Dear Senator,
My name is, and I am a nursing student and future nurse concerned about the current situation on the frontline of the fight against COVID-19. I am writing to draw your attention to the lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) in hospitals, necessary for staff safety while treating patients with the virus. The number of employees infected with SARS-CoV2 from its victims and, as a result dead, is continuously increasing. Their lives are priceless and could be saved by additional PPE quantity.
Considering the shortage of nurses that hospitals have already been experiencing for some time, the pandemic has only aggravated the situation. Hospitals and staff were not prepared for such an onslaught of patients. The lack of PPE, which arose due to the desire to save costs, suggests that doctors are not obliged to risk life, but they still work thanks to their commitment to patients and profession. This situation, in addition to the mentioned threat of illness, causes moral exhaustion and burnout, which reduces the popularity of the job. Society cannot lose so many health professionals during the crisis and after it.
I urge you to influence the situation and provide more personal protective equipment to hospitals. Your decision and actions impact the health and well-being of medical staff working on the front line to combat a dangerous virus. PPE, in particular, gloves, masks, respirators, glasses, coats, facial shields, and other remedies, will help provide further treatment necessary for patients. With its simplicity, PPE will preserve many lives of both patients and employees. Moreover, their presence will allow us and our patients to feel the government’s support and care.
Thank you for your time and consideration, and please contact me if you have any additional questions.
Sincerely,
Name, Nursing Student_______________________________
Address__________________________________________
Reference
Schuklenk, U. (2020). What healthcare professionals owe us: Why their duty to treat during a pandemic is contingent on personal protective equipment (PPE). Journal of Medical Ethics, 46(7), 432-435. Web.