Exploring the Changes in Work Practices and Well-being of Critical Care Healthcare Professionals During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study

Section: Original Articles
Issue
Vol. 12 No. 1 (2024): Volume 12 Issue 1
Published
Jan 12, 2024
Pages
179-195

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has posed unprecedented challenges to healthcare systems globally, impacting critical care healthcare professionals' work practices and well-being. This qualitative study aims to explore these changes in work practices and well-being during the pandemic, offering insights into nurses' experiences, coping mechanisms, and challenges.Methodology: A phenomenological approach was employed, with a purposive sampling of 20 critical care healthcare professionals actively working during the pandemic. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, audio-recorded, and transcribed for thematic analysis. Ethical considerations and data saturation were ensured for trustworthiness.Results: Thematic analysis revealed four key themes:Adaptation to Change: Nurses navigated new protocols, technologies, and policies, showcasing resilience and innovative solutions.Emotional Experiences: Nurses' emotions ranged from anxiety and fear to determination and gratitude, evolving.Interpersonal Dynamics: Effective teamwork and communication were essential for navigating challenges and delivering quality care.Meaning-making and Identity: Nurses' personal and professional identities are shaped by core values, experiences, and roles within the healthcare system.Conclusion: This study contributes to understanding the nuanced experiences of critical care healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions and support systems to promote resilience and well-being.

References

  1. Abu Mansour, S. I., & Abu Shosha, G. M. (2022). Experiences of first-line nurse managers during COVID-19: A Jordanian qualitative study. J Nurs Manag, 30(2), 384-392. https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.13530
  2. Alshutwi, S., Alsharif, F., Shibily, F., Wedad, M. A., Almotairy, M. M., & Algabbashi, M. (2022). Maintaining Clinical Training Continuity during COVID-19 Pandemic: Nursing Students' Perceptions about Simulation-Based Learning. Int J Environ Res Public Health, 19(4). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19042180
  3. Ard, N., Beasley, S. F., Nunn-Ellison, K., & Farmer, S. (2021). Responding to the pandemic: Nursing education and the ACEN. Teach Learn Nurs, 16(4), 292-295. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.teln.2021.06.009
  4. Bergman, L., Falk, A. C., Wolf, A., & Larsson, I. M. (2021). Registered nurses' experiences of working in the intensive care unit during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nurs Crit Care, 26(6), 467-475. https://doi.org/10.1111/nicc.12649
  5. Campbell, J., Ziefle, K., Colsch, R., Koschmann, K. S., & Graeve, C. (2022). Completing accreditation during the COVID-19 pandemic: A step-by-step process for success. J Prof Nurs, 40, 79-83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2022.03.003
  6. Chang, T. S., Chen, L. J., Hung, S. W., Hsu, Y. M., Tzeng, Y. L., & Chang, Y. (2022). Work Stress and Willingness of Nursing Aides during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Healthcare (Basel), 10(8). https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10081446
  7. Houchens, N., & Tipirneni, R. (2020). Compassionate Communication Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic. J Hosp Med, 15(7), 437-439. https://doi.org/10.12788/jhm.3472
  8. Hugelius, K., Harada, N., & Marutani, M. (2021). Consequences of visiting restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic: An integrative review. Int J Nurs Stud, 121, 104000. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2021.104000
  9. Killgore, W. D. S., Cloonan, S. A., Taylor, E. C., & Dailey, N. S. (2020). Loneliness: A signature mental health concern in the era of COVID-19. Psychiatry Res, 290, 113117. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113117
  10. Leaver, C. A., Stanley, J. M., & Goodwin Veenema, T. (2022). Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Future of Nursing Education. Acad Med, 97(3s), S82-s89. https://doi.org/10.1097/acm.0000000000004528
  11. Leppkoski, T., Mattila, E., & Kaunonen, M. (2023). Nursing managers' experiences of facing the COVID-19 pandemic in their work: A systematic review. Nurs Open, 10(7), 4185-4195. https://doi.org/10.1002/nop2.1694
  12. Manakatt, B. M., Carson, Z. W., Penton, R. L., & Demello, A. S. (2021). Virtual learning experiences in population health nursing course during the COVID-19 pandemic. Int Nurs Rev, 68(4), 557-562. https://doi.org/10.1111/inr.12725
  13. Masha'al, D., Shahrour, G., & Aldalaykeh, M. (2022). Anxiety and coping strategies among nursing students returning to university during the COVID-19 pandemic. Heliyon, 8(1), e08734. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e08734
  14. Mast, M. S. (2007). On the importance of nonverbal communication in the physician-patient interaction. Patient Educ Couns, 67(3), 315-318. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2007.03.005
  15. Necel, R. (2022). The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in nursing homes - the experience of care workers in Poland. F1000Res, 11, 1008. https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.124984.3
  16. Oakley, C., Pascoe, C., Balthazor, D., Bennett, D., Gautam, N., Isaac, J., Isherwood, P., Matthews, T., Murphy, N., Oelofse, T., Patel, J., Snelson, C., Richardson, C., Willson, J., Wyton, F., Veenith, T., & Whitehouse, T. (2020). Assembly Line ICU: what the Long Shops taught us about managing surge capacity for COVID-19. BMJ Open Qual, 9(4). https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjoq-2020-001117
  17. Ozmen, S., & Arslan Yurumezoglu, H. (2022). Nurse managers' challenges and opportunities in the COVID-19 pandemic crisis: A qualitative descriptive study. J Nurs Manag, 30(7), 2609-2619. https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.13817
  18. Polinard, E. L., Ricks, T. N., Duke, E. S., & Lewis, K. A. (2022). Pandemic perspectives from the frontline-The nursing stories. J Adv Nurs, 78(10), 3290-3303. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.15306
  19. Riedel, P. L., Kreh, A., Kulcar, V., Lieber, A., & Juen, B. (2022). A Scoping Review of Moral Stressors, Moral Distress and Moral Injury in Healthcare Workers during COVID-19. Int J Environ Res Public Health, 19(3). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19031666
  20. Vzquez-Calatayud, M., Regaira-Martnez, E., Rumeu-Casares, C., Paloma-Mora, B., Esain, A., & Oroviogoicoechea, C. (2022). Experiences of frontline nurse managers during the COVID-19: A qualitative study. J Nurs Manag, 30(1), 79-89. https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.13488
  21. Walsh, F. (2020). Loss and Resilience in the Time of COVID-19: Meaning Making, Hope, and Transcendence. Fam Process, 59(3), 898-911. https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12588
  22. West, C. P., Dyrbye, L. N., & Shanafelt, T. D. (2018). Physician burnout: contributors, consequences and solutions. J Intern Med, 283(6), 516-529. https://doi.org/10.1111/joim.12752

Authors

Wafaa Mahmoud AbdEl-Kader

Department of Pediatric Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Alexandria University, Egypt

ORCID

Identifiers

Download this PDF file
PDF

Statistics