Nurse workforce scheduling: A qualitative study of Indonesian nurse managers' experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic

Mental health impact on healthcare workers from COVID-19 in Vietnam: Suggestions for a preventive program

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative impact on the mental health of healthcare workers participating in the prevention and control of the pandemic, thereby reducing their quality of life and affecting the quality of patient outcomes. This study aims to explore and deeply understand the mental health problems among healthcare workers participating in the prevention and control of COVID-19 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. A mixed methods study was undertaken with a descriptive cross-sectional survey of 2870 healthcare workers who have been participating in the prevention and control of COVID-19 in Ho Chi Minh City in 2021, followed by a qualitative descriptive phenomenological study comprised of in-depth interviews with a purposively sampled subset of 40 healthcare workers. Results showed that of the 2870 survey participants, the majority (60.6%) were female, and the average age was 35.1 (SD = 8.6). The prevalence of stress, anxiety and depression was 17.2%, 20.8%, and 17.6%, respectively. The findings from in-depth interviews revealed that the participants were under extreme mental health issues such as worries, stress, and negative emotions. The worrying was related to risk of infection, being shunned, stigmatised, or assaulted by the community. Stress was due to excessive pressure from work. Negative emotions were identified as sadness, self-pity, feelings of loneliness, entrusting fate, feelings of guilt, anxiety, confusion, obsession, disorientation, physical and mental exhaustion. Promoting mental health among healthcare workers who participated in the crisis is necessary and urgent.

Refining core competencies of first-line nurse managers in the hospital context: A qualitative study

Objectives

As the world moves towards a new normal, challenges continue to emerge while simultaneously inspiring us with new solutions. Strengthening the skills of first-line nurse managers (FLNMs) to fulfill a wide range of complex roles and responsibilities effectively necessitates refining core competency guidelines or standards. This study aimed to explore the perceived core competencies of Indonesian FLNMs within the context of the post-pandemic era.

Methods

The study employed a qualitative descriptive design. Face-to-face interviews were conducted in a public hospital in Indonesia from January 2022 through August 2022. Seven head nurses with direct experience managing a unit during the COVID-19 pandemic were selected. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and validated by re-listening. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis.

Results

Four main themes of the core competencies developed, including 1) managerial core competencies, 2) clinical core competencies, 3) technological core competencies, and 4) socio-emotional skills/personal traits consisting of the following: be brave, fast, patient, optimistic, consistent, and responsible.

Conclusions

The findings demonstrate that the managerial and clinical core competencies of the FLNMs must be aligned, while technological core competencies are the mediating component of both. Personal traits are essential for FLNMs as they undergird the other three core competencies and the success of the FLNMs.

Retaining employment in the hospital setting: A descriptive phenomenological study of Indonesian nurses' experiences

Background

Losing competent nurses due to turnover can have adverse effects on healthcare administration, service delivery, and organizational dynamics. Frequent staff turnover can hinder optimal nursing practices, but some nurses remain committed. Therefore, understanding factors that foster sustained engagement and retention is crucial to create a retention strategy.

Objective

This study aimed to explore the current experience of Indonesian nurses who retain their jobs in the hospital setting.

Methods

A phenomenological design was employed in this study, with ten nurses selected using purposive sampling. Semi-structured interviews were used to gather data from a private hospital in Batam, Indonesia, between January and March 2022. A conventional content analysis was used to analyze the data.

Results

The participants had an average total work experience of 10.4 years and an average age of 35.6 years, ranging from 28 to 44 years. The majority of the participants were females, held bachelor's degrees, and were married. Three main themes were developed in this study: solid teamwork, adequate compensation, and professional career development.

Conclusion

Retaining experienced nurses in hospitals is influenced by antecedents such as teamwork, pay, and career growth. These findings offer nursing and hospital managers insights into developing policies and strategies to improve hospital nursing retention programs in Indonesia and beyond.

Strategies and challenges in addressing ethical issues in the hospital context: A phenomenological study of nurse team leaders

Background

Nurse team leaders encounter considerable ethical challenges that necessitate using effective strategies to overcome them. However, there is a lack of research exploring the experiences of nurse team leaders in Indonesia who face ethical dilemmas in their professional duties.

Objective

This study aimed to explore nurse team leaders' experiences regarding strategies and challenges in dealing with ethical problems in hospital settings in Indonesia.

Methods

This qualitative study employed a hermeneutic phenomenology design. Online semi-structured interviews were conducted between November 2021 and February 2022 among 14 nurse team leaders selected using a snowball sampling from seven hospitals (three public and four private hospitals). Van Manen's approach was used for data analysis.

Results

The strategies for overcoming ethical dilemmas included (i) seeking the facts, (ii) stepping back, (iii) considering support, and (iv) standing by patients. The challenges for the nurse team leaders in resolving ethical problems consisted of (i) seniority, (ii) trust issue, and (iii) lack of reflection and ethics training.

Conclusion

Nurse team leaders recognize their specific roles in the midst of ethical challenges and seek strategies to deal with them. However, a negative working environment might impact ethical behavior and compromise the provision of quality care. Therefore, it is imperative for hospital management to take note of these findings and address issues related to seniority by providing regular ethics training and group reflection sessions to maintain nurses' ethical knowledge in hospital practice. Such interventions can support nurse team leaders in resolving ethical dilemmas and provide a conducive environment for ethical decision-making, ultimately improving patient outcomes.

Managing the Nursing Shortage During the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study

Background

Nursing care contributes to the safety and the quality of care of patients. During the COVID-19 pandemic, nurses became frontline care providers.

Materials and Methods

A qualitative study was conducted using an online focus group discussion of eight nurse committee members from six hospitals. After the data were collected, the study continued with inductive thematic analysis. The data were organized and extracted to identify meaningful statements and formulate meanings. Inductive thematic analysis was used, resulting in three themes and six subthemes.

Results

The themes related to managing the nursing workforce, schedules, rosters, shifts, goals of re-design staffing, and the nurse-patient ratio.

Conclusions

The management of the nursing staffing was modified to protect nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. The nurse manager redesigned workforce planning to ensure a safe environment for nurses.