Dealing with Continued COVID Restrictions - LPNI

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Dealing with Continued COVID Restrictions

LPNI Health Topic – Topic - January 2022

As we begin 2022, it is interesting that more and more information is surfacing about the COVID virus. Unfortunately, not all information is clear, concise, or frankly believable. Let us look at just a few of the issues that create concern, confusion, and uncertainty.

The first is the vaccine. So much is reported about the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine. So why is there so much controversy over receiving it? And especially among first responders, hospital personnel and the military? The bottom line is that there is no good answer. Each person makes the decision for him/herself. Right? Yet, families are being divided because some insist on the vaccine and some refuse it. Now that there is a mandate in California for many to receive it, lines are drawn, and it becomes a principle.

The second is wearing a mask. Goodness, the number of angry outbursts and confrontations on airplanes about mask-wearing is just silly, and so sad. Do we wear masks in the presence of a specific number of people, only indoors, only outdoors, all the time, no matter what? Do children need to wear masks at school? All the time? How often do they need to change their masks? What ages need to wear them?

Third, the sometimes confusing, sometimes misleading, all-the-time questioning information that is disseminated about all of this.

As parish nurses, what do we tell our parishioners? How can we be compassionate, non-judgmental, and supportive when it is difficult to know the real truth? We can tell them that they need to follow the science, talk with their own health care providers; primary care and specialists, and watch the rates of positive C-19 tests, of hospitalizations and of deaths in their own community. It has become evident that there is a disparity in cases of those who are vaccinated vs those who are not. Additionally, my encouragement is to go to God in prayer, seeking wholeness and truth from him. Remember that our Heavenly Father knows what we need even before we ask. Remember also that the Holy Spirit will help us, and even intercede for us, when we pray.

In 1 Corinthians 2:9 we read, No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him (NLT).

Our faith, trust and blessed assurance in the Triune God will give us the peace that passes all human understanding.

Sharing this with our congregational members is what we can do, what God is asking us to do, and fulfilling our parish nurse role as a faithful steward.

Sue Neff, Parish Nurse, ret.

First Lutheran Church

Lakeside, California