Nursing association exec lauds nurses, urges them to protect their own health too

As the world marks International Nurses Day, the head of the Philippine Nurses Association urged Filipino nurses to take good care of their own health alongside caring for their patients as they serve as the country's “last line of defense” against COVID-19.

“‘Yung mga nurses po ay competent and compassionate. Sila po ay equipped with knowledge, skills sa pag-aalaga ng pasyente, at may right attitude,” PNA national president Dr. Rosie De Leon said in an interview during the virtual presser of the Department of Health on Tuesday.

De Leon, who is also the dean of the Philippine College of Nursing, underscored that nurses provide patients with various forms of care, including physiological, spiritual, emotional, and psychological.

She also told nurses to regularly communicate with doctors regarding the status of patients to ensure that they receive the proper treatment.

“I am also asking all our nurses to protect yourselves while you are with your patients,” she added.

Despite the hardships that come with caring for COVID-19 cases, De Leon said, nurses are motivated to continue working when they see their patients recover.

“‘Pag nakikita mo na po na talagang halos gumagaling na, nag-iimprove na ‘yung ating country… lahat po kaming mga nurses, talagang motivated kami to continue fighting,” she said.

However, data from the DOH show that nurses account for the highest number of COVID-19 cases among healthcare workers.

As of May 11, the DOH has recorded 759 nurses infected with COVID-19 out of the total 2,067 health workers who have contracted the virus.  — Julia Mari Ornedo/BM, GMA News