Exhausted and Burned Out: COVID-19 Emerging Impacts Threaten the Health of the Pediatric Advanced Practice Registered Nursing Workforce

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to describe the holistic impacts of COVID-19 on pediatric advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). Method: AA convenience sample of APRNs affiliated with the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners participated in this cross-sectional descriptive study. An investigator-developed survey explored multifocal, holistic impacts of COVID-19. Results: A total of 886 participants were provided the survey, with 796 (90%) completing the entire survey. Respondents indicated adverse impacts across personal, clinical, educational, and research foci. Among the most alarming findings, 34% indicated moderate or extreme concern for feeling professionally burned out, 25% feeling nervous or anxious, and 15% feeling depressed or hopeless. Discussion: The pediatricAPRN workforce pipeline is at significant risk for provider burnout and compromised mental health. Acknowledgment of pandemic-related trauma on families, children and APRNs is essential. Sustained intentional efforts to cultivate holistic wellness are critically emergent.

Exploring the Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Children and Families Cared for by Pediatric-Focused Advanced Practice Registered Nurses

“…The findings of this study are consistent with recently published studies in the literature that examine the effects of COVID-19 on children and families (Patrick et al, 2020;Peck & Sonney, 2021;Racine et al, 2021;Russell et al, 2020;Santoli et al, 2020). A unique contribution of this study is that it collectively examines the multi-faceted, inter-related effects of the pandemic on the health and wellbeing of children and families through the lens of care provided by P-APRNs.…”

“…For children, changes have occurred in the way that school and peer interactions occur and in the way they access healthcare. Pediatric-focused Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (P-APRNs) play a significant role in the provision of healthcare services for children across a variety of settings and have seen diverse changes in the health status of the children and families they care for (Peck & Sonney, 2021;Bartek, Peck, Garzon & Van Cleve, 2021). P-APRNs have been forced to adapt as a result of the pandemic to provide healthcare services in this globally transformed context for well-child care, common acute issues including children with COVID-19, mental health disorders, and the care of a variety of chronic health conditions.…”

“…Significant changes have been reported related to when children: 1) are seen for well child care (Patrick et al, 2020), 2) receive immunizations according to the recommended schedule (Vogt et al, 2020;Santoli et al, 2020), and 3) have access to specialty services -particularly mental health services (Henderson et al, 2020;Patrick et al, 2020). These changes and the broader social and health implications related to the pandemic are expected to create lasting challenges with children's health, but the scope and duration of these challenges cannot be fully predicted (Peck & Sonney, 2021).…”

Quality of work-life among advanced practice nurses who manage care for patients with heart failure: The effect of resilience during the Covid-19 pandemic

“…At the time of this writing, the pandemic remains an ongoing stressor with healthcare professionals leaving positions and worse, leaving their professions. 39 , 40 Long-term consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on the health care workforce and society at large are unknown. However, a healthy workforce is needed to maintain global health and the pandemic has dramatically shed light on our workforce.…”

Meeting the need for nurse practitioner clinicals: A survey of practitioners

“…This model is time intensive; however, it is vital to the student's growth and transition into practice. Barriers to precepting identified in the literature include productivity requirements, preceptor fatigue, onboarding students to the electronic medical record, the requirement for affiliation agreements, billing requirements, increased enrollment, lack of support from employers, request for renumeration, and COVID (Doherty et al, 2020; Peck & Sonney, 2021; Renda et al, 2022). Of note, an additional barrier may be the specialty in which a preceptor practices because a preceptor's area of practice must align with the NP program requirements; otherwise, they may not serve as a preceptor (National Task Force on Quality Nurse Practitioner Education, 2016; NTF 2022).…”