‘There was a pivotal moment’. The dynamics, transitions, adaptations and trajectories of nursing at the front-line in the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Using qualitative interview data (n = 142 interviews) generated with 50 nurses, over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, this paper traces the trajectories of nurses in the UK and attempts to unpick the interplay between structure and agency in their narratives. Interviews were inductively analysed for themes and an additional narrative analysis was undertaken to preserve the form of each participant’s narrative. We argue that nurses’ pandemic trajectories occurred within the ‘psychological vulnerability-stigma nexus’ which operates within health and social care providers in the UK and whilst constraining nurses’ agency at times it could also provide an impetus to act agentically. We found that the nurses’ COVID-19 trajectories were characterised by: getting by, getting out (job-hopping) getting needs met and getting organised. We call for more considered systemic support to be generated and consistently provided to nurses to ensure retention of nurses and the security of society to avoid exacerbating existing workforce shortages.

Addressing the global shortage of nurses: A call to arms

“…Moreover, nurses need to get behind and support such nurse leaders to engender change for the better. A UK qualitative study of 50 nurses throughout the COVID-19 pandemic concluded that some participants experienced marked psychological vulnerability and stigma due to non-supportive cultures and that management and organizations need to take responsibility for this (Conolly et al, 2024). What needs to happen is that the nursing profession must build collective resilience and cooperate across cultures and countries to pressure governments to invest in nursing.…”