200 Years of Florence and the challenges of nursing practices management in the COVID-19 pandemic

Experiences of nurses providing care for patients with COVID-19 in acute care settings in the early stages of the pandemic: A thematic meta-synthesis study

AIM

The aim of this work is to synthesize and interpret qualitative research examining the experiences of nurses providing care for patients with COVID-19 in acute care settings in the early stages of the pandemic in different countries.

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of disasters, including the pandemic, is increasing globally. It is important to understand nurses' experiences in depth to effectively manage extraordinary events that may occur in the future.

DESIGN

This is a thematic meta-synthesis study.

METHODS

Electronic databases, including CINAHL, MEDLINE, PubMed, Web of Science, OVID, and Scopus, were searched for publications from December 2019 to October 2020. The search was updated for publications to 30 May 2022. The thematic synthesis method was used to analyse and interpret the data.

FINDINGS

The experiences of the nurses giving care to patients with COVID-19 were grouped under four themes: (1) Difficulties encountered in the care of patients with COVID-19; (2) mixed emotions experienced in the care of patients with COVID-19; (3) coping strategies that nurses used in the management of the pandemic; (4) the benefits of the COVID-19 to nurses.

CONCLUSION

Nurses faced many difficulties and experienced mixed emotions while providing care for patients with coronavirus disease. Perceived social support was seen as the most important strategy for coping with these difficult situations. It is important to be aware of the difficulties and emotions experienced by nurses and support them during the COVID-19 pandemic for the management of future pandemics.

[Organization of healthcare systems to confront COVID-19: a scoping reviewOrganización de los sistemas de salud para hacer frente a la COVID-19: revisión del alcance]

Objective

To identify evidence in the literature on the response of managers regarding the organization of global healthcare systems to face the COVID-19 pandemic.

Method

For this scoping review, searches were performed in 11 databases accessible through the Virtual Health Library. Eleven studies, published in 2019 and 2020, were selected based on the following guiding question: "How did managers act to organize healthcare systems to face the coronavirus pandemic?". The results were organized in terms of the categories outlined in the Pan-American Health Organization's Framework for the response of Integrated Health Service Delivery Networks to COVID-19: governance; model of care; organizational and management; financial allocations.

Results

Managers in countries that invested and articulated actions in the categories of the Reference Framework, with coordination of care at the primary healthcare level, achieved better outcomes in coping with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Conclusions

Situating the coordination of healthcare systems at the primary care level, preparing managers and ensuring the continued allocation of financial resources to healthcare are important factors to secure a satisfactory response to crises such as the covid-19 pandemic.

Disciplinas de aprendizagem organizacional para o desenvolvimento de enfermeiros-líderes

Objetivo: analisar as evidências científicas sobre a aplicação dos conceitos das disciplinas da aprendizagem organizacional de Peter Senge para o desenvolvimento de enfermeiros líderes em ambiente hospitalar. Método: revisão integrativa, realizada mediante busca nas bases de dados Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Scientific Electronic Library Online Citation Index e Scopus. Resultados: foram identificadas 616 produções e incluídas no estudo oito. Evidenciou-se um hiato na produção de conhecimentos sobre a aplicação desses conceitos para o desenvolvimento de enfermeiros líderes. Caracterizado por pesquisas produzidas em uma ampla variedade de países, em inglês e português do Brasil. Identificado o uso dessa contribuição teórica como recurso de aprendizagem organizacional para a área da saúde e Enfermagem, orientado para a melhoria do ambiente laboral nos serviços e no hospital, bem como integrador das equipes. Conclusões: a investigação possibilitou a ampliação do conhecimento científico na área da saúde e Enfermagem a respeito do emprego dos conceitos da aprendizagem organizacional de Peter Senge na área da saúde e Enfermagem. Apresentados como avanços para o desenvolvimento da liderança, contributos para o despertar de um novo olhar para o preparo, capacitação e qualificação profissional, de modo a incentivar a mudança de comportamento e dos cenários de atuação mediante ações voltadas para a prestação de uma assistência segura e de qualidade. Recomenda-se uma investigação aprofundada acerca dessa temática, dada a relevância da liderança, considerada uma das competências gerenciais essenciais para o desempenho do enfermeiro durante o exercício do trabalho nos serviços de saúde e, mais especificamente, no hospital.

Management in the care of people with HIV in primary health care in times of the new coronavirus

OBJECTIVE

To understand management practices in the care of people living with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in primary health care in a Brazilian capital, in times of the new coronavirus (covid-19) pandemic.

METHOD

Qualitative research, anchored in the methodological-analytical framework of the grounded theory, constructivist aspect. Data were collected by using intensive online interviews with nurses from health centers and managers of the municipal health department. Data collection and analysis occurred concomitantly in two phases of analysis: initial and focused coding.

RESULTS

They point to the development of best care practices, with emphasis on initiatives for coordination of care, decentralization of clinical management for primary health care services, establishment of protocols and flows, agreement of intersectoral partnerships, use of groups and social networks, use of tools such as teleconsultation and health surveillance spreadsheet and formation of support networks.

CONCLUSION

The Brazilian capital restructured its network of health services with the implementation of clinical and management protocols, seeking to maintain care for people living with HIV. We highlighted the incorporation of non-face-to-face care technologies and the facilitation of routines, as strategies for expanding access.

Health care workers' experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic: a scoping review

BACKGROUND

COVID-19 has challenged health systems worldwide, especially the health workforce, a pillar crucial for health systems resilience. Therefore, strengthening health system resilience can be informed by analyzing health care workers' (HCWs) experiences and needs during pandemics. This review synthesizes qualitative studies published during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic to identify factors affecting HCWs' experiences and their support needs during the pandemic. This review was conducted using the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for scoping reviews. A systematic search on PubMed was applied using controlled vocabularies. Only original studies presenting primary qualitative data were included.

RESULTS

161 papers that were published from the beginning of COVID-19 pandemic up until 28th March 2021 were included in the review. Findings were presented using the socio-ecological model as an analytical framework. At the individual level, the impact of the pandemic manifested on HCWs' well-being, daily routine, professional and personal identity. At the interpersonal level, HCWs' personal and professional relationships were identified as crucial. At the institutional level, decision-making processes, organizational aspects and availability of support emerged as important factors affecting HCWs' experiences. At community level, community morale, norms, and public knowledge were of importance. Finally, at policy level, governmental support and response measures shaped HCWs' experiences. The review identified a lack of studies which investigate other HCWs than doctors and nurses, HCWs in non-hospital settings, and HCWs in low- and lower middle income countries.

DISCUSSION

This review shows that the COVID-19 pandemic has challenged HCWs, with multiple contextual factors impacting their experiences and needs. To better understand HCWs' experiences, comparative investigations are needed which analyze differences across as well as within countries, including differences at institutional, community, interpersonal and individual levels. Similarly, interventions aimed at supporting HCWs prior to, during and after pandemics need to consider HCWs' circumstances.

CONCLUSIONS

Following a context-sensitive approach to empowering HCWs that accounts for the multitude of aspects which influence their experiences could contribute to building a sustainable health workforce and strengthening health systems for future pandemics.

The experience of the nurse during the COVID-19 pandemic: A global meta-synthesis in the year of the nurse

Purpose

From its beginnings in China in December of 2019, the novel coronavirus COVID‐19 spread and quickly became the center of nursing care and conversation across the globe (WHO, 2020). This meta‐ethnographic study was conducted in order to provide the profession of nursing interpretative explanations of a common experience during the care of patients with COVID‐19.

Design and method

A literature review focused on the experience of the nurse during the COVID‐19 pandemic revealed a total of 13 qualitative studies conducted in China, Spain, Turkey, Iran, Brazil, and the United States. A meta‐ethnographic review of these qualitative works, using the method of Noblit and Hare, was then conducted which revealed the experience of the nurse across the globe during the COVID‐19 pandemic.

Findings

The review revealed strong similarities between the experiences of the nurse across the 13 studies. Given this reciprocal relationship, translations were constructed and synthesized until four new themes emerged outlining the global experience of the nurse during the COVID‐19 pandemic.

Conclusions

Despite the differences between the structures of healthcare and government of the six countries represented in this meta‐ethnography, the experience of the nurse emerged into a narrative shared by those represented in this study. As the profession of nursing continues to work through ongoing waves of COVID‐19, these results will help guide the resources and training provided to nurses on the frontline of care.

Clinical relevance

Despite great personal risk, nurses across the globe stepped up to the challenge of upholding and improving the health of the world's people during the COVID‐19 pandemic. As health policy, education, and system leaders, we must listen to the common experience revealed in this meta‐synthesis and respond by providing the resources needed to improve nursing practice and care.

Role of nurses in a field hospital aimed at patients with Covid-19

OBJECTIVE

To understand the role of nurses in field hospitals aimed at patients with Covid-19.

METHODS

Qualitative research based on Alfred Schütz's social phenomenology. Twenty nurses working in São Paulo were interviewed between May and June 2020. The testimonies were organized and analyzed based on the theoretical-methodological and thematic framework.

RESULTS

The following categories emerged: "Nurses' challenges in field hospital care", "Visibility of nursing in the Covid-19 pandemic scenario" and "Covid-19 post-pandemic professional valorization".

FINAL CONSIDERATIONS

The reflection on the results that emerged in this study may contribute to support improvements in training, working conditions and valuing nurses, considering the importance of this professional category in the scope of health services. New investigations may increase knowledge in the area, providing subsidies for professional role in this and other health situations that require nursing intensity and excellence.

Systematic review of experiences and perceptions of key actors and organisations at multiple levels within health systems internationally in responding to COVID-19

BACKGROUND

COVID-19 has presented challenges to healthcare systems and healthcare professionals internationally. After one year of the pandemic, the initial evidence on health system responses begins to consolidate, and there is a need to identify and synthesise experiences of responding to COVID-19 among healthcare professionals and other health system stakeholders. This systematic review of primary qualitative studies depicts the experiences and perceptions of organisations and actors at multiple levels of health systems internationally in responding to COVID-19.

METHODS

Six main databases of biomedical information, public health and health administration research were searched over the period October 1, 2019, to October 21, 2020. Information extracted from included studies was analysed thematically.

RESULTS

Thirty-four studies were eligible for data extraction. Nine of those studies, of lower methodological quality, were removed from the thematic analysis of study results. Considering the professional level experiences, predominant themes of the studies consisted of the new roles and responsibilities of healthcare workers, burnout and distress, recognition of ´unseen´ healthcare workers, and positive changes and emergent solutions amid the crisis. Organisational level findings of the studies included provision of psychological support, COVID-19 as "catalyst" for change, and exercise of more "open" leadership by managers and health authorities. Continuous training, regulation of working conditions, providing supportive resources, coordinating a diversity of actors, and reviewing and updating regulations were roles identified  at the local health system level.

CONCLUSIONS

The experiences of frontline healthcare workers have been the focus of attention of the majority of primary qualitative studies as of October 2020. However, organisational and wider system level studies indicate that some responses to COVID-19 have been characterised by increased emphasis on coordination activities by local health system actors, making service adaptations at pace, and reliance on expanded roles of front-line workers. The need for theory-informed qualitative studies was identified at the organisational level.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

CRD42020202875.