Aim The aim of this study was to conduct a primary examination of the qualitative communication experiences of nurses during the first wave of the COVID‐19 pandemic in the United States. Background Ambiguity in ever‐evolving knowledge on how to provide care during COVID‐19. Remaining safe has created a sense of urgency, which has in turn created the need for organizations to quickly alter their operational plans and protocols to support measures that increase capacity and establish a culture of safe care and clear communication. However, no known study has described communication in nursing practice during COVID‐19. Methods Utilizing qualitative descriptive methodology, semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 100 nurse participants from May to September 2020 and recorded for thematic analysis. The consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative studies (COREQ), a 32‐item checklist, were used to ensure detailed and comprehensive reporting of this qualitative study protocol. Findings Study participants shared descriptions of how effective communication positively impacted patient care and nursing practice experiences during the first wave of the COVID‐19 pandemic. The thematic network analyses identified the importance of effective communication across three levels: (1) organizational leadership, (2) unit leadership and (3) nurse‐to‐nurse communication. Within this structure, three organizing themes, essential to effective communication, were described including (a) presence, (b) education and (c) emotional support. Conclusion Examining existing crisis communication policies and procedures across healthcare organizations is imperative to maintain highly relevant, innovative, and data‐driven policies and strategies that are fundamental to preserving quality patient care and supporting optimal nursing practice. Implications for Nursing Policy and Health Policy Effective communication is critical to support nurses through extended periods of crisis. COVID‐19 represents a unique contemporary challenge to the nursing workforce given the high stress and prolonged strain it has created for both human and healthcare supply resources. There is value in nurses’ presence at local, unit level and organizational leadership levels to convey critical information that directly informs leadership decision‐making during unprecedented emergencies such as the COVID‐19 pandemic.

Introduction The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic represents the largest contemporary challenge to the nursing workforce in the 21st century given the high stress and prolonged strain it has created for both human and healthcare supply resources. Nurses on the frontlines providing patient care during COVID-19 have faced unrivaled psychological and physical demands. However, no known large-scale qualitative study has described the emotions experienced by nurses providing patient care during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the US. Objective: Therefore, the purpose of this study was to qualitatively describe the emotions experienced by US nurses during the initial COVID-19 pandemic response. Methods One hundred individual interviews were conducted with nurses across the United States from May to September of 2020 asking participants to describe how they felt taking care of COVID-19 patients. All interviews followed a semi-structured interview guide, were audio recorded, transcribed, verified, and coded by the research team. Results Participants narratives of the emotions they experienced providing patient care during COVID-19 unequivocally described (1) moral distress, and moral distress related (1.1) fear, (1.2) frustration, (1.3) powerlessness, and (1.4) guilt. In sum, the major emotional response of nurses across the US providing patient care during the pandemic was that of moral distress. Conclusion Investments in healthcare infrastructures that address moral distress in nurses may improve retention and reduce burnout in the US nursing workforce.

This study aimed to describe nurses’ experiences with personal protective equipment while providing patient care during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the US. From May 2020 to September 2020, 100 individual interviews were conducted with nurses from diverse backgrounds and practice settings. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and verified for thematic analysis. Three key themes emerged related to personal protective equipment during COVID-19: (1) concerns with safety, (2) concerns with personal protective equipment supply, and (3) concerns with health care systems changing personal protective equipment policies. These findings support the importance of transparent and equitable institution-wide PPE standards in creating safe working environments. Clear communication around personal protective equipment policies and procedures, personal protective equipment education, and assurance of equitable access to equipment that can mitigate risk and disability while also reducing fear, confusion, and frustration among nurses. Maintaining clear and consistent personal protective equipment guidelines and communication regarding supplies and procedures enhances transparency during both routine and critical times de-escalating the inevitable strain concomitant with providing patient care during a global pandemic.

No abstract

To date, attitudes toward breastsleeping among certified nurse-midwives caring for postpartum women are not well known. This study describes the validation procedures of two instruments assessing the attitudes of certified nurse-midwives toward breastsleeping. These tools were validated using an 18-item survey administered to a convenience sample of certified nurse-midwives. Participating certified nursemidwives were recruited for anonymous participation in an online survey in September-November 2019. Factor analysis and parallel analysis each revealed a two-factor solution, suggesting that there were two main concepts representing the attitudes of certified nurse-midwives toward breastsleeping: breastsleeping safety and breastfeeding experience. Statistically significant differences for mean breastsleeping safety scores were noted by age group, place of practice, and United States' geographical region.