Impact of leadership on the nursing workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic

Rural healthcare workforce preparation, response, and work during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia: Lessons learned from in-depth interviews with rural health service leaders

BACKGROUND

Low population density, geographic spread, limited infrastructure and higher costs are unique challenges in the delivery of healthcare in rural areas. During the COVID-19 pandemic, emergency powers adopted globally to slow the spread of transmission of the virus included population-wide lockdowns and restrictions upon movement, testing, contact tracing and vaccination programs. The aim of this research was to document the experiences of rural health service leaders as they prepared for the emergency pandemic response, and to derive from this the lessons learned for workforce preparedness to inform recommendations for future policy and emergency planning.

METHODOLOGY AND METHODS

Interviews were conducted with leaders from two rural public health services in Australia, one small (500 staff) and one large (3000 staff). Data were inductively coded and analysed thematically.

PARTICIPANTS

Thirty-three participants included health service leaders in executive, clinical, and administrative roles.

FINDINGS

Six major themes were identified: Working towards a common goal, Delivery of care, Education and training, Organizational governance and leadership, Personal and psychological impacts, and Working with the Local Community. Findings informed the development of a applied framework.

CONCLUSION

The study findings emphasise the critical importance of leadership, teamwork and community engagement in preparing the emergency pandemic response in rural areas. Informed by this research, recommendations were made to guide future rural pandemic emergency responses or health crises around the world.

Nurses' Personality Traits and Perceived Work Environments During Public Health Emergencies: Implications for Nursing Workforce Planning

Background

The nursing workforce faces substantial challenges, particularly in the aftermath of the COVID-19 era. Developing an effective strategy for workforce maintenance and the strategic deployment of nurses is crucial.

Purpose

This study aimed to explore and categorize nurses' personality traits, with a focus on analyzing differences in their perceptions of the nursing work environment.

Participants and Methods

Between January 2023 and February 2023, a multi-center cross-sectional study was carried out involving nurses from 12 tertiary hospitals actively engaged in frontline COVID-19 response duties. Through cluster sampling, surveys were distributed among eligible nursing staff, comprising a general information questionnaire, the Chinese Big Five Personality Questionnaire-Short Form, subjective evaluations of emergency nursing management, and the Chinese Nursing Work Environment Scale for Public Health Emergencies. Various statistical analyses, such as descriptive analysis, cluster analysis, non-parametric tests, and general linear model analysis, were employed to investigate the correlation between personality types and the perception of nursing work environments.

Results

The analysis encompassed 1059 valid questionnaires, reflecting the experiences of frontline nurses. The majority of these nurses possessed 1-5 years of experience, held junior professional titles, volunteered for their roles, and served as attending nurses. Categorization based on personality traits revealed three groups: resilient (35.60%), ordinary (16.15%), and distressed (48.25%) types. Significantly distinct perceptions of nursing work environments emerged among these categories, with resilient and ordinary types expressing notably higher satisfaction compared to the distressed group (H value = 256.487, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

This study illustrates the connection between nurses' perceived working environment and their personality traits. Nursing managers should factor in nurses' personality traits when choosing and deploying frontline responders during public health emergencies. Prioritizing resilient-type nurses and crafting a supportive work environment that aligns with nurses' characteristics is indispensable for an effective emergency response.

It’s What We Do: Experiences of UK Nurses Working during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Impact on Practice, Identity and Resilience

The COVID-19 pandemic increased pressure on a nursing workforce already facing high levels of stress, burnout, and fatigue in the United Kingdom (UK) and internationally. The contribution of nurses to keeping the public safe was widely recognised as they met the challenges of delivering complex patient care during the healthcare crisis. However, the psychological impact of this on nurses’ health and wellbeing has been substantial, and the number of nurses leaving the profession in the UK is rising. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of nurses working during the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact of this on their psychological health, wellbeing and resilience. The study is part of a wider project to develop and pilot an online resilience intervention for nurses during COVID-19. Five focus groups with 22 nurses were carried out online. Data was analysed thematically using the Framework Method. Four key themes relating to positive and negative impacts of working during the pandemic were identified: Rapid changes and contexts in flux; loss and disruption; finding opportunities and positive transformation; and reinforcing and strengthening identity. Implications for coping and resilience in nursing, nursing identities and workforce development are discussed.