Cooperation at all times

LA CORUÑA — SPAIN

marta quelle Nurse La Coruña Care Home

We were all afraid. When I was afraid I would lean on my director, and she would do the same with me. That’s how we worked. Nobody was exempt from being afraid, but all together we were strong.

I have been a nurse for thirteen years. Now I work in an a care home for elderly people. Our work is very varied. We are nurses, assistants, therapists and even do maintenance. I think the biggest thing I have learnt through all of this is that it’s not about your job or other peoples’ jobs but about all pulling together to look after the residents.

We are certainly, as Latin people, very physical and sociable. Here in Galicia we have a lot of festivals, but they may not happen this year.

Personally, I was able to have a holiday. I couldn’t actually go away, because my family live 70 kilometres away, but I was able to spend time at home. Who needs a holiday more than healthcare staff, who have been on the front line in this crisis and been far from our families and following strict guidelines?

I have learnt a lot of things over the past few months. Cooperation between teams has a certain structure to it, normally, but during this time it has had to be about spontaneous reactions at times. We had to make new isolation zones and didn’t even have furniture for them. It was all very temporary. It was all done by teamwork, even the maintenance assistant who made a piece of furniture for us to store the ppe.

I have never doubted I am in the right job. Actually, when I finished my studies I thought I might go into Medicine, but I have always wanted to be a nurse. I chose the career I am in, and even love the administrative work, although sometimes it feels like our work is taken for granted.

I think we will reach a time when everything is under control and then all or most of us will start to feel down, which will be the next problem to be dealt with and conquered. �