Dataset Information

Information flow and nursing care during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.

ABSTRACT:

Aims

This study aimed to understand the dissemination of information relating to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and its impact on nursing care in the early phase of transmission.

Background

COVID-19 has spread globally, causing an unprecedentedly large number of casualties. Nurses face challenges in dealing with patients with COVID-19 with limited information about the pathogen.

Design

This qualitative study followed the COREQ guidelines.

Methods

Fifteen nurses were recruited from two university hospitals in South Korea using a snowballing technique for in-depth interviews in May 2020. All interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Content analysis was performed on the interview data.

Results

Two themes emerged: access to COVID-19 information and the impact of information on nursing care. The categories of access to COVID-19 information were lack of nursing-specific information, limited information cascading from top management and confusion due to varying points of view. The categories of the impact of information on nursing care were unprepared management that aggravates exhaustion, lack of personal protective equipment that creates anxiety and being a nurse leader to overcome the pandemic.

Conclusion

During a pandemic of emerging infectious diseases, nurses should have access to up-to-date information tailored to their working environment. Human resources, material resources and systematic support are needed for nurses who provide care for patients with an infectious disease.

Relevance to clinical practice

A collaborative interprofessional education system for emerging infectious diseases is needed for effective communication and consistent care during a pandemic. Nurse leaders should be prepared to deliver profession-specific information for standardised care and respond to nursing management needs by using resources and tailoring the workforce.

SUBMITTER: Cha C

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8242378 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:BackgroundResearch examining RNs' experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic is lacking, thus inhibiting efforts to optimize nursing care delivery and patient outcomes during the current pandemic and future public health emergencies.ObjectiveTo explore the experience of being a registered nurse caring for patients with COVID-19 at an urban academic medical center during the early stages of the pandemic.DesignQualitative descriptive study, guided by Donabedian's Quality Framework for Evaluation of Healthcare Delivery which focuses on structures, processes, and outcomes of care delivery.SettingUrban academic medical center in the northeast United States.ParticipantsRegistered nurses cared for or caring for patients with COVID-19, age ≥18 years old, and English-speaking.MethodsParticipants were recruited for individual in-person semi-structured interviews. Interviews occurred during March and April 2020 and were recorded and transcribed. Transcripts were analyzed by two researchers using emergent qualitative content analysis to identify themes.ResultsTwenty-one registered nurses participated in the study. Three themes emerged from the data, included one relevant to structures and two relevant to processes of care during the pandemic. Registered nurses perceived the clinical context as highly dynamic, but quickly adapted to pandemic-related care delivery. They felt a "sense of duty" to care for patients with COVID-19, despite being fearful of acquiring or spreading infection. Compared to clinical colleagues, registered nurses reported increased patient exposure and performed tasks previously assigned to other clinical team members.ConclusionRoles and nursing practice processes evolved to meet the demand for care despite challenges. Registered nurses require adequate protection for their frontline role which may consist of increased patient exposure compared to clinical colleagues, emotional support, and clear clinical guidance. A deeper understanding of how a public health emergency, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, affects nursing practice can guide future efforts to optimize healthcare structures, nursing care processes, and patient outcomes. Our study can inform strategies for providing registered nurses with adequate communication, protection, and resources during the COVID-19 pandemic and future similar public health emergencies.