I recently was drawn to an article on Ebola that was written from a nurse’s perspective. Naturally. I’m a nurse too. I thought it was well written, and I was in agreement with the majority of what she said inside. What I didn’t like was how I felt afterwards. Long after I closed out the article. This wasn’t her fault. It was mine.
Stories, news articles, and many blog posts are circulating due to the very real threat to health that Ebola poses to the community at large. I’ve always thought information was a good thing, wonderful in fact. Being a nurse I especially enjoy having knowledge on a subject, and growing that base of information. Knowledge is power. Except when it’s not.
Too many times false information is spread faster than the correct data, but that’s not even the worst of it. That’s a huge problem, false information, but there’s something that spreads even faster than that.
Fear.
I’ll be the first to admit it. After I read the article from that nurse, a colleague in health care, I was frightened. As a mother I was very afraid. I imagined watching my children suffer with the symptoms that I fully understood such an infection would cause, and it made me sick to my stomach. It made me want to gather my chicks under my wings, and never leave our nest. Ever.
As news reports continue to come out with further information it gets even scarier. A nurse has contracted the disease?! Talk about hitting close to home.
A fellow nurse asked me, “did you hear?” And I couldn’t fault him for his concerns for they were also mine. I could nod agreeably when he uttered, “They don’t pay me enough to risk bringing that home to my family.” As a mother, I couldn’t agree more.
But then I wondered who would care for the infectious diseases if we all felt that way? Knowledge is power, but fear is a different animal all together.
If Ebola continues to spread I think the illness of fear would affect us far greater and quicker than the actual disease the CDC is trying to contain. Fear spreads so much faster, and fear would be the downfall of our society. Riots driven by panic. The breakdown of the healthcare system possibly? Perhaps.
When actions are motivated by fear there are mistakes. There is misinformation. There is widespread panic.
I see no problem with being informed, but fear often blinds individuals to seeing anything clearly.
My husband has been putting back bottled water. We’re talking about doing the same thing with canned goods. Preparation is wise in the face of a possible breakdown in society. It’s actually prudent. But what concerns me more than Ebola, or an economic collapse, or even a Zombie Apocalypse is the very real possibility of how people may react when faced with a situation that causes them fear. I prepare for that.
As a nurse I find the situation of Ebola very concerning. As a mother, even more so. But it’s my role as a Christian that lifts me out of the mire of it all. It’s my dependence and relationship with Christ that carries me through these very real threats to my health, my life, and that of my family that I hold so dear. It’s my faith that causes me to not be afraid. Not of Ebola, or of anything else that may threaten my happy existence.
I will further my knowledge of the disease process of Ebola. But I will not spread misinformation quickly in my fear and panic. I will research before spreading unsubstantiated articles.
I will buy extra hand sanitizer, and reinforce hand washing to my children. I will not keep them locked indoors. Unless the circumstances change. Then I will act accordingly, but not out of fear.
I don’t fear the unknown future of my family for to do so would drive us all insane. I trust in God’s protection of them, and myself. I don’t consider this a silly, Scarlet O’hara mindset where I’m casting all caution aside and burying my head in the sand of my faith. Not at all. It’s simply trust in Him, which prevents me from being controlled by a spirit of fear.
I will continue to proceed in caution, knowledge, and prayerful consideration. But I will not be afraid. I believe my Savior died on the cross so I could be set free from fear of the unknown. That’s just me though.
I would encourage you to continue to educate yourself, and to stay abreast of the latest information, but do not allow the devil to trap your heart in fear. Do not unknowingly spread that fear like a communicable disease. Don’t follow that conspiracy theory.
I am not afraid of Ebola. And neither should you be. Take hold of the freedom from fear that is afforded to you. We will overcome this.
Ashley says
Thank you for this! As an MT in a rural MS hospital, I too have spent too much time worrying about the “What its” of Ebola and EV then struggling to push the anxiety our of my mind and body. Its especially hard for me when I think about my own baby (almost 2). (How can I best protect him?)…….
Sometimes it just helps knowing someone else outside my usual circle feels similarly.
Thanks 🙂
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
Thank you. I’m glad the post helped.
Denise says
Brie, I agree with Ashley. Thank you for addressing this subject .I’m not employed right now as a nurse, but I do have a daughter in nursing school.. and this a new instilled fear for me. I appreciate your frankness about the subject… You have given me a new angle by which to look at this. It is all very frightening. Faith is power… Thank you for that gentle reminder; I needed it.
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
Thank you. I’m grateful it found you when you needed it most.
Denise says
And might I add.. Weren’t we once frightened by the unknowns of AIDS?
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
I thought the exact same thing! I’m old enough to remember. A friend’s mom didn’t want us going outside for fear of Mosquitos spreading HIV.
Denise says
Lol…I am also old enough to remember!!
And we “made” it through that time to now.
Let’s pray that some effective drugs can be developed. My heart wrenches to think of those who already live in deplorable conditions, beyond our comprehension, to now be faced with this illness. God’s love does work in mysterious ways. I don’t know what I would do without my faith.
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
I am agreeing with you in prayer!
Denise says
:). What a beautiful thought.
April Hodges says
Brie, well said. I am thinking of forwarding your message to our hospital’s president- as he has been “pep” talking us since Friday. You are exactly right, we do not have to be controlled by fear. I want you to know that I have been inspired by some of your articles to change my nursing focus from the OR to the ICU. I start my new position in November. This article hits home more now, as our isolation plan at our hospital is that any Ebola patients will be housed in our ICU… so this really hit home 🙂 Thank you!
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
Thanks so much for commenting. I’m honored if I’ve inspired or influenced you positively. You’re always free to share my posts. Let me know if you have any questions. Praying for you. Thanks again.
Ginger Garza says
I place my life in God’s hands each and every day. He is in control and I am ready to face whatever He puts in my life. I do my best to keep my life free from anxiety and fear because I trust in God.
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
Amen.
Machelle says
You don’t have to be afraid to be prudent. Just because someone exhibits a certain behavior, such as keeping their family home, does not mean it is motivated by fear. We are not to that point – of keeping our family home. However, we are at the point of discussing that option and when it may become prudent to implement that protocol for our family. Not out of fear but out of responsibility to our family. We should not be afraid to question the rhetoric given out by the government and health care officials. We need to be informed ourselves and make decisions based on prayer and our realm of responsibility, not just blindly led to slaughter by those in “authority”. There is balance in everything. Yes we have to balance the fear with reality. But we have to balance our decisions with reality also. The reality is Ebola may be coming to a neighborhood near you. If it does what will you do? Panic is not the answer. Prayer and planning beforehand are better tools.
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
I agree with you completely. Thank you for commenting so eloquently.
crissy says
Absolutely wonderful read
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
Thanks so much. Feel free to share. I pray it helps many.
Debbie Shelton says
As a comrade in arms of the health care field, as well as a sister in Christ, I say bravo! Thank you for your article. I feel exactly the same way. We have to be involved and submerge ourselves in perpetual learning. We became nurses to provide care, we can’t do that if our heads are buried in the sand.
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
Thank you so much for the comment. Glad the post found you.
Faith says
This is beautifully said and refreshing.
I, too, was initially struck with fear, mostly for my children and family as I started reading the various news articles concerning Ebola. I was allowing fear to grip deeply into my heart…..Then God reminded me of fear that clenched at me concerning the first outbreak of Avian flu when I was pregnant with my first son. Then I remembered a deep fear of H1N1 when I was pregnant with my daughter. Now as I sit here pregnant with #5 the scare of Ebola rises. I had to stop myself and remember that God was faithful in protecting us then and will protect us now.
As scary as it can be, I need to remind myself that God is still faithful, even in death. In Jeremiah 29:11 when God tells us that He has plans to prosper us and not to harm us….to give us hope and a future, He is speaking to His people as a whole. It doesn’t mean we won’t be faced with adversity, struggle, disease and conflict here, but we don’t have to walk it in our own strength. Ultimately the future He’s preparing for us is in Heaven.
I also have peace in knowing that God protects and provides for His children here on Earth as well and we should continue to trust Him, seek Him, and praise Him no matter the outcome. He is good. Evil and sickness in the world doesn’t change that. Our hope and victory is in Jesus!
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
Thank you for commenting. So very true. I always try to remember that my victory has already been obtained, and my prize awaits regardless of what I face in this minute world on earth.
I believe God still speaks to us very personally through scripture, even those initially intended for His people many years ago.
lisa says
For me the fear factor with HIV and Ebola are different. Both deadly of course, however Ebola can take you quicker. I would assume that is most peoples fears. I, myself am a nurse in the home care field. I have educated my family and my patients in taking extra precautions with hand sanitizing, covering open wounds, minimizing travel, being careful in general. All we can do is pray and think ahead in protecting ourselves, others and passing on the education.
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
Thank you for commenting. You are exactly right. God bless you, and be careful.
Diane Kmett says
Briefly, tha ks for posting this article. If ignorance breeds fear. We all must become educated so that our knowledge can help prevent the spread of this horrible disease. God Bless, Diane K., Rhode Island
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
Thank you for commenting. I agree.
Anne Daniel says
Dear Brie, Thank you for sharing. I live on the other side of the world in Malaysia, but have been very apprehensive and sometimes even fearful of this event. Will be visiting the US for two weeks end Oct – a trip planned early this year – , to New York and Akron – such a coincidence that both places are connected with ebola. Am trying very hard to have faith and deepen and strengthen my courage and trust in God. Thank you for the reminder that I have God on my side and that he is in control of everything. God bless/
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
Thank you so much for the comment. Glad this post found you. Praying for you now.