The Work Experience of Newly Recruited Male Nurses during COVID-19: A Qualitative Study

Bipolar Coping Strategies of Nurses in Facing the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Meta-synthesis Review

Nurses on the front line of facing the COVID-19 pandemic have applied many coping strategies to adapt to their experienced physical and psychosocial challenges. This review aimed to identify coping strategies of nurses in the face of Covid-19. In this meta-synthesis review, qualitative articles related to the coping strategies published in English in the Google Scholar, PubMed, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and CINAHL databases were selected and analyzed. The review of selected articles showed nurses have used various coping strategies that can be categorized into one main theme, two themes, and ten sub-themes. The theme of efficient coping strategies includes the sub-themes of spiritual-religious coping, protective coping (protection of family members and colleagues), supportive coping by obtaining support from family, friends, colleagues, society, and government organizations, committed coping, positive mind coping, emotional coping, operational coping, and fun coping. The theme of inefficient coping strategies includes the sub-themes of avoidance and risky behaviors. The strategies lead to the synthesis of bipolar coping strategies of nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, healthcare policymakers should emphasize using efficient strategies and avoiding inefficient ones.

Experience of ambulance drivers on transfer of suspected or confirmed patients for COVID-19

OBJECTIVE

To unveil the experience of ambulance drivers regarding the transfer of suspected or confirmed patients for COVID-19.

METHOD

Exploratory study with a qualitative approach conducted in October 2021 with 18 drivers from the Northwestern Mesoregion of the State of Ceará-Brazil. The individual interviews occurred virtually, via Google Meet®, and for data processing the IRAMUTEQ® software was used.

RESULTS

Six classes were obtained: Feelings experienced during transfers; Concern about contamination of the work team and family members; Therapeutic itinerary, patients' clinical status and increase in the number of transfers; Disinfection of ambulances between transfers of patients with suspected and/or diagnosed COVID-19; Gowning for patient transfers and Psychospiritual aspects of drivers during the pandemic.

CONCLUSION

The experience was marked by challenges in adapting to the new routine and procedures during transfers. It was evidenced feelings of fear, insecurity, tension and anguish in the worker's reports.

Work as a Frontline Volunteer During the COVID-19 Outbreak in Hubei, China: A Qualitative Inquiry of Male Nurses

BACKGROUND

During the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in 2019, an increased large number of male nurses volunteered for frontline assignment. Their excellent performance suggests that male nurses have several advantages over female nurses. However, research into the activities of Chinese male nurses engaged in frontline work during the COVID-19 pandemic remains limited.

PURPOSE

This study was designed to summarize the reflections of male nurses on their experiences while volunteering for frontline COVID-19 duty in Hubei, China.

METHODS

An interpretative qualitative descriptive study was conducted from May to July 2020 on male nurses who had volunteered for frontline COVID-19 duty in Hubei. Twelve male nurses were selected using a purposive sampling method. Data were collected using semistructured interviews, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Four main themes and 11 subthemes were identified, including (a) changing the way of thinking at work (four subthemes), (b) clarity regarding career development (three subthemes), (c) change in life philosophy (two subthemes), and (d) personal growth (two subthemes).

CONCLUSIONS

The experience of volunteering during the COVID-19 public health emergency influenced the male nurses positively in terms of improved organizational, management, and decision-making skills as well as improved performance. The beneficial attributes of male nurses should be taken into consideration when developing management policies related to nursing personnel.

Experience of clinical nurses engaged in caring for patients with COVID-19: A qualitative systematic review and meta-synthesis

AIMS AND OBJECTIVE

This qualitative review summarises and synthesises the available evidence on subjective experiences of clinical nurses who cared for patients with COVID-19.

BACKGROUND

Nurses are first responders and play a vital role in emerging infectious disease epidemics such as the COVID-19 pandemic. In this context, they also face many difficulties and challenges related, for example to the imbalance between extensive demands and low control over work tasks.

DESIGN AND METHOD

A systematic review of qualitative studies and meta-synthesis focused on the experiences of clinical nurses caring for patients with COVID-19 during the pandemic was carried out.

RESULTS

A total of 279 findings were extracted, aggregated into 21 categories and combined into seven synthesised findings, namely (1) professional nursing practice during the pandemic, (2) support systems, (3) somatic sensations and psychological experiences, (4) difficulties and challenges, (5) coping strategies and behaviour, (6) impact on life, profession and values, and (7) needs and expectations for the future.

CONCLUSION

Nurses encountered considerable difficulties and challenges in caring for patients with COVID-19. Nurses caring for patients with COVID-19 need more support from organisations, families and society. It is essential to explore positive coping strategies suitable for working in different cultural backgrounds. Policymakers and decision-makers should pay attention to the experiences and voices of nurses.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

It is critical for nurse managers to consider how to enhance the support system and help nurses develop adaptive coping strategies in response to COVID-19. Nurses' experiences and voices are valuable in improving health emergency response systems.

PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION

There was no patient or public contribution.

Career Identity and Career Success among Chinese male nurses: The mediating role of Work Engagement

AIM

This study aimed to investigate the effect of career identity on career success among Chinese male nurses and to examine the mediating role of work engagement in this relationship.

BACKGROUND

Recently, with the development of the nursing career, male nurses take up a higher share and play a more important role in the nursing team. With its own particularity and advantages, this group's stability closely relates to the future of the nursing team. Therefore, promoting the career success of the male nurses is essential to the nursing team development.

METHODS

The data were collected in China. A sample of 557 male nurses completed measures of career identity, work engagement and career success scale. Structural equation model was adopted to verify the research hypotheses.

RESULTS

Career identity was significantly and positively related to male nurses' work engagement and career success (p< .01). And work engagement partially mediated the association between career identity and career success.

CONCLUSION

Career identity are critical to predicting and enhancing male nurses' career success. Work engagement plays an intervening mechanism explaining how career identity promotes career success among male nurses.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT

Nursing management should minimize the impact of the traditional concept, implement the gender equality and provide moderate care for male nurses to facilitate balanced development of gender by upgrading the management system. The administrators should carry out skill training based on male nurses' features and the need of the department. Given full play to their respective advantages, male nurses will make great progress in professional development and achieve greater career identity and work engagement. Meanwhile, the further exploration of better incentive mechanism also makes sense in improving career identity and work engagement by the reform of performance appraisal mechanism and salary adjustment according to their ability.

Experiences and needs of front-line nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review and qualitative meta-synthesis

Background

Front-line nurses have played a critical role during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. A number of qualitative studies reported front-line nurses' experiences and needs in caring for patients with COVID-19. However, the application of evidence from a single qualitative study to guide clinical practice has limitations. This study aimed to explore front-line nurses' experiences and needs during the COVID-19 pandemic through a qualitative meta-synthesis.

Methods

Seven databases were searched from 1 December 2019 to 20 January 2022, including PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane COVID-19 study register, CINAHL, PsycINFO, MedRxiv, and bioRxiv. The quality of included studies was appraised using the Critical Appraisal Skills Program (CASP) qualitative research appraisal tool. Meta-synthesis was used to synthesize the data from included studies.

Results

A total of 70 studies were included, and five synthesized findings were developed: (1) Although nurses actively devoted themselves to fighting against COVID-19, considering their professional responsibility and historical previous experience with mankind, they were not invulnerable; (2) There were various difficulties and challenges in caring for patients with COVID-19, including fear related to providing patients with care, shortage of protective equipment and manpower, and negative attitude of family members; (3) Facing difficulties and challenges, nurses could only partly cope by using mixed means to overcome those, including media, learning, gaining skills, responding together, and organizational assistance; (4) To better respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, nurses' needs should be paid attention to. Counseling, training, information, resources, and investment are pivotal; (5) Despite the hardships, nurses became stronger and gained gratitude, positivity, mental peace, and confidence.

Conclusions

This study reveals that the psychological experiences of front-line nurses varied, and they faced a variety of challenges. Although nurses had some coping strategies, they still needed multifaceted support to meet the challenges.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, PROSPERO: CRD42021255468.

Resilience among health care workers while working during a pandemic: A systematic review and meta synthesis of qualitative studies

Background

Aim

Method

Results

Conclusion

Nursing Experience of New Nurses Caring for COVID-19 Patients in Military Hospitals: A Qualitative Study

This qualitative study explored the experiences of new nurses with less than one year of clinical experience in caring for COVID-19 patients in a military hospital. In-depth interviews were conducted with six new nurses working in a negative-pressure isolation unit of the Armed Forces Capital Hospital. Data were analyzed using the phenomenological method proposed by Colaizzi, and 12 themes were derived and classified into four clusters: burden of nursing in isolation units; hardship of nursing critically ill patients; efforts to perform nursing tasks; positive changes through patient care. The participants were anxious while caring for COVID-19 patients with severe illness due to a lack of clinical experience. Furthermore, the wearing of heavy personal protective equipment impeded communication with patients, leading to physical and psychological exhaustion. However, they tried to utilize their own know-how and provide the best nursing care, resulting in them gaining confidence. Participants were able to think critically and took pride in being military nursing professionals. This study is meaningful as it provides insight into the experiences of new military nurses who were rapidly dispatched during a national medical crisis. The results can be applied to develop future strategies aimed at improving new nurses’ competency in military hospitals.

Training types associated with knowledge and experience in public health workers

BACKGROUND

Training non-specialist workers in mental healthcare improves knowledge, attitude, confidence, and recognition of mental illnesses. However, still little information is available on which type of mental health training is important in the improvement of these capacities.

METHODS

We studied web-based survey data of 495 public health workers to examine training types associated with knowledge and experience in supporting individuals with mental illness. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted to evaluate the association between a lack of knowledge and experience (outcome) and mental health training (exposure). We fitted three regression models. Model 1 evaluated unadjusted associations. Model 2 adjusted for age and sex. Model 3 adjusted for age, sex, years of experience, mental health full-time worker status, and community population. Bias-corrected and accelerated bootstrap confidence intervals (CIs) were used.

RESULTS

For all training types, the association between a lack of knowledge and experience and mental health training attenuated as the model developed. In Model 3, a lack of knowledge and experience was significantly associated with training in specific illness (OR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.32-0.93) and screening and assessment (OR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.39-0.99). Non-significant results were produced for training in counseling, psychosocial support, collaborative work, and law and regulation in Model 3.

CONCLUSIONS

We believe that the present study provides meaningful information that training in specific illness and screening and assessment may lead to knowledge and experience of public health workers. Further studies should employ a longitudinal design and validated measurements.

Transition of graduate nurses from student to practice during the COVID-19 pandemic: Integrative review

The COVID-19 pandemic has had dire consequences for all health care workers including nurses. Consequently, those graduate nurses who transitioned into practice during that time were not spared the pandemic's impact. The purpose of this integrative review is to identify and present the extant literature on the transition of graduate nurses from student to practice during the COVID-19 pandemic. Online data bases ranging from the Cumulative Index to the Nursing and Allied Health Literature, the Education Resources Information Centre and PsychINFO were all perused for publications between 2019 and 2021. Key search terms included COVID-19, graduate nurses, newly qualified nurses, transition. The researchers then carefully assessed the articles found and used the coder to determine the relevance of those selected articles. The Critical Appraisal Skills Programme was used to validate the quality of the research articles considered for review. The search of these data bases produced 10 articles which met the inclusion criteria. Four main themes emerged from the study, namely: Organisational challenges faced by graduate nurses during their transition into practice during the COVID-19 pandemic; Personal challenges experienced by graduate nurses in their transition into practice in the context of COVID-19 pandemic; Positive outcomes emanating from the transition of graduate nurses during the pandemic; and Factors which facilitated the transition from student to practice by graduate nurses during the pandemic. The organisational challenges findings revealed that graduate nurses experienced such problems as a shortage of resources, burnout syndrome, work overload and lack of support. Challenges related to their transition throughout the COVID-19 pandemic period included psychological effects and the theory practice gap. Positive outcomes that emerged were learning and better employment opportunities. Factors which could have better facilitated their transition encompassed the availability of equipment and training opportunities. Recommendations include increased collaborative efforts amongst stakeholders to support and mentor graduate nurses during such emergencies; and psychological interventions that could assist with coping in such dire situations as the COVID-19 pandemic.

[Nurses' Experience with Caring for COVID-19 Patients in a Negative Pressure Room Amid the Pandemic Situation]

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to explore nurses' experience with caring for COVID-19 patients in a negative pressure room amid the spread of the pandemic.

METHODS

This study was a qualitative research, and focus group interviews were used to collect data. Three focus groups comprising 19 nurses were interviewed from February 17 to 25, 2021. All interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim with the consent of the participants. The verbatim transcripts were scrutinized using thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Two main themes emerged from the analysis: 'Struggling in an isolated space' and 'Limitations of nursing infrastructure and system'. The nurses caring for COVID-19 patients experienced anxiety and fear about the infection, physical exhaustion, emotional burnout, and a sense of duty as a nurse. They also acknowledged the lack of guidelines, increased task and burden, limitations of nursing care, and the demand for improving the limitations of the nursing system.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study demonstrate that nurses caring for COVID-19 patients encounter physical and emotional problems within the limited healthcare system. The study suggests that comprehensive interventions are needed for nurses. Furthermore, detailed guidelines, strengthening of nursing personnel, and improvements to the nursing system are vital to effectively cope with the pandemic. The government and medical institutions should be aware of the needs of nurses and what they are going through, and make efforts to improve the quality of life of healthcare workers and create a safe healthcare environment.