'THERE'S A SENSE OF HOPE'

(who wants one) by the end of May. Hazelton volunteers at vaccination clinics in Truro and Antigonish, where she says folks all seem very pleased to be getting their jab.

“There’s a sense of hope when you give someone a vaccine — not just with the nurses, but with everyone coming in,” says Hazelton.

“They’re so glad the vaccines are here and it’s their turn.”

The sudden spike in cases at the end of April made everyone nervous and stirred up public fury at the people who blatantly chose to ignore the province’s public health protocols. Hazelton says while many nurses do feel a sense of dismay “and a bit of anger” when people selfishly put others at risk for the sake of parties and gatherings, nurses refuse to play the blame game. They simply want people to do the right thing.

Last spring, Nova Scotians rallied behind nurses with a steady flow of meal deliveries, gift cards, discounts, ‘Thank you’ signs and honks to show support. A year later, we aren’t seeing much of that — but what our nurses really want from us is something that can’t be held in their gloved hands.

“The gifts and gestures were great, but we would prefer that people show their support by following the rules,” says Hazelton. “We all just want to get back to our normal lives — to the way we used to nurse.”