Managing health care under heavy stress: Effects of the COVID‐19 pandemic on care unit managers' ability to support the nurses—A mixed‐methods approach

Abstract

Aim(s):This study aims to investigate care unit managers' perceptions of how the COVID-19 pandemic influenced their ability to support the nurses. Background:The COVID-19 pandemic placed extreme pressure on health care organizations. More knowledge regarding how the pandemic influenced care unit managers' ability to support nurses is central to ensuring high-quality health care in future crises. Method(s):A mixed-methods study in Swedish hospitals with a survey (n = 128) and interviews (n = 20) with care unit managers.Results: Approximately half of the managers reported having spent more time available to and supporting the nurses. Availability was positively predicted by their perceived organizational support while negatively by their job demands. These job demands concerned meeting staff anxiety and managing organizational restructuring.Full focus on direct patient care and strong professional and social support were important job resources. Conclusion(s):For care unit managers to effectively support the nurses during a crisis, they need proficient job resources and moderate job demands. Managers' perceived organizational support positively affects the quality of their crisis leadership.Creating arenas in which staff collegiality can form and develop is beneficial for the ability to meet future crises.Implications for Nursing Management: This study specifies important job resources that should be acknowledged and reinforced to strengthen the ability of care unit managers to actively support the nurses during a crisis.

Ethical value conflicts in healthcare and their effects on nurses’ health, turnover intent, team effectiveness, and patient safety: a longitudinal questionnaire study

“…Previous research indicates that moral injury and distress among healthcare staff increased during the pandemic ( 4 ). A mixed methods study among CU managers in the hospitals included in the present research project shows that this pandemic entailed a clear focus on patient care that unified the staff around what was perceived as the core of healthcare work, and solidarity and social responsibility within work groups ( 35 ). Thus, in examining the outcomes of exposure to EVC and moral distress, the pandemic may have had both exacerbating and effect-masking consequences.…”

“…Follow-up (T2) measurements were collected during one of the peaks of the COVID-19 pandemic ( 35 ). Previous research indicates that moral injury and distress among healthcare staff increased during the pandemic ( 4 ).…”

Status and influencing factors of work stress among nurse managers in western China: a cross-sectional survey study

“…The research participants in this study were nurse managers, and the organization provided them with more material and spiritual support than ordinary nurses. During the survey period, the country and society attached great importance to nursing work [ 27 ], which made them feel more valued, recognized, and cared for by the organization, indirectly increasing the professional identity and organizational support of nurse managers, resulting in higher scores of organizational support. According to the social exchange theory, both parties in the exchange relationship follow the “principle of reciprocity“ [ 28 ].…”

“…The quality of their work directly affects the quality and social image of hospitals. Hospital managers should emphasize the importance of the nursing team and provide appropriate organizational support for nurse managers to reduce work pressure and improve professional identity and work enthusiasm [ 27 ].…”

Work & life stress experienced by professional workers during the pandemic: a gender-based analysis

“…Health professionals in general felt isolated because they were not involved in the care organization's decision-making process before and during the first wave of COVID-19. They found the uncertainty about when the pandemic would be under control extremely stressful [28]. Working with COVID-19 patients placed health professionals at a greater risk of experiencing higher levels of stress, anxiety and depression [29][30][31].…”