For healthcare workers, a pandemic is unlike any other medical emergency. With the burden of working round the clock, its emotional and psychological consequences make the event more pronounced and difficult to handle.

Even under such psychological and physiological pressure, healthcare practitioners continue to deliver their best services. Thus, many stories of selfless care and altruism surface, commending the ability of medical staff to work beyond their physical and professional capacity and serve humanity.

The role of healthcare practitioners during the time of turmoil

The world is witnessing the inability of the healthcare systems of developed nations to deal with the severity of a pandemic. But in this face of uncertainty, healthcare practitioners continue to expand their roles and take up new responsibilities.

Regardless of mounting deaths and coffins, their unwavering resolve selfless dedication to their duty encourage them to work harder. They continue to provide their services even with shortages of PPEs and other supplies, risking their life for the sake of humanity.

Many healthcare professionals lost their lives in the way of service delivery. Yet, others continued to play their part without fear. Witnessing the impact and severity of the pandemic, their courage is remarkable

Healthcare practitioners are needed to respond to the needs of the pandemic in various ways. From upgrading their skill level to working double shifts, they may need to be more flexible. In this article, we’ve highlighted their ingenuine, courageous, and selfless role during the pandemic.

Nurses as frontline workers

Nurses are required to work as frontline workers in a healthcare system. During a pandemic, their job becomes even more meaningful and diverse. In 2019 as well, they quickly responded with their medical skills and practical experience.

Additionally, they also showed urgency to elevate their training level with programs like online dnp programs to meet the healthcare needs during the pandemic.

In general, the scope of a nurse’s duties expands into new healthcare sections during a pandemic. Thus, additional training helps them go a long way.

Nurses work under the risk of getting infected with airborne particles during nebulization of medicines and intubations. Yet, they’re expected to play their part in the early diagnosis, screening, and monitoring of infected patients.

Additionally, due to over-burdened healthcare, they may require to work as support staff, managers, or sometimes assume the responsibilities of leaders.

The role of Healthcare practitioners as information disseminators

The pandemic has seen a flood of misinformation pouring in from everywhere. Healthcare practitioners whether nurses, doctor or medical staff has a vital duty to curb the menace of misinformation.

This misinformation regarding the negative impacts of the COVID-19 treatment and vaccination has made the public reluctant to get vaccinated.

Healthcare professionals have an essential role in urging their patients to take the jabs once available, expanding the blanket of immunity. The essence is that the only way to win the war against any pandemic is working collectively.

Role of doctors during the pandemic


The role of doctors becomes more significant during exceptional circumstances such as a pandemic. The job requires long hours of work with no breaks.

The doctor working outside their specialties and field of study may become a norm, and standard work boundaries get blurred significantly.

They may require to work regardless of physical fatigue and moral stress. For instance, making difficult decisions about which patients are priority brings a substantial psychological toll.

They are often required to make tough decisions about patients needing urgent care. They may find themselves sharing limited resources with a large number of patients.

The role of medical Office administrators during a pandemic

The significance of timely and appropriate communication becomes even more significant during a pandemic. Hence, the MOAs play an essential and expanded role.

They make sure the healthcare facility does not get crowded with non-critical patients. Hence, ruling out chances of unnecessary spread of infection.

The MOAs can also offer their help in procuring critical medical supplies, such as Personal Protective Equipment, mask, nitrile gloves, isolators, sanitizers, and much more. As administrators, they may need to help keep the facility clean to curb the spread of infection.

The significance of Emergency Medical Technicians during a pandemic

The role of EMTs is to stabilize the condition of the patients and safely transport them to a medical facility. During the pandemic, their life-saving emergency training becomes even more indispensable.

Simultaneously, they may need to be more vigilant about their safety, implying that they need to work in extra protective clothing all the time.

Due to changing healthcare demands, they can help by seeking additional respiratory illnesses, patient assessments, etc.  In some areas, situations may expect them to take up leadership roles.

Medical scientists and researchers are discovering more about this disease.  Thus, EMTs need to be vigilant for any changes and ready to accept new protocols.

Conclusion

Despite the challenge of treating many patients and the uncertain nature of the virus, medical practitioners are required to maintain their composure. Their role as saviors of society becomes more critical and impactful.

The pandemic expects them to prepare for any changes in their duties and show readiness to work outside their area of expertise. At the same time, they have to be careful about their safety and those around them.

The world has lagged in its ability to prepare for and respond to highly contagious viruses. Nevertheless, healthcare professionals’ flexible learning and heroic knowledge can enhance our collective capacity to deal with uncertain medical situations.

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