COVID‐19 pandemic: Burdens on and consequences for nursing home staff

Abstract

The objective of this study was to assess burdens placed on and consequences of the COVID‐19 pandemic on nursing home staff. Design We conducted a qualitative descriptive interview study. Methods We interviewed 18 nurses, nursing aides and care aides from five different nursing homes by using a semi‐structured interview guideline between June and September 2020. Data were analysed with a qualitative content analysis method by combining an inductive and deductive coding frame. Results Results show that the qualitative work load and work organization were major concerns. Regarding the qualitative work load, participants stated that they were required to perform additional tasks to care for residents, because the pandemic interventions placed the residents under stress and dealing with relatives presented significant challenges. Nursing home staff reported that psychological consequences such as uncertainty, fear and stress represented major effects of the COVID‐19 situation. Conclusion We could show that qualitative workloads were assessed and perceived differently. Most nursing home care staff members experienced the changes in working conditions as both physically and psychologically challenging. Impact We highly recommend that nursing home staff receive support in such pandemics by being allowed, for example personal protective equipment breaks. Individually tailored programs need to be established to enhance wellbeing and decrease psychological stress and fear in such challenging times.

The implications of COVID ‐19 on health and social care personnel in long‐term care facilities for older people: An international scoping review

“…Whilst these studies indicate that there is no absolute certainty that mental distress amongst HSCPs are a direct consequence of the COVID‐19 pandemic, other studies (Duan et al, 2020 ; Gómez‐Salgado et al, 2020 ; Jones et al, 2021 ; Hoedl et al, 2021 ; McGarry et al, 2020 ; McGilton et al, 2021 ; White et al, 2021 ) indicate that the additional challenges brought about by the COVID‐19 pandemic placed additional stressors on HSCPs.…”

“…The studies were conducted in long‐term care settings or gathered data from such establishments; one study did not specify the number of nursing homes involved (Gómez‐Salgado et al, 2020 ). A variety of study designs were employed including: 10 quantitative studies (Brady et al, 2021 ; Duan et al, 2020 ; Gómez‐Salgado et al, 2020 ; Husky et al, 2022 ; Jones et al, 2021 ; Martin et al, 2021 ; McGarry et al, 2020 ; van Dijk et al, 2022 ; White et al, 2021 ; Xu et al, 2020 ), and four qualitative studies (Hoedl et al, 2021 ; McGilton et al, 2021 ; Nyashanu et al, 2020 ; Zhao et al, 2021 ). One study (McGarry et al, 2020 ) evaluated nursing home data from a national database containing data from 98% of the US nursing homes.…”

“…Workload and workload organisation was also an additional challenge and contributing factor to HSCP stress in a qualitative study conducted by Hoedl et al ( 2021 ) amongst 18 HSCPs (nurses, nursing aides and care aides) in Austria. As many of the interventions (i.e.…”

Reflections on nursing research focusing on the COVID‐19 pandemic

“…In addition to the challenges faced by hospital nurses (Foli et al, 2021 ; Hamama et al, 2021 ; Lake et al, 2022 ), Hoedl et al ( 2022 ) describe nursing home staff having greater workloads, experiencing fear, uncertainty and increased stress and striving to meet the needs of residents and family members who were more stressed because of the pandemic (also Sarabia‐Cobo et al, 2021 ). These authors go on to highlight the additional support needs that nursing home staff have because of the COVID‐19 pandemic (Hoedl et al, 2022 ; Sarabia‐Cobo et al, 2021 ). Nurses working in primary care also reported experiencing anxiety and stress, as well as acts of abuse and violence directed towards them (Ashley et al, 2021 ).…”

How to establish workplace learning in long-term care: results from a World Café dialogue

“…Additionally, nursing staff felt they were well informed and supported by their organisation during the COVID-19 period. Regarding cooperation and communication between team members, nursing staff mentioned that a very good working atmosphere existed during the pandemic [38]. Although COVID-19 also shows negative effects, such as stress and high workload for nursing staff, it does also show that urgency is an important driving factor for improving conditions important for workplace learning.…”