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'It's horrible to watch:' Nurse describes the impact of COVID-19 on hospice care

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by Brian Willie, Kyle Cooke • Published on
Rocky Mountain PBS

DENVER — Monday, December 14 was a historic day in the United States, with signs of both optimism and tragedy.

The day began with momentous deliveries across the country: the recently approved Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine was finally available for use. Governor Polis himself signed for the FedEx package holding the vaccine Monday morning. Hours later, a respiratory therapist in Fort Collins became the first Coloradan to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The hospital filled with the sound of applause as the state and country celebrated what is no-doubt a turning point in the fight against the pandemic.

But later in the day, the country reached another milestone: 300,000 Americans dead from COVID-19. Even with these daunting numbers, some front line workers still don’t believe people fully understand just how challenging the pandemic is.

Heather Monday is a home hospice nurse in the Denver metropolitan area. “My job has been very hard mentally,” she said. “I think we’ve lost five patients this week. They’re searching for air and they’re on oxygen and they’re scared and it’s horrible. It’s horrible to watch.”

Colorado Voices
Hospice Nurse working during COVID
2:45
Published:

Hospice care has become more and more difficult during the pandemic.

Heather said that normally, a patient in hospice care is typically given about six months to live, but the COVID-19 pandemic has complicated that timeline.

“To tell a family member that their family member has about six months [to live], and then they contract COVID and then are gone within days,” she explains, “it’s just a complete different experience for everybody. It’s just horrific.”

On December 8, Heather contracted COVID-19. She said the symptoms are unpredictable. One day she’ll have a cough, and the next day she’ll experience “extreme nausea” or even brain fog. Shortness of breath, however, has been constant. It got so bad that she had to take breaks during her short walk to the bathroom just to catch her breath.

Heather described it as a “surreal feeling of laying there in bed, feeling horrible, knowing that I have what is killing people. It’s just the weirdest feeling I’ve felt in my entire life.”

Before returning to work, Heather will have to quarantine for a few more days and then get another COVID-19 test to make sure she is no longer contagious. She has used her TikTok account to give a behind-the-scenes look at health care during the pandemic, and to remind people to take precautions like wearing a mask.

Heather said the news of the vaccine is cause for optimism.

“I’m happy that it’s finally here,” she said. “It gives me hope that we’ll be able to care for our patients. We have to protect our neighbors the best we can. I think [the vaccine will] make a huge difference in our healthcare system to have that available.”

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