For over a month we have been following with concern the trend of infections, statistics on the number of healed, tutorials on the correct use of masks and prevention methods. Impressed are images of Army truck caravans transporting victims from the most affected areas. The tired faces of doctors and nurses engaged in exhausting shifts to try to give all their support to those who, hit by an invisible enemy, fight tenaciously against this disease.
In the context of the health emergency in progress, the nurses of the designated crews of the new ships under construction are also involved, together with many colleagues. Lgt Dino Nuzzo, Nave's designated nurse Thaon of Revel (Head of the class unit of the Multipurpose Offshore Patrol boats), from 5 March he is on a mission in the Covid-19 outpost of the Lodi hospital and the 3rd class head Francesco Tortorelli, a young nurse embarked in the first destination on a ship Schergat's target, FREMM nr 9 (European Multi Mission Frigate), has been relocated to Rivoli (TO) since 2 April.
Nurses from other units under construction at the New Naval Construction Equipment Center (Marinalles). Their work is coordinated by the Task Force activated by the Interforze Summit Operational Command (COI) and the context in which they work is the perfect combination of inter-agency interoperability and medical / nursing quality available to the community.
What are the sensations that our colleagues feel? What emotions go through them? How is their typical day organized? These are questions that we have asked those directly concerned.
First of all, disbelief, the lgt tells us. Nuzzo. Something impressive was happening just 100 km from home. Against an evil that "does not look at anyone, separates people and has torn entire families to pieces", I am proud to be able to make myself completely available. The working group "gave the impossible" reassured thanks to the gratitude of its patients. The health and logistic coordination managed by the joint staff made it possible to promptly ensure the answers to the most disparate needs that arrive at any time both from the territory and from complex hospitals, operating in difficult environments and quickly with incredible results. My day, continues the lgt Nuzzo, was initially organized in three shifts of 8 hours and 15 minutes (15 minutes necessary for the handover) until the first cases of positivity occurred within the staff. In reduced ranks, they then provided me with access credentials for the computerized management of patients in order to guarantee the service as owner, entrusting me with the complete management of the department. The difficulty in delivering nursing services, already complex under normal conditions for the management of this type of disease, is amplified by the safety configuration that requires all personal protective equipment (PPE) to be worn for entire shifts, sometimes even consecutive.
Capo Tortorelli in Rivoli, in the province of Turin, together with colleagues from the other Armed Forces, deals with direct assistance to patients suffering from Corona Virus pneumonia. He prepares the therapies, follows the visits of the doctors, constantly monitors the vital parameters, carrying out a long series of blood tests, sampling and performing nasopharyngeal swabs. At the end of the shift, before "getting off guard", a detailed briefing with colleagues "uprights" to thoroughly analyze the individual cases in order to evaluate the best strategy to follow for the next 8 hours. In this Covid outpost, similar to what happens in the rest of the national territory, various realities have come together that rarely in the past have had the opportunity to operate jointly. Pediatricians, nephrologists, urologists, Civil Protection doctors, but also newly enlisted military nurses by virtue of the health emergency, who work synergistically and confront each other in heterogeneous health teams. A collaboration between different realities that is similar to what happens every day at Marinalles, where we work in close cooperation with the various civil realities of the industrial and government sector. Tortorelli's words reveal a strong pride in the work he is doing: "your work, with the collaboration of other colleagues, makes you feel fulfilled and satisfied with your efforts. In an emergency situation like this there is no gratification better than the awareness of being an integral part of the fight against the disease so that normality can return throughout the country. Furthermore, this experience allows me to acquire new skills, growing professionally and strengthening my character ".
Their effort is an exemplary synthesis of the founding values of the Nation, the Armed Forces and the Navy. The ability to work side by side in extreme conditions, as often happens on board the Units at sea, with the altruism and unconditional availability towards the most needy, our loved ones and the whole country we are very united in the fight against this formidable adversary.
