The Frontline Experience

Daily Uniform

Historically, healthcare professionals have been on the frontlines of viruses, epidemics, pandemics, and wars. In 1918, the Spanish Influenza (H1N1 virus) spread throughout the world. Nurses and Doctors worked to save the lives of Influenza patients everywhere. Today, Healthcare professionals are seeing a new pandemic, COVID-19. However, the mission of healthcare workers remains the same, which is to treat and protect people. The Hippocratic Oath states, “I will prevent disease whenever I can, for prevention is preferable to cure. I will remember that I remain a member of society, with special obligations to all my fellow human beings, those sound of mind and body as well as infirm...” Healthcare professionals are working extensive hours preventing the coronavirus from spreading, treating their patients, and encouraging people to stay home in the hope of ending the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nurses are among the healthcare workers risking their lives every day in order to keep their patients and the public safe from COVID-19. This has led many hospitals and health care professionals to express their support for "Stay at Home" orders and social distancing, as they know these measures keep them safe. For example, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin shared a photo on their Instagram calling for people to stay home. Milwaukee area healthcare professionals have voiced their hopes for social distancing as well. Healthcare professionals took to writing an op-ed, featured in Urban Milwaukee, to voice their perspectives during the pandemic.