ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic will have long-term ramifications for many patients, including those who work in the NHS and have been victims of the disease. This short case study describes the journey of an emergency department (ED) charge nurse who contracted COVID-19 and was hospitalised in the intensive care unit (ICU). Post-discharge, he experienced a multitude of physical and mental health complications, which ultimately impacted on each other. Therefore, a bio-psycho-pharmaco-social approach to care is recommended from admission through ICU, discharge and beyond. From this and other narratives, it appears that COVID-19 patients are not adequately followed up after ICU discharge, something that must be considered going forward.
Subject(s)
COVID-19/diagnosis , COVID-19/nursing , Emergency Medical Services/statistics & numerical data , Hospitalization/statistics & numerical data , Nursing Staff, Hospital/statistics & numerical data , Pandemics/statistics & numerical data , Survivors/psychology , Adult , COVID-19/epidemiology , COVID-19/physiopathology , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Patient Satisfaction/statistics & numerical data , SARS-CoV-2 , State Medicine/statistics & numerical data , United Kingdom/epidemiologyABSTRACT
The pandemic caused by Covid-19 has long term ramifications for many, especially those patients who have experienced an intensive care unit (ICU) admission including ventilation and sedation. This paper will explore aspects of care delivery in the ICU regarding the current pandemic and the impact of such on the mental health of some of these patients. Post discharge, patients will be returning to a very different community incorporating social distancing, and in some cases, social isolation and/or shielding. Many may experience a multitude of physical and mental health complications which can ultimately impact upon each other, therefore a bio-psycho-pharmaco-social approach to discharge, case management, risk assessment and positive behavioural support planning is recommended.