A new study has found that the majority of patients don’t believe their illnesses are caused by COVID. As a result, they’re turning to other sources and blaming hospitals for causing it. Nurses here at ICU say these claims can lead to serious consequences like violence and lawsuits
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(CBS Denver) – AURORA, Colo. – Kathleen Combs has visited some of the world’s most inhospitable locations. She has currently worked at the COVID ICU at UCHealth Hospital for 19 months.
“My world is still completely COVID,” Combs told Denver’s KCNC-TV. She has 18 years of experience working in intensive care units and more than 20 years as a nurse. She believed she was the appropriate person for the job when the hospital requested for volunteers in March of 2020, when knowledge of COVID-19 was a quarter of what it is today, and she had experience with pulmonary difficulties.
“I’m only one of a lot of people.” She said, “I’m not the only one.”
(Photo courtesy of CBS)
Nurses are in limited supply around the nation. People who are undertaking some of the most difficult job in the epidemic by caring for the ill. They’ve had to deal with staffing and PPE shortages. When vaccinations were first introduced, there was excitement, but today there is sadness as many refuse to obtain them.
“There has been a lot of misery, a lot of ill people, and a lot of death.” “And it’s unnecessary at this stage,” she said. “It’s draining me emotionally right now.”
According to Combs, a large majority of critical COVID patients are now disbelievers, not just in denial, as she has seen with cancer patients over the years. “It’s difficult, however,” she remarked, “when you know you’re doing the right thing for the patients, but they’re shouting at you.” “They’re telling you it’s not genuine,” says the narrator. They’re accusing you of being a killer.”
Some people feel that the hospital is causing them to get ill. She overhears them remark, “I can’t breathe.” “Exactly. That’s because you’re infected with COVID. ‘No, I don’t have COVID; it isn’t true.’ I’ve had similar discussions with others.”
Then there’s the blame game: hospitals, physicians, and nurses are all to blame. “That it was made by someone else, whether it was the media, the government, or anything else.” That’s something I’ve never encountered before… There are individuals who will categorically reject it until they are no longer alive.”
Even as she puts pads near to their loved ones so they may communicate, the families, in addition to the persons with the virus, are enraged. “We’ve received threats.” On the phone, we have individuals yelling at us. They’re not pleasant.”
Their statements go to extremes, even claiming that they have caused damage to others. “That we are causing them to get ill and die.” That we are to blame,” argues Combs.
We chatted with Combs earlier in the outbreak a year ago. Even in ICUs, people were still getting acclimated to how things were changed.
(Photo courtesy of CBS)
In November of 2020, Combs remarked, “I go into a room with this insane getup on, and people stare at me like I’m from another planet, and I don’t blame them.” Then there were some who refused to wear masks. “It doesn’t give a damn.” It doesn’t care who you are or what you believe; it just takes over your body,” says Combs.
Are some people kicking themselves for not being vaccinated? There aren’t many left now. In the spring, there were even more. The demographics have shifted as well. Unvaccinated people who end up in hospitals are increasing younger. There are fewer minorities this year than last year, especially front-line employees who live in communal housing and were particularly heavily struck in the early days of the epidemic.
Nurses have always dealt with the consequences of people’s bad decisions, such as cancer and liver disease. When it comes to cancer, the disbelief she’s witnessed is about being ill, not the disease itself.
“We don’t inquire.” Hey, did you get your vaccinations? Why didn’t you get your vaccinations? It makes no difference to me. You choose not to be immunized for whatever reason. I’m sorry you made that decision, but it has no bearing on how I’ll treat you as a patient or as a human being.”
However, she is now enraged by misinformation. “People who are unable to comprehend and just communicate material obtained on the internet with authorities at the highest levels who should know better.” Those authorities who should know better should be ashamed.”
Vaccination is effective. If they’ve been vaccinated, the folks in the ICU aren’t the most gravely sick.
It all takes a toll.
“At the hospital, I cried.” I’ve cried at the bedside of a patient as they took their last breaths… I cried for them as I placed them in the bags and apologized for what had happened to them.”
Combs says she’s worried about the future if we develop a trusting attitude about immunizations. She believes that if individuals refuse to get the flu vaccination, we will have a difficult winter.
