Another day of swabbing at one of the COVID testing centres in Canberra.

A few months back when it looked as if COVID could perhaps have a catastrophic impact in Australia, I really wanted to do something to contribute to the response.

After 2 years retirement my Emergency Department clinical brain had gone a little mushy around the edges, so I really didn’t feel up to going back there. Working in the COVID clinic turned out to be a perfect alternate option.

I also reanimated a Facebook group I used to run to offer support and information to my nursing amigos.

Clinic work is straightforward and repetitive and presents a perfect environment to practice a little zazen amongst its activities.

• Set up the swabbing equipment. Some gloves, the flocked swab, a small tube of culture medium, a tissue, an information package and a clean mask to wear home.
• Welcome the next person. Explain the procedure. Explain the need for isolating post swab.
• Perform the swab.
• Clean up and disinfect the area.
• Set up a new spread of equipment.
• Repeat.

Between shifts at the clinic & working on the Facebook group, nurse related activities have kept me busy. It is good to be back amongst it.

I’m coming to the end of my 3-month contract soon and as things (thankfully) have not panned out as quite as bleakly as they might have, I will re-retire from it all.

Thereafter, I plan to again be writing in this space with a little more regularity.