Behaviours and experiences of nurses during the COVID‐19 pandemic in Turkey: A mixed methods study

Abstract

Aim The aim of this work is to present behaviours and experiences of nurses in Turkey during the current coronavirus pandemic. Background The coronavirus pandemic leads to difficulties for most health care workers, especially for nurses who mostly accompany patients and are on the front line. Methods In the study, a parallel mixed pattern converging quantitative and qualitative research methods was used. Results The model revealed that 41 years old or older, diabetic, female, single professionals, working in the pandemic department took more personal measures. Five main themes appeared regarding the experiences of the nurses during the pandemic period: (1) psychological and mental strain; (2) personal protective equipment; (3) organizational, physical, and social strains; (4) change in professional values; (5) turning the crisis into an opportunity. Conclusions Personal measures are associated with the risk status. There is a need to protect nurses with significant measures by providing psychosocial support, meeting their basic needs, and preventing all complications likely to occur due to increasing workload. Implications for Nursing Management More efforts should be made to ensure good work, fair treatment, no tolerance for discrimination, and equal compensation conditions.

What can general practice learn from primary care nurses’ and healthcare assistants’ experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic? A qualitative study

“…The unknown nature of the virus created a strong fear of infection among participants in this study. This feeling is emphasised by nurses in other qualitative studies from the pandemic, who also describe fear intensified by the tenuous nature of PPE—of inadequate quantity (as described in this study) but additionally of uncertain quality 26 28 30–32 37–39. Literature from this pandemic and previous disease outbreaks suggests that the frontline nature of their role may place nurses at higher risk of physical and psychological distress than other healthcare professions 26 32 33.…”

“…This study found that the COVID-19 pandemic has been a stressful period for nurses and HCAs in general practice, aligning with international accounts of primary care25 27 29 35–37 39 56–58 and nurses’ experiences in general 26 28 30–34 40 59–62. The necessity for meaningful and accessible short-term and long-term mental health support and continuous education and training are key recommendations in the literature 21–23 25 28 31 32 37 38 40 57 59. However, this study emphasised additional measures that could help to better support primary care nurses, HCAs and the wider primary care team.…”

“…Interviews were directed by a topic guide (box 1), ensuring important topics were covered while allowing exploration of novel ideas. The initial topic guide was based on the themes from existing literature 25–40. Clarity and focus of some questions were adjusted following a pilot interview with a practice nurse; the pilot interview was therefore not included in data analysis.…”

“…There is a substantial volume of international qualitative literature documenting nurses’ experiences of the pandemic. Most of these studies are set in hospitals 25 26 28–36. Fewer studies focus on primary care nurses who, with differing responsibilities during the pandemic and moving forward, possess different insights.…”

Impact of SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic on Psychosocial Burden and Job Satisfaction of Long-Term Care Nurses in Poland

“…It was found that 85.0% of the participants followed the quarantine rules, 75.7% paid attention to social distancing while working and 81.7% followed the social distance rule in the places where they ate. It was found that 46.7% of the participants feared that they might be carriers of COVID-19 and 38.9% feared COVID-19 infection [ 27 ]. In a study by Sikaras et al, 52.4% of the respondents worked in COVID-19 units, the results of 67.9% and 42.9%, respectively, suggested the occurrence of fatigue and burnout among them and showed a strong positive correlation ( p < 0.01, r = 0.70) [ 28 ].…”