The Norwegian health service has been under pressure for a long time, and there was no break this Christmas either.
Many of the sickest corona patients have been admitted to Oslo University Hospital. That means full operation and staffing, also on Christmas Eve.
Some time for Christmas fun
For intensive care nurse Kjersti Strachan, this day is like any other day, but with the exception that today she has decorated herself with a Christmas heart on the uniform.
– INTENSIVE NURSE: Kjersti Strachan has worked a lot this year, also on Christmas Eve itself. Photo: Petter Sørum -Johansen / TV 2
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– We do what we usually do every weekday and weekend. We are with seriously and critically ill patients and ensure that they receive the best treatment we can give, says Strachan.
In the otherwise white corridors at Ullevål, poinsettias have been hung up. The break room is decorated with Christmas trees and the employees have received gifts.
– We do not do this every year, but this year the staff deserved a Christmas greeting, says head of the intensive care unit at Ullevål, Mons Sjøberg.
See how the corona nurses create a little Christmas atmosphere in the ward in the video below:
– Christmas is often a time where it is possible to have it a little different at work as well. We decorate a little, buy good food and make it as pleasant as we can during the hours we are here, says head of the intensive care unit at Ullevål, Mons Sjøberg.
Tired and frustrated
Nevertheless, they believe it is inevitable to think about the demanding situation they are in, because the employees are tired.
– I must not underestimate that it has been two demanding years. I am very happy to be a nurse, but with many more intensive care patients it becomes demanding, says Strachan.
– Overall, we must think that we stand together on this and make an effort for each other and for their colleagues, says Sjøberg.
– But many are tired and many are frustrated. They do not hide it and I thought it was okay that they say so, he adds.
Fully staffed on Christmas Eve
– Will have this going for a long time
Sjøberg fears that the situation in the hospitals will last for many weeks, and perhaps many months to come.
– LEADER: Mons Sjøberg is afraid it may be a long time before the nurses in his ward get a break. Photo: Petter Sørum -Johansen / TV 2
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– We see that we will have this going on with us for a long time. The number of admissions is still stable and we know that we are lagging behind in the hospitals in terms of infection rates out there, and many patients stay for a long time.
– Do you think the measures will work?
– It’s hard for me to say. We see there are fewer infected, and then we have to take what we get regardless of the measures. But we want it to work, also so that we who work here can have a normality outside the hospitals, says Sjøberg.
– We can be optimistic, but we are not done with this pandemic. The situation with demanding patients will probably last for a long time to come, says intensive care nurse Strachan.
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