and masking of affected employees. Thus, there is a situation when there is a lack of healthy nurses (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021). Accordingly, this has an adverse impact on my practice, manifested in the high work intensity and schedule changes.
Conclusion
Therefore, my hospital is constantly preparing for the challenges of the pandemic. Meanwhile, the experience of the previous wave is considered and influences the measures taken by the administration. In this way, the staff has been increased, additional training has been organized, and a plan for the division of hospital zones has been developed. Moreover, my institution is purchasing the necessary protective equipment and additional beds to respond quickly to the large flow of patients. In addition, the health policy has affected my work as a nurse because I follow all the protective measures and try to work efficiently in an intensive workplace.
References
Akin, L., & Gözel, M. G. (2020). Understanding dynamics of pandemics. Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences, 50(9), 515-519.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). CDC updates and shortens recommended isolation and quarantine period for general population. Web.