Over the past few weeks, I have been writing blog posts to provide information that I hope was helpful as we faced a global pandemic due to the Coronavirus. This week will be the last post on this topic, and I want to pay respects to the most devastating consequences of the virus…..the deaths that have resulted from COVID 19.
According to Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center, 318,418 lives have been lost globally. In the United States, there have been just over 90,000 deaths to date. These numbers are staggering and leave us all sad and wondering how and why. If you have lost someone, you know the pain and sadness that comes with losing a family member or friend.
I think the most challenging part for patients as well as their family and friends was not being able to be with them. Many people died alone in a hospital, or in a nursing home because of the need to protect each other. As a nurse, I want you to know they were not alone but did have a nurse with them to hold their hand and say a prayer as they passed.
I know as a nurse, how hard it has been working in a hospital or a nursing home and caring for so many people who were dying. I know how hard it was when one patient died in a shift, and I can’t imagine how hard it was to see so many people die day after day. For all front line workers who are doing their jobs and putting their lives in danger to care for those who came to hospitals. thank you.
Today, we pray for those who have passed, for the healthcare workers who were by their side, and we pray for the families who have lost a loved ones.
I know this pandemic is taking its toll on all of us. It has been a challenge and has caused unimaginable pain and stress for so many. I pray we all can get through this time and learn from it. If we can, maybe the heartache and pain we have all endured will have meant something.
Rest In Peace.
NOTE: I have listed the post that made up my COVID 19 Series. If you have not read them, please do. For those who have read them, thank you for reading them, commenting on them, and sharing them so others can receive the information. I hope it was helpful.
- Reopening Does Not Mean The Pandemic is Over!
- The Question We are All Grappling With: Are We Ready to Reopen?
- Have Patience, Remain Vigilant: It is Working
- What’s the first thing You’ll do when things go back to “normal”?
- We are In This Together
- The Doctor Will See You Now: Telemedicine in a COVID 19 World
- How are you doing? I really want to know.
- Staying Positive During the Pan-Epidemic
- Strengthening Your Immune System To Improve Health and Wellness
As always Anne, you do an amazing job. You’re a great writer, clear and easy to follow.
Anne,
THANK YOU for providing Covid info to date.
I agree that we are being swamped by media and updates from politicians, that you proceed with other topics, at least until there are documented facts of a proven vaccine to help our populace.
As creative as you are, I KNOW you will come up with other topics.
NO, we cannot ignore the Pandemic, but it is time to proceed with other topics while we all follow the advice of the CDC, and practice infection control and risk management.
Contact tracing/surveillance will now be the hot buttons for nurses to pursue!
Anne, I am really enjoying your newsletter and blogs. Keep ‘me coming!
Thanks, Anne,
Very poignant your message but then I am finding most everything I read or watch brings me to tears. I fear for the patients as well as the health care workers and am so proud and grateful to be a nurse! Although I cannot be at bedsides of the dying, they are in my thoughts and prayers. I am making face masks as fast as I can and giving them away even faster. The least I can do while praying that the vaccine will be here soon and that our leaders will rise to the occasion. I have been waiting a long time for that.
Anne,
I can always count on you. Your articles are sincere, informative and timely. You also help us feel connected. Thanks for all that you do for the health community – Stay safe
My nursing colleague has been reassigned to the Inevitable Death Unit for Covid-19 at Yale. The patients are in new unit of solid rooms no windows and solid door, monitored by camera from a hallway. Treatment is for symptom relief only, they do not eat or drink. Basic hygiene and comfort care is the focus. Visitors are permitted. The patients usually pass on in 2-3 days. It is heart-breaking for the nurses.
Beautifully written and comforting in these challenging times.