Employment and working conditions of nurses: where and how health inequalities have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Abstract

Background Nurses and midwives play a critical role in the provision of care and the optimization of health services resources worldwide, which is particularly relevant during the current COVID-19 pandemic. However, they can only provide quality services if their work environment provides adequate conditions to support them. Today the employment and working conditions of many nurses worldwide are precarious, and the current pandemic has prompted more visibility to the vulnerability to health-damaging factors of nurses’ globally. This desk review explores how employment relations, and employment and working conditions may be negatively affecting the health of nurses in countries such as Brazil, Croatia, India, Ireland, Italy, México, Nepal, Spain, and the United Kingdom. Main body Nurses’ health is influenced by the broader social, economic, and political system and the redistribution of power relations that creates new policies regarding the labour market and the welfare state. The vulnerability faced by nurses is heightened by gender inequalities, in addition to social class, ethnicity/race (and caste), age and migrant status, that are inequality axes that explain why nurses’ workers, and often their families, are exposed to multiple risks and/or poorer health. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, informalization of nurses’ employment and working conditions were unfair and harmed their health. During COVID-19 pandemic, there is evidence that the employment and working conditions of nurses are associated to poor physical and mental health. Conclusion The protection of nurses’ health is paramount. International and national enforceable standards are needed, along with economic and health policies designed to substantially improve employment and working conditions for nurses and work–life balance. More knowledge is needed to understand the pathways and mechanisms on how precariousness might affect nurses’ health and monitor the progress towards nurses’ health equity.

Health care workers' experience of personal protective equipment use and associated adverse effects during the COVID‐19 pandemic response in Singapore

“…This could be related to women using cosmetics more frequently than the males, which may have contributed to the development of PPE‐associated skin reactions (British Columbia Ministry of Health, 2021 ). Alternatively this may reflect differences in work patterns, such that women are more likely to be employed in roles where they are required to use PPE for prolonged periods without a break (Chua et al, 2020 ; Llop‐Gironés et al, 2021 ). Older adults (aged ≥51 years) were less likely to report PPE‐associated side effects, possibly reflecting age‐related differences in the risk of developing skin conditions such as acne vulgaris.…”

Communication in interprofessional health care teams from the perspective of patients and staff

“…The fact that most nurses and about half of the physicians stated that all team members participate equally in team communication contradicts other literature showing the opposite -that physicians rate interprofessional teamwork better than nurses (19,23,24). This can be explained by the fact that nurses have gained importance and role in health care teams, health care organizations, and society in general, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic, when the health care system was forced to involve them in the co-management of the pandemic (39).…”

Inequalities in COVID-19 inequalities research: Who had the capacity to respond?

“…Being able to rapidly conduct comprehensive COVID-19 inequalities analyses can assist to produce vital knowledge about COVID-19 related incidences, deaths, and health inequalities in the community [ 3 ], as well among health professionals [ 35 – 38 ]. This knowledge is needed to help guide the development of more reactive, evidence-informed policy and action aiming to address COVID-19 related inequalities, and raise general awareness of these issues at local, national, and global levels to ensure a healthier future for all.…”