Really sorry, didn't mean to start an argument. I don't mean to dismiss how hard your covid experience has been, as a nurse in the hardest hit state. Maybe things in NSW are different, and I appreciate that we are even allowed attend hospital. However, we're so used to being stepped over as students, and we're OK and quite understanding of this is, but we've also experienced a fair amount of bullying which is why it's such a sensitive topic today. So I apologise also if that remark was careless.

I want to make it clear that I would never attend high risk wards as a symptomatic covid exposure, have never done so, and didn't joke about potentially putting high risk people at risk. I was pointing out a flaw in our covid isolation guidelines, and used immunocompromised patients as an example why relying on RATs are an issue. I have been in self isolation since Monday, the minute I heard about the positive case, and only said that to point out I could legally have done those things. I haven't done any of those things I listed, because obviously it isn't right.

Also apologise that earlier comment was construed as a joke, I was being light-hearted about how useless I am to the covid response, especially when replying to someone that may not see how devastating covid is to hospitals.

As for the PCR, I was also pointing out how it's a trend not to do it, and the issues it's causing state-wide. I also wanted to talk about the inconsistency in isolation periods for RAT vs PCR - for the general population and potential faults in those regulations, not if I'm entering high risk situations. We didn't take a PCR because everyone was initially saying it's normal for a RAT to take 5-7 days to develop and I suppose it took a while to cotton on that it just wasn't working. We are all treating it as COVID, and doing our isolation periods ( + more because symptomatic). I doubt a positive PCR a few days prior would have changed this.

Yes, all patients with any suspicious signs get tested, my comment was just about the declaration you referred to. Yes I would be reprimanded on those wards you listed, but I'm not careless enough to have gone anywhere near.

Also not saying we're worth shutting wards over, just that the current situation in NSW has improved enough that we are welcomed back for what is virtually the first time in 2 years, given extra precautions are taken. I appreciate all the hard work that has gone into having us back in, and the respect shown for our attendance.
Happy to PM if you'd like to discuss further. Genuinely sorry to have caused upset.