How do you deal with ignorant family members/friends. I cannot deal with ignorant, misinformed people anymore - especially when it hits close to home w/ friends and family for some reason I take it personally and when they do not have any desire to learn and become better informed.
My in-laws tried to tell me this influx of COVID cases could also be flu and the numbers are exaggerated - and as an ER nurse -- working in two ERs and having done some time in a COVID ICU, seeing all the horrors first hand, like many of you did - when people just spew absolute misinformation absolute BS- it infuriates my soul - it undermines all the hard-work we have done. It is so *** disheartening I cannot even begin to explain it.
FIRSTLY- for the last 1 month both my ER’s as well as neighboring hospitals are running what we call a pandemic resp panel which checks for SARS-CoV-2 AND a slew of other possible resp viral illnesses Adenovirus/parainfluenza, influenza A/B, etc. SO saying these numbers could be flu is simply inaccurate.
then … I mentioned how excited I was for my second COVID vaccine. Because I spent the previous night in a COVID room for hours with a patient who had a productive cough, who was gasping for breath just to stand and pivot to the commode. I’ve taken care of my own co-workers infected with COVID, which hurts my soul, and makes me realize I could be next.
This is why I was excited for the part 2 of the vaccine— but don’t worry I was then compared to a heroin addict and asked if I was going to get the second injection in between my toes… followed by a bunch of comments of saying they aren’t going to get it … or “let’s see what happens to all these other people getting it” just a complete disregard for science, evidence and the fact that this vaccine is our our only hope for a return to normalcy… mind you one of these people is a teacher - I would like to think she believe in science and research- clearly not - she goes on to comment on how she doesn’t get the flu vaccine but all her students were mandated the flu vaccine how the *** is that even fair??? And she’s complaining that her job is strongly urging a COVID swab ???? What is wrong with knowing you’re negative- before you teach CHILDREN!!??
THEN … one of my best friends in the whole world — feel like I can’t talk to her about COVID anymore either … she’s against the vaccine due to “infertility claims” give me a *** break - whatever that’s your right but do some actual research first from RCT’s not BS…
she works a desk job that happens to be in healthcare in the outpatient setting she is pissed about the lack of hazard pay and pissed about her lack of an N-95 yet she isn’t providing any patient care whatsoever- meanwhile a good portion of us were denied hazard pay, N-95's.
I cannot do this anymore. I I drove to my night shift in the cold rain crying… which is a nice change from the chest pain I used to have months ago. No one understands the *** we go through. I’ve never felt so alone as a nurse, so undermined, so worthless and not cared about ever in my nursing career. This pandemic hurts so much.
The hope I had for the new year … the hope I had for the vaccine is squashed by people’s *** ignorance. I apologize for the length - its been a lot - thank you
