From Nurse Caregiver to COVID-19 Patient

Loice Burgess, MSN, APRN, AGACNP-BC, CCRN, had heard that seasonal allergies were going to strike northeast Ohio hard, so when she began to experience symptoms such as congestion and sneezing in late March, she blamed it on budding trees. “Then I got the worst headache of my life,” says Burgess, who worked as a clinical nurse in the surgical ICU at Cleveland Clinic’s main campus at the time. “When I lost my sense of smell and taste, that’s when I realized this was not good.”

On April 7, Burgess was diagnosed with COVID-19. For nearly four weeks, the 32-year-old battled the virus at home. Since recovering and returning to work, Burgess remains grateful for a robust support system and has a new perspective on caregiving.

Care coordination for caregivers

Burgess had a multitude of symptoms, including myalgia, shortness of breath and diarrhea. “I was dizzy and extremely weak. I felt like I had run a mile, but I hadn’t,” she recalls. “I was just lying in bed, and everything ached. I’ve had the flu, and this is definitely not the flu.”

Her husband, who cared for Burgess at home, also contracted COVID-19, though his symptoms were much less severe. They are both thankful for a great support system that got them through the difficult month. “Family, friends and co-workers were there for us in many ways,” says Burgess. “A lot of getting better was mental as well as physical. You had to keep your spirits up, and the overwhelming outpouring of love and support really helped.”

Friends mailed Burgess comfort items that lifted her spirits, such as fruit and healthy snacks. She had a support group that called to check in frequently and prayed for her and her husband. Cleveland Clinic also offered invaluable assistance.

One of her lifelines during the long recovery was daily check-ins from the hospital system’s care coordination team, including a social worker. They checked on Burgess’ symptoms and state-of-mind and twice escalated her case to a provider to make sure she didn’t require hospitalization. Fortunately, neither Burgess nor her husband ever did. The social worker also ensured that Burgess had sufficient practical items, such as toilet paper.

Perhaps the most important service offered by the care coordination team was emotional support during a time of social isolation and fear. “COVID is not linear. I would feel better one day, then 100 times worse the next,” says Burgess. “A lot of what they provided was counseling, reassuring me that I was not alone and this was totally normal for the disease process.”

The team also provided one very practical thing – daily meal delivery. Cleveland Clinic has contracted with a catering company to deliver dinners to all caregivers with COVID-19. “That was a godsend,” says Burgess. “My husband and I didn’t have to worry about who had enough energy to make dinner, and the meals were delicious and healthy.”

In addition, Burgess was thankful that she was paid the entire time she was out of work, but didn’t have to use any paid time off (PTO) days. “It made me feel so appreciated,” she says. “I was grateful I didn’t have to worry about finances on top of everything else.”

Renewed empathy for patients

Burgess began feeling better in early May and went back to work on May 16. “It was very emotional,” she says. “It has been a journey!”

That journey has provided Burgess with a new perspective as a caregiver. “It’s made me feel more empathy for my patients,” she says. “When I was at my sickest, I couldn’t sit up. Getting from the bed to the chair felt like I was running a marathon. I remember thinking, ‘How do my patients do it with a surgical incision when many of them are deconditioned?’”

Being sick also reminded Burgess of the importance of clear patient communication. “When I would talk to nurses on call or providers, they broke everything down for me,” recalls Burgess. “With COVID, I couldn’t concentrate, and I was anxious the entire time. So I really appreciated when people got on my level and said, ‘This is what we think is happening.’”

In July, Burgess started a new role with Cleveland Clinic as a nurse practitioner house officer with regional critical care. The support she received from the care coordination team and other healthcare providers while sick with the coronavirus will guide her. “It was a time of extreme vulnerability, and how I was treated definitely made a big difference in my recovery,” she says.

Burgess has one final message for her nursing peers: “The best thing I can tell people is to keep washing those hands, keep social distancing and wear your masks. You’re a nurse. You know what to do.”