Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

What happens to health care workers after the coronavirus?

Susan Shannon, RN
Conditions
April 21, 2020
240 Shares
Share
Tweet
Share

Webster’s Dictionary defines trauma as a “disordered psychic or behavioral state resulting from severe emotional stress.”

An article in MarketWatch describes the reality of a doctor after being on the frontlines in Wuhan for two months:

Li is mentally and psychologically at a loss for what to do next. He can’t sleep or eat, he often feels dazed, and sometimes, seemingly out of nowhere, he weeps.

Nurses have described caring for patients in NYC “absolute chaos,” “the medical equivalent of a war zone,” “heartbreaking,” and often say, “I am afraid to go to work.”

Health care workers are under that severe emotional distress described in the definition. Deaths are the norm. Patients deteriorate quickly. A dead body is wrapped up and taken to the refrigerated truck outside the hospital, and another critical patient quickly takes that bed, and it starts all over again. It goes on day after day after day. Besides seeing death daily, caregivers fear getting the virus themselves and possibly dying.

When this ends, and it will end, how are medical staff supposed to deal with the aftermath? How are they supposed to adjust to “normal” life? Their lives have been permanently changed. You cannot go through this kind of trauma and not have it change you.

No one ever thought it would get this bad here. We trusted our government, our health care system to be ready for something like this. They weren’t ready. They couldn’t guarantee the protection of their own staff. Imagine a soldier going into battle without a rifle, flak jacket, or helmet. That is what health care workers have been asked to do. We don’t have what you need, but you still have to work. In other words, good luck.

After this is over, those who work in hospitals will be expected to continue their jobs. People don’t stop getting sick. There is money to be made. They will feel like aliens from outer space, disoriented. How will they deal with Billy’s sore throat or Kelly’s one hour of vomiting when they present to the ER desk after they just got out of being in a war zone?

Your family will want to get back to normal. You aren’t the person you were before. You have changed. They haven’t been through what you have. You don’t know how to explain it to them.

The memories are fresh. They haunt your dreams. Things happen that remind you of it. You cry unexpectedly. You feel like you are going through the motions. You may drink to relieve the pain and anxiety.
You feel alone.

You are supposed to be strong. You are that tough ICU or ER nurse, that doctor that is unflappable. You don’t need help — until you do.

Health care workers will need readjustment counseling, just like a soldier after a war. They need to learn what to expect after a trauma. They need to know how to take care of themselves. It needs to involve their family.

They need crisis lines available, individual therapy, support groups. Without all this, medicine will lose many nurses, doctors, and everyone who does any job in a hospital.

The most important thing they will need is each other. Just being with people who have been through the same experience can make all the difference.

Susan Shannon is a retired nurse who blogs at madness: tales of a retired emergency room nurse.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com

Prev

What it's like to be a frontline physician with COVID-19 patient

April 21, 2020 Kevin 0
…
Next

Pandemic lessons: Social justice is not disposable medical school curriculum

April 21, 2020 Kevin 2
…

Tagged as: COVID, Hospital-Based Medicine, Infectious Disease

Post navigation

< Previous Post
What it's like to be a frontline physician with COVID-19 patient
Next Post >
Pandemic lessons: Social justice is not disposable medical school curriculum

More by Susan Shannon, RN

  • COVID vaccine distribution is a fiasco

    Susan Shannon, RN
  • Who will care for the caregivers?

    Susan Shannon, RN
  • It’s time to honor those who died from COVID-19 by sharing their stories

    Susan Shannon, RN

Related Posts

  • How social media can help or hurt your health care career

    Health eCareers
  • Health care workers should not be targets

    Lori E. Johnson
  • What makes health care workers superhuman

    Eric Tian
  • Major medical groups back mandatory COVID vaccine for health care workers

    Molly Walker
  • An apology to frontline health care workers

    Michele Luckenbaugh
  • The epidemic of violence against health care workers

    Marlene Harris-Taylor

More in Conditions

  • The importance of listening in health care: a mother’s journey advocating for children with chronic Lyme disease

    Cheryl Lazarus
  • The unjust reality of racial disparities in pediatric kidney transplants

    Lien Morcate
  • The surprising medical mystery of a “good” Hitler: How a rescued kitten revealed a rare movement disorder

    Teresella Gondolo, MD
  • The power of coaching for physicians: transforming thoughts, changing lives

    Kim Downey, PT
  • Unlocking the secrets of cancer conferences: an end-of-life counselor’s journey among pharmaceutical giants

    Althea Halchuck, EJD
  • An obstetrician-gynecologist reveals the truth about reproductive planning and how to navigate society’s expectations

    Yuliya Malayev, DO, MPH
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • The power of coaching for physicians: transforming thoughts, changing lives

      Kim Downey, PT | Conditions
    • The hidden factor in physician burnout: How the climate crisis is contributing to the erosion of well-being

      Elizabeth Cerceo, MD | Physician
    • Why affirmative action is crucial for health equity and social justice in medicine

      Katrina Gipson, MD, MPH | Policy
    • Unlocking the secrets of cancer conferences: an end-of-life counselor’s journey among pharmaceutical giants

      Althea Halchuck, EJD | Conditions
    • Why doctors aren’t to blame for the U.S. opioid crisis [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Nose-brain connection: The surprising link between allergies and mental health revealed

      Kara Wada, MD | Conditions
  • Past 6 Months

    • It’s time to replace the 0 to 10 pain intensity scale with a better measure

      Mark Sullivan, MD and Jane Ballantyne, MD | Conditions
    • “Is your surgeon really skilled? The hidden threat to public safety in medicine.

      Gene Uzawa Dorio, MD | Physician
    • Breaking point: the 5 reasons American doctors are dreaming of walking away from medicine

      Amol Shrikhande, MD | Physician
    • Revolutionize your practice: the value-based care model that reduces physician burnout

      Chandravadan Patel, MD | Physician
    • Unveiling the hidden damage: the secretive world of medical boards

      Alan Lindemann, MD | Physician
    • Breaking the cycle of racism in health care: a call for anti-racist action

      Tomi Mitchell, MD | Policy
  • Recent Posts

    • The importance of listening in health care: a mother’s journey advocating for children with chronic Lyme disease

      Cheryl Lazarus | Conditions
    • Medical errors and the power of apologies [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Finding your ideal work-life balance: tips for prioritizing personal life and achieving professional success

      Zahid Awan, MD | Physician
    • Boxing legends Tyson and Foreman: powerful lessons for a resilient and evolving health care future

      Harvey Castro, MD, MBA | Physician
    • 7 ways to beat burnout: a guide for health care professionals to reduce stress and reclaim their passion

      Marie Livesey, DO | Physician
    • The unjust reality of racial disparities in pediatric kidney transplants

      Lien Morcate | Conditions

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

View 1 Comments >

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

CME Spotlights

From MedPage Today

Latest News

  • Second RSV Vaccine Lands Approval for Older Adults
  • Long COVID Cognitive, Depressive Symptoms Tied to Brain Inflammation Marker
  • 'Practice Changing' Trial on Activity Recs After Prolapse Surgery
  • What's With the Buzz Around NAD+ Injections?
  • Standing, Walking After Major Surgery Tied to Less Risk of Post-Op Complications

Meeting Coverage

  • Tenapanor Improves Abdominal Symptoms in Patients With IBS-C
  • Benefits Found for Hand OA Drug Treatments
  • MRI-Based Screening May Detect Prostate Cancer Earlier
  • New Model Aims to Study Intestinal Fibrosis in Crohn's Disease
  • Hypertension Tied to Worse Survival After Surgery for Upper Tract Urothelial Cancers
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • The power of coaching for physicians: transforming thoughts, changing lives

      Kim Downey, PT | Conditions
    • The hidden factor in physician burnout: How the climate crisis is contributing to the erosion of well-being

      Elizabeth Cerceo, MD | Physician
    • Why affirmative action is crucial for health equity and social justice in medicine

      Katrina Gipson, MD, MPH | Policy
    • Unlocking the secrets of cancer conferences: an end-of-life counselor’s journey among pharmaceutical giants

      Althea Halchuck, EJD | Conditions
    • Why doctors aren’t to blame for the U.S. opioid crisis [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Nose-brain connection: The surprising link between allergies and mental health revealed

      Kara Wada, MD | Conditions
  • Past 6 Months

    • It’s time to replace the 0 to 10 pain intensity scale with a better measure

      Mark Sullivan, MD and Jane Ballantyne, MD | Conditions
    • “Is your surgeon really skilled? The hidden threat to public safety in medicine.

      Gene Uzawa Dorio, MD | Physician
    • Breaking point: the 5 reasons American doctors are dreaming of walking away from medicine

      Amol Shrikhande, MD | Physician
    • Revolutionize your practice: the value-based care model that reduces physician burnout

      Chandravadan Patel, MD | Physician
    • Unveiling the hidden damage: the secretive world of medical boards

      Alan Lindemann, MD | Physician
    • Breaking the cycle of racism in health care: a call for anti-racist action

      Tomi Mitchell, MD | Policy
  • Recent Posts

    • The importance of listening in health care: a mother’s journey advocating for children with chronic Lyme disease

      Cheryl Lazarus | Conditions
    • Medical errors and the power of apologies [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Finding your ideal work-life balance: tips for prioritizing personal life and achieving professional success

      Zahid Awan, MD | Physician
    • Boxing legends Tyson and Foreman: powerful lessons for a resilient and evolving health care future

      Harvey Castro, MD, MBA | Physician
    • 7 ways to beat burnout: a guide for health care professionals to reduce stress and reclaim their passion

      Marie Livesey, DO | Physician
    • The unjust reality of racial disparities in pediatric kidney transplants

      Lien Morcate | Conditions

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

What happens to health care workers after the coronavirus?
1 comments

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...