Nurses’ barriers to caring for patients with COVID‐19: a qualitative systematic review

Abstract

Aim The aim of this qualitative systematic review is to identify and synthesize qualitative studies of frontline nurses’ experiences and challenges when caring for patients with COVID‐19 in hospitals. Background This review is the first qualitative systematic review of nurses’ experiences since the beginning of the COVID‐19 pandemic in 2020. Understanding nurses’ experiences with COVID‐19 is important because nurses are among the most vital of healthcare workers. Methods This study used a qualitative systematic review methodology with thematic synthesis to analyse the included studies. Five databases (CINAHL, PubMed, Ovid, Web of Science, and PsycINFO) were searched from January to mid‐August 2020, and 25 abstracts were screened. Based on inclusion criteria, this qualitative systematic review included nine studies. Results Five themes were identified as barriers to COVID‐19 care by 133 hospital‐based nurses: limited information about COVID‐19, unpredictable tasks and challenging practices, insufficient support, concerns about family, and emotional and psychological stress. Conclusions The five barriers identified in this review should be overcome to improve nurses’ experiences and, in turn, the quality of care patients with COVID‐19 receive. Implications for nursing and health policy The findings from this review can be used to reform current healthcare and hospital‐support systems for populations with COVID‐19. They can also be used to point towards areas of research interested in improving frontline nursing. Finally, nursing leaders, healthcare policymakers and governments should use these findings to better support the nursing workforce in the current or a future pandemic.

Nurse practitioners’ perception of temporary full practice authority during a COVID-19 surge: A qualitative study

“…In both studies, this role flexibility is perceived to be a positive attribute. However, the perception of nurse practitioners as disposable are similar to the clear themes of perceived helplessness, lack of control and unpredictability of tasks found in international systematic reviews on the experience of frontline nurses ( Fernandez et al, 2020 ; Joo & Liu, 2021 ; Moore et al, 2021 ).…”

“…The survey was conducted May to June 2020, at the state peak of COVID hospitalizations and a period of high strain on the healthcare system ( Massachusetts Department of Public Health, 2021 ). Many studies, spanning professions and nations, describe the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the healthcare workforce ( Al Maqbali et al, 2021 ; Fernandez et al, 2020 ; Joo & Liu, 2021 ; Kontoangelos et al, 2020 ). However, little is known about how the simultaneous scope of practice changes and demands of the pandemic affected nurse practitioners.…”

Genomic Variations in the Structural Proteins of SARS-CoV-2 and Their Deleterious Impact on Pathogenesis: A Comparative Genomics Approach

“…Altogether, studies suggest that mutations affect pathogenesis by changing the phenotype of a protein, disrupting its stability, structure, macromolecular binding, ablation of posttranslational modification sites, etc. ( Jubb et al., 2017 ; Joo and Liu, 2021 ; Padhi et al., 2021a ). Some mutations increase/decrease the binding affinity of the protein towards its receptor ( Lee et al, 2020 ).…”

Nurses’ experiences of caring for people with COVID-19 in Hong Kong: a qualitative enquiry

“…A qualitative systematic review of nine studies found that nurses’ barriers to caring for people with COVID-19 included the unpredictability of nursing roles, lack of support, family concerns and psychological distress. 21 Pivotal aspects to aid nursing’s contribution to fighting COVID-19 include the role of nurses in health education, especially infection prevention and surveillance, the implementation of appropriate precautionary measures in nursing homes and protection of patients with long-term illnesses who are prone to infection, and the provision of personal protective equipment (PPE), 22 as well as reasonable work schedules, effective communication, psychological support and intensive training for those who lack experience in managing infectious diseases. 5 …”