<p>Experiences and Psychological Adjustments of Nurses Who Voluntarily Supported COVID-19 Patients in Hubei Province, China</p>

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic poses a major threat to global public health and economic development. Moreover, it has put considerable psychological pressure on nurses, who have played a vital role in the prevention and control of the epidemic. Objective: This qualitative study aimed at exploring the experiences and psychological adjustments of nurses who voluntarily traveled to Hubei Province in China to provide support during the COVID-19 epidemic. Methods: We conducted semi-structured, face-to-face interviews with twelve nurses recruited from three hospitals in Jiangsu Province and performed qualitative content analysis of the interview data. Results: The following themes emerged from the analysis: (1) motivations for supporting the hardest-hit areas (professional commitment, family support, and media propaganda); (2) challenges faced during the support missions (heavy workloads, changes in working patterns, communication barriers, and barriers associated with wearing personal protective equipment); (3) psychological experiences (a sense of uncertainty, fear of infection, loneliness, stressful events, and sleep disorders); (4) psychological adjustments (adequate training and personal protective equipment, positive responses to stress, and social support); and (5) personal and professional growth (a strong professional identity, a positive work attitude, a perception of expanded possibilities, realization of the value of learning, and cherishing life). Conclusions and Recommendations: Policy makers and nursing managers should implement effective measures for supporting nurses. They include ensuring adequate workforce preparedness for nurses, strengthening protection training, including professional psychologists in support teams, encouraging nurses to apply self-regulation methods, such as exercising and listening to music, and seeking social support to promote mental health.

Barriers and Facilitators of Nurses’ and Physicians’ Willingness to Work during a Respiratory Disease Outbreak: A Mixed-Methods Systematic Review

“…The included manuscripts were published between 2003 and 2021. As shown in Table 1 , studies were conducted in various countries, including Australia ( n = 4) [ 8 , 22 , 23 , 24 ], Bangladesh ( n = 1) [ 25 ], Canada ( n = 1) [ 26 ], China ( n = 7) [ 2 , 7 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 ], Georgia ( n = 1) [ 32 ], Hong Kong ( n = 1) [ 33 ], Nigeria ( n = 1) [ 34 ], Pakistan ( n = 1) [ 35 ], Philippines ( n = 1) [ 36 ], Qatar ( n = 1) [ 37 ], South Korea ( n = 2) [ 38 , 39 ], Taiwan ( n = 3) [ 4 , 40 , 41 ], Turkey ( n = 1) [ 42 ], USA ( n = 3) [ 5 , 43 , 44 ], and Yemen ( n = 1) [ 15 ]. Among the 29 studies reviewed, 19 studies included nurses only [ 4 , 5 , 8 , 22 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 33 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , …”

“…Among the 29 studies reviewed, 19 studies included nurses only [ 4 , 5 , 8 , 22 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 33 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 ], 6 included physicians only [ 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 34 , 35 ], and 4 included both nurses and physicians [ 2 , 7 , 15 , 32 ]. A total of 19 studies were conducted during an outbreak or pandemic, such as the SARS outbreak ( n = 2) [ 4 , 41 ], the H1N1 influenza pandemic ( n = 3) [ 5 , 33 , 43 ], the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) outbreak ( n = 1) [ 39 ], and the COVID-19 pandemic ( n = 13) [ 2 , 7 , 8 , 25 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 42 ]. One study was conducted to evaluate the high possibility of an avian influenza (AI) outbreak [ 40 ].…”

“…Eleven studies identified social responsibility as a facilitator of nurses’ and physicians’ willingness to work [ 2 , 23 , 24 , 27 , 29 , 30 , 36 , 38 , 39 , 42 , 44 ]. Nurses with higher scores of social responsibility were more likely to report their willingness to work if a respiratory outbreak occurred [ 38 , 44 ].…”

“…Furthermore, the physicians believed that refusal to work during a pandemic was an abandonment of their responsibilities to both their patients and colleagues [ 23 , 24 ]. Some nurses learned about the difficulties that healthcare workers and patients were experiencing during the COVID-19 pandemic from news broadcasts and social media, which was antecedent to their decision to volunteer to support the COVID-19 care sites to extend help [ 27 ].…”

Physical and Psychological Health of Nursing Staff During the Pandemic: Effect of Stress

“…The situation was very turbulent the infection rates were increasing erratically and the even the death rate was very high. 8,9 This situation exposed to the risk of getting infected by the novel Corona virus. At such a point the Nursing staffs employed in the COVID 19 ward were suspended to the risk of infection.…”