A 42-year-old intensive care nurse has shared how she held a patient’s hands during her final moments until she passed away.
Juanita Nittla described how she watched ‘he heart rate hit zero’ and witnessed the flatline as the patient’s heartbroken daughter listened on the phone.
In an interview with the BBC, Ms. Nittla shared how she saw a nurse in her 50s died due to Covid-19. The patient ‘looked very comfortable’ before the curtains were closed and the alarms were turned off.
The patient’s family requested medical staff to play music as Ms. Nittla placed the phone next to the patient’s ear.
“I saw flashing lights on the monitor and the heart rate hit zero – flat line – on the screen,” she expressed. “I stood beside her, holding her hands until she passed away.”
Ms. Nittla, who has been working with coronavirus patients at the Royal Free Hospital in London, said the patient died less than 5 minutes after she turned off the ventilator.
“With the help of a colleague, I gave her a bed bath and wrapped her in a white shroud and placed her in a body bag,” she said. “I put a sign of the cross on her forehead before closing the bag.”
Ms. Nittla told BBC: “It is daunting. I do have nightmares. Sometimes I feel like I am somewhat responsible for someone’s death.”
The critical care unit of the hospital has expanded to 60 beds as the number of admissions increased.
She added: “Before the start of the shift we hold our hands together and say ‘stay safe!’ We keep an eye on each other. We make sure everyone is wearing the gloves, masks and protective gear properly.”
Ms. Nittla, who had tuberculosis last year, has now been asked by the hospital to stay at home because of her underlying health condition.
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