During the initial US COVID-19 outbreak last March, Americans were quick to express their gratitude to nurses and other healthcare workers. Entire cities boosted the spirits of HCWs with nightly cheers, and individuals as well as businesses sent meals to hospitals, offered nurses personal assistance, and performed other acts of kindness. Now, with the massive fall/winter surge courses around the nation, people are searching for new ways to support nurses’ efforts in fighting the pandemic. If anyone asks you what they can do to support nurses, here are some suggestions from our friends at the Georgetown University School of Nursing and Health Studies:

1. Follow the Recommended Safety Protocols

Help slow the spread of the virus by taking the recommended precautions, such as staying home, wearing masks in public, and following social distancing guidelines. And make time to get a Covid-19 shot ASAP when the vaccines become available to the general public later this year!

2. Donate Blood

In times of crisis, there is often a shortage of blood donations, which can be critical for patient care. Organizations like the Red Cross offer information on how to find local blood drives. 

3. Contact Community Leaders

Find out if groups in your area are making efforts to help. For example, local churches have done cloth mask drives to help minimize the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) outside of health care settings, Arceneaux said.

4. Be an Advocate

Supporting policies and legislation that benefit public health and health care professionals can help make a lasting change. The American Nurses Association provides a regularly updated list of COVID-19 issues and information on how to help.

5. Get a Flu Shot

As we enter flu season, health care experts are worried about managing influenza outbreaks while also continuing to treat COVID-19 patients, Arceneaux said. Taking this precaution can help slow the spread of the influenza virus.

6. Ask a Nurse

If you know a nurse or health care worker, consider asking them if they need assistance with running errands, child care, or other tasks.

7. Give to Charities that Support Covid Frontliners

Several nonprofit organizations are currently raising money for COVID-19 initiatives. To make sure your money will be put to good use, look up the groups you are considering on Charity Navigator or Charity Watch to verify their trustworthiness.

Organizations That Aid Healthcare Workers

CDC Foundation Coronavirus Emergency Fund 

This crowdfunding effort by the CDC Foundation was established to direct funds toward purchasing medical supplies, increasing lab capacity, deploying emergency staffing, providing support to vulnerable communities, and other health care efforts related to COVID-19.

Center for Disaster Philanthropy (CDP) COVID-19 Response Fund 

This fund aims to “support containment, response, and recovery activities.” In addition to providing services for vulnerable populations and small businesses, the fund also supports frontline health care workers by providing PPE and deploying emergency medical teams.

COVID-19 Frontline Health Worker Fund 

Intrahealth International is behind this initiative, which directly supports health care professionals. Services provided through donations vary, as they strive to address the current and ever-changing needs of medical teams.

COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for WHO 

The World Health Organization is raising money to address the pandemic in many ways through their partnerships. In addition to accelerating COVID-19 research, WHO also offers PPE and other supplies to health care workers.

GlobalGiving Coronavirus Relief Fund 

Organized by GlobalGiving, this fund supports health care workers by sending medical teams to communities in need of additional help, as well as providing supplies such as masks and ventilators to hospitals. The fund additionally serves vulnerable community members affected by the pandemic.

Project HOPE 

Project HOPE focuses primarily on providing PPE to health care workers, delivering training on how to care for COVID-19 patients, and deploying health care workers to medical facilities in need of additional staffing.

Article by: DailyNurse.com