Canadian critical care nurses experiences on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative descriptive study
Abstract Background Recent pandemics have provided important lessons to inform planning for public health emergencies. Despite these lessons, gaps in implementation during the COVID-19 pandemic are evident. Additionally, research to inform interventions to support the needs of front-line nurses duri...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-11-01
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| Series: | BMC Nursing |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-022-01105-8 |
| _version_ | 1811190302323507200 |
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| author | Kathleen Gamble Srinivas Murthy Sarah L. Silverberg Nina Gobat Lisa M. Puchalski Ritchie |
| author_facet | Kathleen Gamble Srinivas Murthy Sarah L. Silverberg Nina Gobat Lisa M. Puchalski Ritchie |
| author_sort | Kathleen Gamble |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Recent pandemics have provided important lessons to inform planning for public health emergencies. Despite these lessons, gaps in implementation during the COVID-19 pandemic are evident. Additionally, research to inform interventions to support the needs of front-line nurses during a prolonged pandemic are lacking. We aimed to gain an understanding of critical care nurses’ perspectives of the ongoing pandemic, including their opinions of their organization and governments response to the pandemic, to inform interventions to improve the response to the current and future pandemics. Methods This sub-study is part of a cross-sectional online survey distributed to Canadian critical care nurses at two time points during the pandemic (March–May 2020; April–May 2021). We employed a qualitative descriptive design comprised of three open-ended questions to provide an opportunity for participants to share perspectives not specifically addressed in the main survey. Responses were analyzed using conventional content analysis. Results One hundred nine of the 168 (64.9%) participants in the second survey responded to the open-ended questions. While perspectives about effectiveness of both their organization’s and the government’s responses to the pandemic were mixed, most noted that inconsistent and unclear communication made it difficult to trust the information provided. Several participants who had worked during previous pandemics noted that their organization’s COVID-19 response failed to incorporate lessons from these past experiences. Many respondents reported high levels of burnout and moral distress that negatively affected both their professional and personal lives. Despite these experiences, several respondents noted that support from co-workers had helped them to cope with the stress and challenges. Conclusion One year into the pandemic, critical care nurses’ lived experiences continue to reflect previously identified challenges and opportunities for improvement in pandemic preparedness and response. These findings suggest that lessons from the current and prior pandemics have been inadequately considered in the COVID-19 response. Incorporation of these perspectives into interventions to improve the health system response, and support the needs of critical care nurses is essential to fostering a resilient health workforce. Research to understand the experience of other front-line workers and to learn from more and less successful interventions, and leaders, is needed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T14:49:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4afd0a6fbfa04c8099beb43cd6f2979c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6955 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T14:49:25Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Nursing |
| spelling | doaj.art-4afd0a6fbfa04c8099beb43cd6f2979c2022-12-22T04:17:33ZengBMCBMC Nursing1472-69552022-11-0121111310.1186/s12912-022-01105-8Canadian critical care nurses experiences on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative descriptive studyKathleen Gamble0Srinivas Murthy1Sarah L. Silverberg2Nina Gobat3Lisa M. Puchalski Ritchie4Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, Knowledge Translation Program, St. Michael’s HospitalDepartment of Pediatrics, BC Children’s Hospital, University of British ColumbiaDepartment of Pediatrics, BC Children’s Hospital, University of British ColumbiaNuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of OxfordLi Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, Knowledge Translation Program, St. Michael’s HospitalAbstract Background Recent pandemics have provided important lessons to inform planning for public health emergencies. Despite these lessons, gaps in implementation during the COVID-19 pandemic are evident. Additionally, research to inform interventions to support the needs of front-line nurses during a prolonged pandemic are lacking. We aimed to gain an understanding of critical care nurses’ perspectives of the ongoing pandemic, including their opinions of their organization and governments response to the pandemic, to inform interventions to improve the response to the current and future pandemics. Methods This sub-study is part of a cross-sectional online survey distributed to Canadian critical care nurses at two time points during the pandemic (March–May 2020; April–May 2021). We employed a qualitative descriptive design comprised of three open-ended questions to provide an opportunity for participants to share perspectives not specifically addressed in the main survey. Responses were analyzed using conventional content analysis. Results One hundred nine of the 168 (64.9%) participants in the second survey responded to the open-ended questions. While perspectives about effectiveness of both their organization’s and the government’s responses to the pandemic were mixed, most noted that inconsistent and unclear communication made it difficult to trust the information provided. Several participants who had worked during previous pandemics noted that their organization’s COVID-19 response failed to incorporate lessons from these past experiences. Many respondents reported high levels of burnout and moral distress that negatively affected both their professional and personal lives. Despite these experiences, several respondents noted that support from co-workers had helped them to cope with the stress and challenges. Conclusion One year into the pandemic, critical care nurses’ lived experiences continue to reflect previously identified challenges and opportunities for improvement in pandemic preparedness and response. These findings suggest that lessons from the current and prior pandemics have been inadequately considered in the COVID-19 response. Incorporation of these perspectives into interventions to improve the health system response, and support the needs of critical care nurses is essential to fostering a resilient health workforce. Research to understand the experience of other front-line workers and to learn from more and less successful interventions, and leaders, is needed.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-022-01105-8COVID-19NursesPandemic preparednessPandemic responseBurnoutMoral distress |
| spellingShingle | Kathleen Gamble Srinivas Murthy Sarah L. Silverberg Nina Gobat Lisa M. Puchalski Ritchie Canadian critical care nurses experiences on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative descriptive study BMC Nursing COVID-19 Nurses Pandemic preparedness Pandemic response Burnout Moral distress |
| title | Canadian critical care nurses experiences on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative descriptive study |
| title_full | Canadian critical care nurses experiences on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative descriptive study |
| title_fullStr | Canadian critical care nurses experiences on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative descriptive study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Canadian critical care nurses experiences on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative descriptive study |
| title_short | Canadian critical care nurses experiences on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative descriptive study |
| title_sort | canadian critical care nurses experiences on the front lines of the covid 19 pandemic a qualitative descriptive study |
| topic | COVID-19 Nurses Pandemic preparedness Pandemic response Burnout Moral distress |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-022-01105-8 |
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