Nursing care issues for frontline nurses during the covid-19 pandemic
Authors:
J. Kimmerová 1; D. Kimmer 2; V. Tóthová 1; S. Bártlová 1; I. Chloubová 1
Authors‘ workplace:
Jihočeská univerzita v Českých Budějovicích, Zdravotně sociální fakulta
; Ústav ošetřovatelství, porodní asistence a neodkladné péče, Ředitelka: prof. PhDr. Valérie Tóthová, Ph. D.
1; Ústav laboratorní diagnostiky a veřejného zdraví, Ředitel: Mgr. David Kimmer, Ph. D.
2
Published in:
Prakt. Lék. 2022; 102(4): 191-199
Category:
Of different specialties
Overview
Introduction: The philosophy of nursing makes it a member of the helping professions, which by their nature are both mentally and physically demanding. The COVID-19 pandemic showed the importance and necessity of nurses quickly and effectively coping with new and previously almost unimaginable situations. Perhaps due to their heroic efforts during the pandemic, nurses and other healthcare professionals were exposed to difficult and demanding situations, which had to be face daily, with little or no relief.
Aim: This review study aimed to evaluate the available expert knowledge on the critical issues faced by front-line nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. This review is the starting point for future research intended to analyze the role of the nurse and nursing care during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods: A literature search was carried out using keywords according to PICo. The search used scientific electronic databases such as EBSCOhost, SCOPUS, PubMed, and WOS. Selected documents were then analyzed and evaluated as part of the review study.
Results and discussion: The results are divided into five areas: nursing care of front-line nurses, management of front-line nurse, psychological problems facing front-line nurses, post-traumatic stress disorder of front-line nurses and stress management mechanisms of front-line nurses. Multiple studies showed that front-line nurses experienced very challenging situations during the COVID-19 pandemic, many of which significantly impacted their personal and professional lives. During the pandemic, nurses routinely faced shortages of suitable personal protective equipment, were put at high risk of infection and were often forced to live apart from their families. Instead of receiving psychological support, they experienced stress, fear, anxiety, helplessness, ashopelessness, depression, and on a daily basis, faced the death of patients under their care. In addition to total exhaustion, the mentioned work-related stresses caused many nurses to experience post-traumatic syndrome.
Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic put all healthcare systems and healthcare professionals under unprecedented pressure and unprecedented demands. These unique situations disrupted the provision of healthcare and created shortages in healthcare providers, which led to complex and unpredictable health system conditions across every country in the world.
Keywords:
nursing care – front-line nurses – COVID-19 patient
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General Practitioner
2022 Issue 4
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