What's It Like Taking Care Of COVID Patients?

This patient looks to happy to have COVID.
But, what the heck, it was free on Google. 

So, what is it like taking care of COVID patients? 

At first, it's not much different than caring for any other patient. They get admitted. You talk to them and explain things as best you can. You get to know their personality and attempt to find a way to best communicate with them. You talk about politics or kids. You talk about sports. You watch the news or a game show with them. You know, you do whatever you do with other patients. 

It does seem they are in the hospital much longer than a patient with pneumonia or the flu. If it hits your lungs, it appears to hit hard. Although, most people who only require a little oxygen seem to do just fine. They are eventually discharged home. Still, some will require 100% oxygen. So, you set them up on a high flow nasal cannula. 

And this seems to hold up their oxygen well at first. And you say optimistic things like, "Yes, you are doing better today. Your oxygen is doing good. Hopefully, soon your lungs will get better and we can wean you off this oxygen." 

But then two weeks pass and nothing changes. You may even have added a nonrebreather to the system to maintain their oxygen levels. And at this point, things start to get difficult for you the therapist. By now, you know your patient well. You have learned quite a bit about their lives: what they do for a living or did for a living; how many children they have; what their children do for a living; how many grandchildren they have; whether or not they believe in God; how much they love life or whatever. 

And by now your optimism doesn't seem to work anymore. The patient is quieter, indicating possible depression. And, after all, they have had no visitors other than hospital staff for two-week snow. You are the only family they have. You and your PAPR or N-95 mask. They don't even get to see your face. 

Sure, they do get to talk on the phone. And, as you are in a room, a phone may ring. The patient may answer the phone with a cheerful hello. And you realize she is talking to her granddaughter. And she says something like, "Grandma will be home soon."

But, by now, you know she is just saying it so her granddaughter feels better. And you know that the likelihood of her ever going home is minimal.