Donning and Doffing

Donning and Doffing refers to the act of putting on and taking off personal protective equipment by health care workers.

At the hospital where I work, we are balancing caring for patients with a limited supply of personal protective equipment, while trying to keep track of changing protocols and working conditions.

I have been chronicling my experiences as a nurse during these times. My colleagues and I are frequently in close contact with the virus that could infect us, our coworkers and our loved ones. Many of these factors add to the growing stress, grief and anxiety around and within me.

On my days off, my partner, who is an intensive care unit nurse, and I try to relax and enjoy our time together, even if the mental and emotional toll of the crisis continues to linger.

It is my hope for the public to understand the emotional and physical costs on healthcare workers as we continue to take to care of patients while the novelty of the pandemic wears off and the crisis becomes normalized.

Photographs and writing featured on National Geographic (Part 1, Part 2)
Supported by The National Geographic Society
Exhibited by Photoville