Frontline nurses' experiences of working in a COVID‐19 ward–A qualitative study

Specht, Kirsten; Primdahl, Jette; Jensen, Hanne Irene; Elkjær, Mette; Hoffmann, Eva; Boye, Lilian Keene Guldhammer; Thude, Bettina Ravnborg

doi:10.1002/nop2.1013

Cited by 35 publications

(52 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…In particular, frontline nurses who were caring for COVID-19 patients reported that they experienced significant anxiety, which was related to their stress from work, whereas their rights were relatively ignored in the crisis (7,8). Similarly, research on psychiatric problems of healthcare workers treating other infectious diseases showed that they were vulnerable to severe emotional distress, depression, anxiety, and even posttraumatic stress disorder (9,10).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Psychometric properties of the Stress and Anxiety to Viral Epidemics-9 scale among frontline nursing professionals working in the COVID-19 inpatients ward

et al. 2022

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This study examined the reliability and validity of the Stress and Anxiety to Viral Epidemics-9 (SAVE-9) scale among nursing professionals working in a COVID-19 inpatient ward. An anonymous, online survey was conducted among working frontline nursing professionals between April 7 and 18, 2022. We collected information about the participants' age, sex, years of employment, shift work, and marital status. In addition, the participants were asked whether they had dealt with infected patients recently, and whether they had been quarantined, infected, or vaccinated. SAVE-9, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) were used to evaluate symptoms. We used the Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) to determine the validity of the two-factor model of the SAVE-9 scale. We also tested reliability and convergent validity using the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scales. A total of 136 responses was analyzed, and CFA for two-factors model of the SAVE-9 scale showed a good model fit among frontline nursing professionals (CFI = 1.000, TLI = 1.040, RMSEA = 0.000, RSMR = 0.060). Multi-group CFAs revealed that the SAVE-9 scale can measure work-related stress and viral anxiety in the same way across sex, having depression, or having generalized anxiety. The internal consistency was shown to be good, and the SAVE-9 scale was significantly correlated with the GAD-7 (r = 0.328, p < 0.001) and PHQ-9 score (r = 0.361, p < 0.001). The two-factor model of the SAVE-9 is a valid and reliable scale for frontline nursing professionals.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Psychometric properties of the Stress and Anxiety to Viral Epidemics-9 scale among frontline nursing professionals working in the COVID-19 inpatients ward

et al. 2022

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“…Wilson et al, (2020) argue that the superhero metaphor presupposes a transcendent being not requiring of decent wages, dedicated to high calibre care at personal cost. However, as identified in the current research, altruism also fostered resilience in some participants; a point noted in some studies (Specht et al, 2021;Wang et al, 2020). By 12 June 2020, 96 healthcare and support workers had acquired COVID-19 in their workplace; 6.4% of total infections (Ministry of Health, 2020).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 62%

Frontline nurses’ sensemaking during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 Aotearoa New Zealand

Cook¹,

Brunton²,

Chapman³

et al. 2021

Nurs Prax ANZ

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The aim of this study was to identify the COVID-19 pandemic impacts on nurses' sensemaking and explore resilience and mitigation strategies nurses adopted to sustain their wellbeing. Frontline clinical nurses are an essential population within the health workforce. Although they are educated to deal with the many challenges working in health presents, this pandemic has created new stressors and vulnerabilities, placing strain on their wellbeing. This article reports on the qualitative data from a national mixed methodology study undertaken between October and December 2020. Twenty-nine interviews were conducted remotely using Zoom and telephone with nurses in a wide range of clinical front-line roles. Data were analysed thematically drawing from the theoretical lens of sensemaking, and related concept of liminality. Findings identified that early in the pandemic, participants who were frontline nurses prioritised patient care while negotiating shifting uncertainties, fear, under-resourcing, and variable leadership. They watched the unfolding international crisis and anticipated that we, in Aotearoa New Zealand, faced a similar disaster. Amidst significant stressors, they endured separation from their families while acting as substitute family for patients and residents isolated from whānau. Six themes were identified: liminality; teamwork and leadership; relational dynamics; health and safety precarity; care ethics; and heroes and pariahs. The study highlights that organisational culture, communication, and clinical leadership either fractured or strengthened nurses' professional commitment.Keywords / Ngā kupu matua: altruism / te whakaaro atawhai i ētahi atu; COVID-19; frontline nurses / ngā tapuhi i te aroākapa o ngā mahi; leadership / te mahi arataki; liminality / panonitanga o te āhua tangata; sensemaking / te mātai āhuatanga; wellbeing / hauora Te Reo Māori translation Te mātai āhuatanga a ngā tapuhi i te aroākapa o ngā mahi āwhina tūroro i ngā marama tuatahi o te mate urutā o Covid-19 i 2020 i Aotearoa New Zealand Ngā ariā matuaKo te whāinga ia o tēnei mātainga tūāhua he tautuhi i te pānga o te urutā o COVID-19 ki te mātainga āhuatanga a ngā tapuhi, he tūhura hoki i ngā rautaki tū pakari, whakangāwari hoki a ngā tapuhi kia mau tonu tō rātou hauora. He taupori taketake ngā tapuhi i te aroākapa o ngā mahi āwhina tūroro i roto i te kāhui kaimahi hauora. Ahakoa kua ākona rātou mō ngā tini wero ka tūponotia e te hunga mahi i te ao hauora, i tēnei o ngā urutā kua puta ake ētahi atu pēhitanga, whakaraeraetanga hoki, ā, hei whakataumaha ēnei āhua i tō rātou hauora. Tā tēnei tuhinga he tuku pūrongo mō ngā raraunga inekounga mai i tētahi rangahau tikanga-maha i kawea i waenga i ngā marama o Whiringa ā-

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“…Given that in light of the coronavirus pandemic such situations were a daily occurrence, nursing professionals' strong (empathybased) responses to these situations were a daily occurrence, too. It is true that nursing practitioners have unique experiences of working in a COVID-19 ward and have to overcome extreme, totally new and unpredictable situations which they experience as challenging and uncertain [44]. These experiences make it more likely nursing practitioners will suffer posttraumatic stress symptoms and have profound negative impact on their psychological health [45].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Qualitative Study of Nursing Practitioners’ Experiences on Dying Alone Due to COVID-19 in Greece

Voultsos

Tsompanian

Deligianni

et al. 2022

Preprint

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BackgroundDying in isolation and without saying a goodbye before, during and after death causes patients, families and health providers to suffer greatly. In Greece, there is still limited knowledge about dying in isolation as perceived by frontline nursing practitioners working in a COVID-19 ward or ICU. Nursing practitioners spend a lot of time near their patients. Greece is most vulnerable country to the international problem of dying in isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. MethodsA prospective qualitative study using in-depth interviews with fifteen frontline nursing practitioners working in a COVID-19 ward or ICU was conducted from July 2021 through December 2021. We performed a thematic analysis of the data. ResultsDying in isolation without saying a goodbye before, during or after death emerged as an extremely inhuman experience that critically ill covid patients and their loved ones had to go through. Fear of spreading COVID-19 infection, fear of liability, and fear of hindering the performance of nursing duties were emerged as main reasons behind strict visitation restrictions. Patients and family members were reported to have expressed very strong desire to communicate and interact with each other. Most participants were shown to be with high levels of empathy, willingness to provide holistic care. Furthermore, most participants were shown to be with high levels of psychological and moral distress. All participants held that visitations should be allowed on an individual basis, and remote communication technology should be available to any covid patient. Importantly, it was identified in this study that physicians’ and nursing practitioners’ discretion and goodwill can significantly mitigate the problem of dying alone. In some COVID-19 health care settings visitations were allowed at physicians’ discretion. These “clandestine” visitations were mentioned as practices that existed in reality, even though they were not officially recognized by the Greek rules. Furthermore, the quality of nursing care seemed to have shifted towards a broader definition. Political neglect was a factor that emerged as a major factor that enlarges the problem of dying in isolation. Finally, and most importantly, a shift towards a less patient-centered model of care was emerged from the data analysis. ConclusionThe results reinforce the existing literature on many fronts. However, we identified some nuances that are of great importance in planning tailored interventions to mitigate the problems related to dying in isolation from COVID-19, and most importantly, hold down the commonly accepted patient-centered model of care. On the account of the patient-centered model of care and the modern (broad, positive-holistic) concept of health, providing holistic care for critically ill covid patients is both an institutional duty and a moral obligation.

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Frontline nurses' experiences of working in a COVID‐19 ward–A qualitative study

Cited by 35 publications

References 31 publications

Psychometric properties of the Stress and Anxiety to Viral Epidemics-9 scale among frontline nursing professionals working in the COVID-19 inpatients ward

Psychometric properties of the Stress and Anxiety to Viral Epidemics-9 scale among frontline nursing professionals working in the COVID-19 inpatients ward

Frontline nurses’ sensemaking during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 Aotearoa New Zealand

A Qualitative Study of Nursing Practitioners’ Experiences on Dying Alone Due to COVID-19 in Greece

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