On #NationalNursesDay I want to use my favorite meme to illustrate the devastating impact of #COVID19 on an already under-resourced and exhausted nursing workforce. This year, more than ever, a pizza party is not enough. 1/

ICU nurses are subject to repeated primary and secondary trauma and often exhibit signs of PTSD.

I cannot overstate how much worse this problem will become due to the witnessed suffering (and feelings of helplessness) that come with #COVID19

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RNs are conditioned not to speak out. We& #39;re praised for our heroism, virtuosity, and dedication to patients—but expressing safety concerns is often met with invalidation. And even retaliation from administration.

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The fact that you& #39;re seeing nurses on CNN is a testament to how bad the #COVID19 crisis is. They& #39;re risking their lives at the job. And then risking their livelihoods by pleading for help to do that job. They know that nurse safety and patient outcomes are inextricably linked.
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Hospitals aren& #39;t providing more support to nurses during this time, they& #39;re doubling down.

My mom& #39;s hospital, HCA, is using #COVID19 to discourage union activity—even accusing RNs of taking advantage of the current "public sympathy."

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I don& #39;t discourage thanking nurses or providing #NursesWeek discounts. Nurses deserve it!

But as #COVID19 forces us to confront what we value in health systems, listen to nurses. We are acutely aware of the difference between profit-centered care and patient-centered care.
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