A recent survey conducted by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) highlights that many nurses suffering from long-COVID feel unsupported by their employers.

Almost 60% of the surveyed nurses believe their employers failed to provide adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) and testing during the pandemic.

Additionally, 65% of nurses reported not receiving a risk assessment before contracting COVID-19 while on the job.

One nurse shared their experience of not receiving a proper surgical mask until six weeks after lockdown, despite working in a high-risk area.

The survey revealed that about 70% of respondents faced financial hardships due to reduced working hours or sick leave.

Many nurses expressed feelings of stigma associated with taking sick leave, with one noting they felt like they were 'milking' their absence.

Nurses report experiencing persistent symptoms of long-COVID, such as fatigue, anxiety, and joint pain, even four years after contracting the virus.

The follow-up survey, conducted last month, gathered 298 responses and found that nearly a third of nurses could not return to work due to severe long-COVID symptoms.

Alison Twycross, chair of the RCN long-COVID working group, emphasized systemic failures in employer support and called for urgent action to protect healthcare workers' well-being.

In response to these challenges, the RCN recommends improved infection control measures and better education about long-COVID to support nurses in the workplace.

Furthermore, the RCN is advocating for long-COVID to be recognized as an occupational disease and for enhanced financial protections for affected employees.