2020: The Heroes with the Lamp and Corona-Virus Pandemic.

Dear editor

International Council of Nursing's (ICN) theme for International Nurses Day 2020: A Voice to Lead – Nursing the World to Health focuses on the true value of nurses to the people of the world.[1] It was as though 2020 had predicted the vital role of nurses in providing health service since with the outbreak of the coronavirus in December 2019 from Wuhan, China, and its rapid spread around the world, as a severe global public health threat, the role of nurses has doubled.[2] Nurses, as models of patience and self-sacrifice and as compassionate mothers, care for patients with coronavirus disease. They have always been at the forefront of fighting infectious diseases, including Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and Ebola. However, the global severity of the coronavirus is higher than that of the mentioned diseases.[3] Although coronavirus has negative effects such as fear, pathogenicity, and mortality, this threat, as an opportunity, has made nurses more visible and changed society's view of nursing.[2] Lack of nursing staff, working in high-risk conditions, being isolated, wearing personal protective equipment, and lack of sufficient and precise information have doubled the problems.[4] However, these days caring for patients with coronavirus disease reminds the nursing community of the guiding beacon for nurses, the Lady of the Lamp, Florence Nightingale, as her sacrifices are being repeated. During the current war against coronavirus, the crisis could underscore the importance of investing in nursing and overcoming nurse staffing shortages to balance supply and demand in order to access quality health systems and reduce nurses' burnout. Involving nurses in health system policymaking, helping to address the nursing shortage, making an effort to reduce the gap between education and practice, and supporting nurses during providing homecare are among the most important measures that need to be taken to support the largest members of the treatment team, thus maximizing the potential of these white-clad angels and preventing their burnout. In addition, due to the importance of observing health tips (such as wearing a mask, maintaining social distance), community-based care and the presence of nurses in primary health care centers, with an emphasis on educating and empowering the community, should be considered by health policymakers. It is essential that the problems and needs of health care providers be addressed in order to create a safe healthcare system that can respond to future national crises.

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