Even Heroes Get Tired
In the 2020 COVID-19 crisis our healthcare and first responders were held up as heroes. And heroes they were. Putting themselves in harm’s way again and again. This has caused them to care for the sick and worry about their families and themselves at the same time, sometimes creating difficult choices and priorities.
It didn’t take long for the original adrenaline of crisis to wear off and exhaustion to set in. They think that they have seen the worst of COVID and no matter how hard they work, they continue to see the cases rise. For some, it is a stream of hardships that never seems to end.
They no longer want to do their work without their voices being heard. They are pleading with everyone to at least wear a mask. Such a simple request. One that healthcare professionals understand. But for some, wearing a mask has become a political statement, not a healthcare adherence. What can you do to give our tired heroes a respite if you are already wearing a mask? Can you ask someone else to also wear a mask? Or has even doing this small thing become so politicized that we don’t want to venture into what the reaction might be.
Our heroes are tired. They are becoming impatient with us. They need space to breathe and rest. They need to know that we all have their back. Leaders are working hard to give them the space that will help them rest. Sometimes the general public takes them for granted because they only see them as people behind masks and personal protective equipment. They may forget that they are also moms, dads, sisters, brothers, children. Our super-heroes on our TV screens.
2021 holds promise for a better year. But as we move into that year and memories of 2020 can be put aside for awhile, let us remember the price that our heroes have paid. It is the price that all heroes pay. When the crisis is over, when the war is won, we move on with our lives. Our heroes then begin their journey of trying to make sense out of all that happened. How did we support them? How were we their courageous allies?
“Being a hero doesn’t mean you’re invincible. It just means that you’re brave enough to stand up and do what’s needed.” — Rick Riordan
About the Authors
Pam Thompson MS, RN, FAAN is the CEO Emeritus of the American Organization for Nursing Leadership, formerly AONE. During the same time, 2000–2016, she was the Senior VP of Nursing for the American Hospital Association. After retiring in 2017, she now serves as a healthcare consultant and volunteer board member and trustee for several healthcare entities.
Marla Weston PhD, RN, FAAN is the past CEO of the American Nurses Association Enterprise which included the American Nurses Association, American Nurses Credentialing Center and American Nurses Foundation, serving from 2009 to 2018. She now is a consultant and facilitator in leadership development, organizational strategy and growth, and future trends.
