The Real Experience and Management Strategies Analysis of Chinese Nurses Aiding COVID-19 Epidemic: A Qualitative Study

Cognitive changes in professional value and career development amid the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study of nurses' experiences

AIM

To explore cognitions in nurses' professional value and career development amid the COVID-19 pandemic and to analyse influencing factors.

DESIGN

A qualitative descriptive study design was employed.

METHODS

Thirty practising nurses from three general hospitals in Chengdu, China, were purposively recruited. Face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted. The content analysis was used for data analysis.

RESULTS

After the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, there were obvious cognitive changes in nurses' professional value, including improvement in the cognition of professional value, awareness of the broadening of the field of acting professional value, and realization of increasingly high requirements in careers. Approval and gratitude of patients, social recognition and attention, self-awareness of nurses were main influencing factors. For cognitive changes in career development, nurses became more motivated to develop their careers, had a clearer understanding of career development environment, and acquired a clearer understanding of what was needed to advance careers. Hospital support, social respect, family support, and team atmosphere were key influencing factors.

CONCLUSIONS

The contributions made by nurses in the prevention and control of the COVID-19 pandemic have prompted positive changes in their cognition of professional value and career development. To promote nurses' positive understanding and approach to career development, measures should be taken by hospitals. Further, social respect, family support and team cooperation can enhance nurses' enthusiasm for career development.

The potential influences of professional identity for undergraduate nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study

AIM

We aimed to investigate the level of undergraduate nursing students' professional identity (PI) during the COVID-19 pandemic and its potential influences.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included 742 undergraduate nursing students from Chengdu Medical College. Basic demographics, personal characteristics and PI score were collected. Chi-squared test, one-way analysis of variance, and multivariable logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the data.

RESULTS

In the classes of 2019, 2020, and 2021, the PI score was 96.85 ± 18.26, 105.37 ± 17.46, 106.67 ± 22.08 (P < .001). PI score was the independent predictive factor for both "want to be a nurse" and "willingness to serve during COVID-19 or other pandemics".

CONCLUSIONS

PI contributes greatly to nursing students' willingness to be a nurse and overcome pandemics. The challenge of culturing PI during COVID-19 pandemic revealed the necessity of developing individual management strategies for nursing education.

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.

Management Strategies During the COVID-19 Pandemic Crisis: The Experiences of Health Managers from Iran, Ardabil Province

OBJECTIVE

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak is the most threatening public health challenge in the 21th century, and more than 200 countries are affected. Considering that Iran was one of the first countries influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic, this study aimed to explain the crisis management strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ardabil province.

METHODS

This study used a qualitative method using content analysis in which 12 health-care managers or decision-makers involved in the management of the COVID-19 crisis were recruited through purposeful sampling. In-depth, semi-structured interviews were used to collect data, which continued until data saturation.

RESULTS

Data analysis led to nine categories, including prior preparation for the COVID-19 crisis; challenges and management of workforce shortages; benefiting from the participation of volunteer staff; challenges and strategies for physical space, supplies, and personal protective equipment (PPE); designation of referral centers for COVID-19; protocolized patient transport; benefiting from donations and charity support; management of information about COVID-19; and learning from the prior stages of crisis.

CONCLUSION

This study revealed that, in critical situations, managers use multiple and, to some extent, unique strategies for decision-making and crisis control. Therefore, the health system can use the findings of the current study for proper response to similar crises and training of future managers.