A Practical Guide for Frontline Workers During COVID-19: Kolcaba’s Comfort Theory

摘要

On Sunday, April 26, 2020, the world figuratively halted with the heartbreaking news of ED Medical Director of New York-Presbyterian Allen Hospital, Dr Lorna Breen’s death by suicide. The cause of suicide is unknown, but she had consistently treated coronavirus patients. She also contracted COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) at one point and fully recovered. Unfortunately, the overexposure and constant burden of caring for coronavirus patients “killed” her, sources say. Those experiences likely induced physical, sociocultural, environmental, and psychospiritual pain (1,2). Her father, Dr Philip C. Breen, stated his daughter had no hint of mental illness and was a successful woman with very caring friends, family, and colleagues. His daughter’s own death impelled him to raise awareness of the psychological consequences of COVID-19 to the public.