Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Australian residential aged care facility (RACF) workforce

Caring Self-Efficacy of Personal Care Attendants From English-Speaking and Non-English-Speaking Countries Working in Australian Residential Aged Care Settings

Objectives: This study compared the caring self-efficacy between personal care attendants (PCAs) from English-speaking and non-English-speaking countries, controlling for potential sociodemographic and work-related covariates. PCAs' perceptions of their caring self-efficacy were further explored. Methods: An independent samples t-test was used to determine the mean difference in the caring self-efficacy score between the two groups. A multivariate analysis was conducted to adjust for covariates. Thematic analysis was conducted on open-ended responses. Results: The results showed that caring self-efficacy was significantly influenced by whether participants primarily spoke English at home rather than where they were born. Younger age and everyday discrimination experiences were negatively associated with caring self-efficacy. Both groups perceived that inadequate resources and experiencing bullying and discrimination reduced their caring self-efficacy. Discussion: Access to organisational resources and training opportunities and addressing workplace bullying and discrimination against PCAs, particularly younger PCAs and those from non-English-speaking backgrounds, could improve their caring self-efficacy.

Barriers and Enablers to Nurses' Engagement With Continuing Professional Development: A Survey

BACKGROUND

Continuing professional development (CPD) is perceived as a pivotal component of building and maintaining nursing skill and capacity. Exploring motivators for CPD engagement can aid program adaptation and improvement. The goal of this study was to survey the barriers, enablers, and changes of Australian RNs' engagement with CPD in general during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. An additional goal was to understand factors influencing the interest of participants to engage with programs focused on care for people with intellectual disability and/or autism.

METHOD

This study was a cross-sectional exploratory survey.

RESULTS

Most of the sample had engaged with CPD in the previous 12 months, and the most reported topics were related to COVID-19. Sixty percent of nurses saw a change in volume of CPD. Younger nurses, with fewer years of experience, and practicing in major cities, were significantly more likely to report less CPD.

CONCLUSION

It is pivotal that the design and promotion of CPD curricula consider the motivators and barriers for nurses' engagement with them. [J Contin Educ Nurs. 2023;54(9):405-412.].

Nursing during the COVID-19 pandemic: A reflective thematic analysis of how the hamster wheel shifted personal and professional control

AIM

The aim of this national study was to examine the experience of nurses 9-12 months after the onset of the pandemic.

DESIGN

This article reports the reflective thematic analysis of the qualitative portion of a mixed methods study of the experiences of 1319 Canadian nurses between February to May 2021.

METHODS

Data gathering occurred through open-text box questions in an online survey.

RESULTS

Three overarching themes were found: (1) the hamster wheel, (2) the shifting sense of control, and (3) the inability to leave the pandemic at work.

CONCLUSION

This research presents a national perspective of nurses which contributes to the wider global narrative. The experience of redeployment, nurses as decision-makers, communication and leadership challenges were all factors impacting mental health and intraprofessional collaboration.

IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION

The findings revealed the immense pressure, mental health concerns, and professional implications for nurses in all domains.

PUBLIC OR PATIENT CONTRIBUTIONS

No public or patient contributions.

Experiences of Healthcare Workers in Long-Term Care during COVID-19: A Scoping Review

Background: Although healthcare workers (HCWs) in long-term care (LTC) have experienced significant emotional and psychological distress throughout the pandemic, little is known about their unique experiences. Objective: This scoping review synthesizes existing research on the experiences of HCWs in LTC during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: Following Arksey and O'Malley's framework, data published between March 2020 to June 2022, were extracted from six databases. Results: Among 3808 articles screened, 40 articles were included in the final analysis. Analyses revealed three interrelated themes: carrying the load (moral distress); building pressure and burning out (emotional exhaustion); and working through it (a sense of duty to care). Conclusion: Given the impacts of the pandemic on both HCW wellbeing and patient care, every effort must be made to address the LTC workforce crisis and evaluate best practices for supporting HCWs experiencing mental health concerns during and post-COVID-19.

Prevalence, Predictors, and Experience of Moral Suffering in Nursing and Care Home Staff during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mixed-Methods Systematic Review

(1) Background: Nursing and care home staff experienced high death rates of older residents and increased occupational and psychosocial pressures during the COVID-19 pandemic. The literature has previously found this group to be at risk of developing mental health conditions, moral injury (MI), and moral distress (MD). The latter two terms refer to the perceived ethical wrongdoing which contravenes an individual’s moral beliefs and elicits adverse emotional responses. (2) Method: A systematic review was conducted to explore the prevalence, predictors, and psychological experience of MI and MD in the aforementioned population during the COVID-19 pandemic. The databases CINAHL, APA PsychINFO, APA PsychArticles, Web of Science, Medline, and Scopus were systematically searched for original research studies of all designs, published in English, with no geographical restrictions, and dating from when COVID-19 was declared a public health emergency on the 30 January 2020 to the 3 January 2022. Out of 531 studies screened for eligibility, 8 studies were selected for review. A thematic analysis was undertaken to examine the major underpinning themes. (3) Results: MI, MD, and related constructs (notably secondary traumatic stress) were evidenced to be present in staff, although most studies did not explore the prevalence or predictors. The elicited major themes were resource deficits, role challenges, communication and leadership, and emotional and psychosocial consequences. (4) Conclusions: Our findings suggest that moral injury and moral distress were likely to be present prior to COVID-19 but have been exacerbated by the pandemic. Whilst studies were generally of high quality, the dearth of quantitative studies assessing prevalence and predictors suggests a research need, enabling the exploration of causal relationships between variables. However, the implied presence of MI and MD warrants intervention developments and workplace support for nursing and care home staff.