Nurses’ perceptions of desired support from their employer during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative survey study
Abstract Background Nurses play a crucial role in getting through the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the burden of the COVID-19 pandemic for nurses has been recognized, and thus, support for nurses is urgently needed. Support with various methods should help nurses’ welfare and their ability to cope at...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2024-02-01
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| Series: | BMC Nursing |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-024-01779-2 |
| _version_ | 1797275281858232320 |
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| author | Anu Pellikka Kristiina Junttila Tanja Laukkala Toni Haapa |
| author_facet | Anu Pellikka Kristiina Junttila Tanja Laukkala Toni Haapa |
| author_sort | Anu Pellikka |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Nurses play a crucial role in getting through the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the burden of the COVID-19 pandemic for nurses has been recognized, and thus, support for nurses is urgently needed. Support with various methods should help nurses’ welfare and their ability to cope at work. Moreover, with appropriate support, it is possible to avoid anxiety, insomnia, or uncertainty caused by work. The aim of this study was to describe nurses’ perceptions of desirable support from their employer during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods This qualitative survey study is a part of a follow-up study for the entire personnel of Helsinki University Hospital. This study focuses on one open-ended question answered by nurses (n = 579) at baseline of a follow-up study. Answers were analysed using qualitative content analysis with an inductive approach. Results The findings reveal that various types of support desired from an employer. Qualitative content analysis raised six main categories, 39 categories, 167 sub-categories and 1235 codes from the original text. Main categories were as follows: Awarding personnel, Offering safety in working conditions, Showing appreciation to personnel, Offering a variety of support methods, Providing proper flow of information and Ensuring proper management in exceptional situations. Conclusions This study provides a better understanding of nurses´ perspectives on support from their employer during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results of this study suggest that employers, for example, should award personnel, ensure that working conditions are safe, show more appreciation to personnel. Employers should also pay attention to offer a variety method of support and make sure that the information is provided with a proper flow. In exceptional situations is important to ensure proper management too. With appropriate support methods, employers can avoid a shortage of nurses and maintain nursing as an attractive profession in the future. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T15:12:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-62fbf2f8f0ae4b179f927322b6f2df9e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6955 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T15:12:01Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Nursing |
| spelling | doaj.art-62fbf2f8f0ae4b179f927322b6f2df9e2024-03-05T18:36:35ZengBMCBMC Nursing1472-69552024-02-0123111210.1186/s12912-024-01779-2Nurses’ perceptions of desired support from their employer during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative survey studyAnu Pellikka0Kristiina Junttila1Tanja Laukkala2Toni Haapa3University of HelsinkiHelsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Nursing Research CenterHelsinki University Hospital and University of HelsinkiHelsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Nursing Research CenterAbstract Background Nurses play a crucial role in getting through the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the burden of the COVID-19 pandemic for nurses has been recognized, and thus, support for nurses is urgently needed. Support with various methods should help nurses’ welfare and their ability to cope at work. Moreover, with appropriate support, it is possible to avoid anxiety, insomnia, or uncertainty caused by work. The aim of this study was to describe nurses’ perceptions of desirable support from their employer during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods This qualitative survey study is a part of a follow-up study for the entire personnel of Helsinki University Hospital. This study focuses on one open-ended question answered by nurses (n = 579) at baseline of a follow-up study. Answers were analysed using qualitative content analysis with an inductive approach. Results The findings reveal that various types of support desired from an employer. Qualitative content analysis raised six main categories, 39 categories, 167 sub-categories and 1235 codes from the original text. Main categories were as follows: Awarding personnel, Offering safety in working conditions, Showing appreciation to personnel, Offering a variety of support methods, Providing proper flow of information and Ensuring proper management in exceptional situations. Conclusions This study provides a better understanding of nurses´ perspectives on support from their employer during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results of this study suggest that employers, for example, should award personnel, ensure that working conditions are safe, show more appreciation to personnel. Employers should also pay attention to offer a variety method of support and make sure that the information is provided with a proper flow. In exceptional situations is important to ensure proper management too. With appropriate support methods, employers can avoid a shortage of nurses and maintain nursing as an attractive profession in the future.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-024-01779-2NursingPandemicsPsychological well-beingPersonnel managementQualitative research |
| spellingShingle | Anu Pellikka Kristiina Junttila Tanja Laukkala Toni Haapa Nurses’ perceptions of desired support from their employer during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative survey study BMC Nursing Nursing Pandemics Psychological well-being Personnel management Qualitative research |
| title | Nurses’ perceptions of desired support from their employer during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative survey study |
| title_full | Nurses’ perceptions of desired support from their employer during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative survey study |
| title_fullStr | Nurses’ perceptions of desired support from their employer during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative survey study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Nurses’ perceptions of desired support from their employer during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative survey study |
| title_short | Nurses’ perceptions of desired support from their employer during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative survey study |
| title_sort | nurses perceptions of desired support from their employer during the covid 19 pandemic a qualitative survey study |
| topic | Nursing Pandemics Psychological well-being Personnel management Qualitative research |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-024-01779-2 |
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