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Due to the coronavirus, many of us have not left our homes for a long time and are even afraid to imagine how hard it is now for doctors who are fighting the most dangerous manifestations of the pandemic around the clock. Healthy Food Near Me talked with Anastasia Sudareva, who this spring moved from the surgical department to the infectious diseases department – to the front line.
After leaving school, I, like many teenagers, did not know where to go to study. Therefore, my relatives intervened in determining my future fate. They began to actively advise where to submit documents. Unlike me, my older sister (we are the same with her, but I went to school earlier) long ago made a choice and dreamed of studying obstetrics. Overnight, it was decided to send me to the side of medicine.
At first, I really did not want to get involved with medical activities: after all, this entails an incredibly difficult, long study – not to mention the need to constantly contact sick people.
Agree, not everyone is destined to work in this area: for this you need to be quite philosophical about life and not panic when the situation is not going according to plan.
Probably, if not for my grandfather, I would have refused to study in honey. But he persistently tried to convince me of the advantages of this area and dreamed of how proud he would be if I started helping people. Eventually, I decided to enroll in general nursing. As I found out later, my grandfather’s own sister (who died before I was born) I devoted all my life to this area – that’s why my grandfather wanted me to follow in her footsteps and continue our medical dynasty.
All goes to good
As a result, I was not at all disappointed that I listened to my family and went into medicine. It was very interesting to study! After college, I planned to go to, let’s say, an “elite” field – anesthesiology. But, alas, this did not work out. But immediately after graduation, I was offered a job in the operating room, which is also quite a rarity for beginners.
For several years I have been actively assisting surgeons, comprehending this difficult direction. And then she got married and went on maternity leave, in which she spent a total of six years, having given birth to a son and a daughter.
In 2019, when the youngest child was 3 years old, I immediately returned to work, which I had time to miss very much. Everything was as before – until the coronavirus happened …
The eyes are afraid, and the hands do
When COVID-19 ceased to be such a distant and exotic ailment and began to threaten our country, I, like many, was pretty worried.
However, doctors do not have the opportunity to close their eyes to something and fence themselves off from a frightening topic. Therefore, I got involved in the fight against coronavirus as soon as possible.
At first, I was one of those who were on duty at Moscow airports and checked everyone arriving from other countries. We met passengers from overseas flights, photographed their tickets, visas and passports, found out home addresses, took tests, as well as issued sick leave and conducted conversations with convincing requests to comply with the quarantine rules.
Of course, I was very scared of constantly contacting potentially infected people. However, interest gradually began to prevail: whatever one may say, doctors are people with a special mindset.
By the way, at first I did not tell my relatives about my participation in coronavirus “operations” – why should they worry too much in such a turbulent time?
When the borders were closed, I went back to work in the hospital – though not in the operating room, but in the urgently refurbished infectious diseases department. Honestly, this caused me a lot of difficulties: after all, I developed in a completely different field for many years!
I have never worked as a guard or a procedure nurse, and after college I managed to forget a lot of what we were taught there. Therefore, I had to urgently recall my student practice: how to give intravenous injections, put on IVs, take tests, and so on.
Growth time
I can say that the pandemic has greatly improved my professional skills. If before I was perfectly able to handle only surgical instruments, now I can do any procedure! It makes me proud of myself. In the old days I only rarely (and even then, not seriously) I considered the idea of starting to improve in another area, and now I learn something new every day.
However, the most important thing I have learned during the COVID-19 period is to communicate with patients.
Of course, this may seem strange to you – how could I have worked in medicine for so many years and not have the skills to communicate with patients? However, I repeat: before, in almost all cases, I saw patients only on the operating table under anesthesia.
Now I am in contact with people throughout the entire work shift. True, the conversation rarely goes beyond a few phrases: after all, there are a lot of patients, everyone needs to pay attention.
I always ask patients about their health, find out if they are getting better, and also try to calm and tune in a positive way. Often, coronavirus patients refuse to take pills or (which is especially common) give injections, which are prescribed by the doctor. Some do not believe in the effectiveness of treatment, but the majority are simply afraid of pain.
What amuses and surprises me especially is the panic that suddenly arises in strong adult men. I really didn’t expect it to be a reality, not a joke! From one kind of needle from a syringe, they begin to scream and escape! It can be difficult to calm these patients down and complete the procedure normally.
Perhaps this is the art of nursing – to find a common language with any person, allay his fears and support in difficult times.
Of course, I am incredibly pleased when I see a patient recovering. At such a moment, you instantly realize the importance of your actions and understand that a person has become better precisely because of your care and responsibility for him. Perhaps this is the only thing that gives strength in such a difficult time.
About working in a pandemic
I do not argue that there have been many more work tasks in recent months. But no one is trying to forcibly exhaust the doctors: personally, I come home from work on time, after the end of my shift. It’s just that on duty itself, there is not always time for a break, which is customary for the duration.
Despite this, I really enjoy my current job. This is probably partly because I used to work in the operating room: there, too, you need to stand on your feet for a long time and constantly wear a protective uniform.
Of course, it can be very hot in a protective suit: sometimes the glasses on the face fog up so that you can’t see anything. But work doesn’t wait! Therefore, you just need to accept the difficulties and start helping patients who are much harder than you.
I always try to be friendly and optimistic – and not just for others. You also need to tune yourself to a positive worry. I often catch myself thinking that I don’t feel tired at all until I sit down and allow myself to relax – it’s all thanks to my mood.
About life in a pandemic
Probably, doctors are constantly asked if they are afraid of contracting coronavirus.
At first it was scary, but now nothing scares me at all – it is worthwhile to understand that no one is immune from this, and also that not everyone has a serious illness.
I am doing everything to keep myself and my family safe from COVID-19. Because of this, I have not seen my relatives for a long time – I only contact my husband and children. With my son and daughter, by the way, we only recently began to walk a little on the street – I did not let them out of the house for about two months.
Of course, I really want the pandemic to end. I dream of going on vacation and allowing myself to abandon any worries – well, or at least meet with friends and go somewhere together. Until then, I will continue to do my best.
Photo: personal archive