Sharan's story

Sharanpreet Bumbra
dental nurse

“Just before lockdown in March we were told the dental service was being closed down. I spent the next few days calling patients to explain why their appointments were cancelled and doing admin. I can’t sit still. I like to keep busy.

When they asked for volunteers to be redeployed I said yes. I’ve been a dental nurse for 7 years. I wanted to see what nursing on the wards was like. I thought I would learn new things. I wasn’t scared, it was more about wanting to help. 

I was sent to the renal ward. We were given the option of working on the day unit, which was COVID negative, or the ward, which was COVID positive. Others jumped at the day unit so me and my friend were left with the ward. After 2 weeks we were supposed to swap, but we liked it on the ward so much we stayed for 3 months.

The first day we were shown around and given training. Then we shadowed the renal nurses and gradually took on more of the work. We gave out medication, helped patients who couldn’t eat, washed those ready for dialysis, and did whatever was necessary. We just had to get on with it.

For the first 6 weeks, every bed was filled and everyone was pretty unwell. It was crazy. I blinked and it was the afternoon. Lots of the nurses there had been redeployed from other wards. I got used to asking 'Do you work here?' 

There was a traffic light system so we could say if we needed help or were on top of things. I was always green. But it was nice, everyone on the ward was involved, it was about making sure everyone was ok.  

One patient died on my shift. That was hard. I looked and there was actually a dead body in front of me. I had never seen that before. I started to tear up. I had been looking after him and feeding him. 

I helped wrap the body. They said I didn’t have to but I wanted to. I felt it would be disrespectful not to do so, after I had been looking after him. I felt I owed him. I took a moment after that. When I went home that evening I cried.

It was overwhelming, all the different emotions. You were constantly doing things and things were constantly happening.

There was one patient who was really unwell and it didn’t seem like he would pull through. He would shout for his wife in the night but she couldn’t visit. Then he stopped eating. I tried to help him but he was not alert enough. 

I kept checking on him. I fed him and talked to him about his childhood. 

Then slowly he picked up. He started to eat again and put on weight. His wife bought me a huge Easter egg. 

There was another patient I got close to. She was the nicest lady ever – I made her into my new granny. She was really unwell and I talked to her and helped cut her food up. 

She had times when her heart beat so fast and she had to be treated by the consultant. I would hold her hand and make her comfortable and keep her company. She was discharged eventually and she invited me to her home. 

I live with my parents and brother. At first they were quite scared and wanted me to keep my distance. But they were super proud. My aunt would Facetime me every Thursday at 8pm to show me her street clapping. 

There were some difficult patients. And there were times when there weren’t enough staff to help each other. Sometimes I had to cope on my own. Then I felt I needed a little break.

But when the three months was up, I didn’t want to leave. I wanted to do a nursing course. But realistically I don’t think I could go back to being a student again, doing night shifts. It doesn’t fit with my life at the moment. 

I am so pleased I did it. It has made me a lot more confident. I am happy and proud I went and saw all I saw and learnt all I learnt. One day I will be able to tell my grandchildren I helped in the pandemic.”