Coronavirus: Melbourne nurse's powerful post goes viral

Caity Scott, a young nurse from Melbourne, has gone viral on Facebook after sharing a powerful post as she begins work on the COVID-19 ward at Knox Private Hospital.

She shared photos of herself in full PPE, which have since been shared over 5,000 times and received over 1,600 comments.

Caity Scott nurse from Melbourne on COVID-19 ward
Caity Scott, a young nurse from Melbourne, has gone viral on Facebook after sharing a powerful post as she begins work on the COVID-19 ward. Photo: Facebook

Caity explained that she had started working on the COVID-19 ward last week which is where patients who have been rescued or transferred from care facilities around Victoria have been moved.

Her powerful post read, "My mum took this photo of me through a inch wide window, in a door separating the covid ward from the theatre department where she works.

"Seeing me in full PPE, through a locked door that’s been sealed with hazard tape, (and all other covid things going on) was all too much.

"She is proud of me, but she is scared."

She continued, "Naturally, I tried to smile under my mask, give the thumbs up and show her I’m okay. But as I see the tears roll down her face the seriousness of the situation we’re in hits home and I find myself tearing up too.

"I want to rip off my gown and mask, jump through the door and hug her to make her feel better. Instead, I put my hand to the glass and she does the same as more tears roll down her face. I hold back my own because in this area, you don’t dare touch your face at any point."

She added that for her, this period of not being with her family has an end date, however, for some of the people in her care, they have been unable to physically see or touch a family member since February. Some may never get the chance again.

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"These people have been kept isolated in their rooms for months, they’ve only seen masks and gowns, only touched gloves, and only heard their loved ones voices through devices for a few minutes a day.

"It’s heartbreaking to hold their hand while they cry and see their daily struggle, so I won’t shed a tear for my situation, because in this PPE I can’t even shed a tear for theirs," she revealed.

Caity went on to describe the PPE as "horrible".

"The plastic gowns are hot and sweaty and they stick to your skin. I have pressure sores in between my thumbs and index fingers from where the thumb holes have been pulling because the arm lengths are too short. But as soon as you take one gown off after being with a patient, you’re not comfortable again until you’ve put a fresh gown back on and feel protected again.

"Our hands are turning raw with the constant hand washing and sanitising. The N95 masks are claustrophobic, cutting into our skin and giving us pressure sores on our noses, cheeks and ears, rashes on our faces, yet we pull them tighter because they’re our saving us from the same fate as our patients.

Nurse in PPE
Nurses and doctors have been pleading with people to stay at home and wear masks outside to stop the spread of coronavirus. Photo: Getty

"We see each other hurting yet we don’t complain, one look at our patients and we don’t feel any of our own pain anymore," she wrote.

Caity said that when people ask how she "drew the short straw" to work on the COVID-19 ward, she responds by telling them she offered.

"These people, our most vulnerable people, have been let down by a greater community not heeding the warnings. They have done nothing wrong, yet they pay the price of Victoria ignoring the seriousness of this virus," she said.

The nurse then began a passionate plea with those reading her post.

"When we ask ourselves years down the track, ‘what did I do to help when covid spread across the world?’, I can say that I actually used my training, and directly helped.

"For you, the public, staying home and wearing a mask is the very small thing we ask of you to help. So please, don’t complain about those soft masks across your face that you wear for 30mins when grocery shopping, and cherish the time at home knowing the air you breathe is clean.

"If you are one of the people planning secret gatherings and preaching your own personal ‘rights’ over everyone else’s safety, you need to take a long hard look at yourself, or better yet, our patients. Take a walk through any hospitals covid ward and then tell us about how much this pandemic has inconvenienced you, I dare you.

"I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Be less s**t, this pandemic is not about YOU," she finished.

The comments were quickly flooded with people thanking her and all the other frontline workers for everything they are doing.

One user wrote, "We are so grateful for your selflessness and services along with all of your colleagues, you guys are heroes. Thank you."

Someone else added, "I cried, reading this and feel so thankful that I am safe in my home and so thankful for people like you. Take care."

Another wrote, "Thank you seems so unappreciative in these crazy times. But your post makes me wonder why people are not using commonsense and abiding by the laws to keep not only them safe but others as well.

"You nurses are doing an awesome job and it’s a career driven by love, care and compassion for others. I hope you stay safe and are reunited with your family really soon."

Melbourne nurse with coronavirus has “never felt so sick”

Melbourne nurse who tested positive for coronavirus
A Melbourne nurse who tested positive for coronavirus a little over two weeks ago is pleading with people to stay home and wear a mask. Photo: 7News

At this point, more than 1,000 of Victoria's active cases are medical workers who have been infected while working.

Natalie Linton, a nurse with coronavirus, spoke with 7News this week, and said, "I have never felt so sick in all my life."

The 29-year-old had witnessed how terrible coronavirus is after working at Epping's Northern Hospital on the COVID-19 ward.

The nurse revealed just how heartbreaking it has been to work on the COVID-19 ward at the hospital. "I’ve watched people die from COVID-19 having no family around them. It’s hard."

"You’re in a room holding someone you don’t even know. I have no words," she added as she wiped a tear away.

"It’s scary. The numbers are going up, but as the people who are nurses and doctors they just get the job done because that’s what we have to do."

She finished by saying: "Coronavirus is real. Wear a mask, wash your hands, social distance and stay at home."

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