2020_06_16_ENF_webinar

The School of Nursing of the University of Navarra held a webinar on June 15 to discuss the psychological effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and to offer some keys to self-care for healthcare professionals.

The session was at position by Helena Escalada, family physician and specialist in Palliative Care, and Karol Machiñena, nurse specialist in Mental Health. More than 60 people attended, some connected from other European countries, such as Portugal and the Czech Republic, and from Latin America, such as Chile, Colombia, Bolivia and Brazil.

The two speakers agreed that the magnitude of the pandemic has been something that has surprised us all. "It seemed incredible to us that something like this could happen, with our healthcare system, with all the medical advances available to us... And that has disconcerted us," explained Karol Machiñena. "We have lived through very complicated situations and we can't just turn the page. It is difficult to return to normality. It will leave its mark on us. But hopefully it will serve as a vital learning experience," he added. "Everything that happens to us in life is our baggage. And in the face of what we have lived through these months, it is necessary to reflect, to dialogue with ourselves in order to integrate it into who we are," said Helena Escalada.

"We have lacked a lot of information: about the aggressiveness of the virus, about how long the confinement was going to last... This creates uncertainty and insecurity, and that is what produces the fear and the blockage that has repercussions in our life staff, in our relationship with others and at a professional level", explained Karol. Asked how to manage this uncertainty, she affirmed the need to look to the future with hope: "Now we know more about the virus and how to control it, and at the health level we are better prepared. This can give us a certain sense of control for the future, although it is not total because it does not depend one hundred percent on us. Peace of mind protects us and gives us hope".

In the same vein, Helena stressed the importance of living in the present. "We have to slow down. Thinking about today and not tomorrow financial aid. And also seek a balance between what we have to do and what we like to do," she said.

Asked by the audience, the two speakers emphasized the role of support groups and the need to find a way to say goodbye to the loss and to dedicate quality time to the family and loved ones, prioritizing them in order to recover what has been lost during these months of separation.

"Our work is caring for people, we are passionate about it. And sometimes that makes us neglect our own care," Helena acknowledged. "When you can't take care of yourselfanymore, it 's hard to take care of yourself," Karol stressed, making reference letter to the status of physical and mental exhaustion to which this pandemic has led many healthcare professionals. "The core topic now is to identify that we need to take care of ourselves, to recognize that something is wrong with us," she advised.

"The teams in which we work are also core topic to cope with such complicated situations," said Helena. "In this sense, good interpersonal relations, team communication and flexible schedules have been fundamental. We have also taken care of each other," she concluded.