Nurses' response to the science of COVID‐19 and variants

McDonald, Tracey

doi:10.1111/nhs.12865

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…Any currently known infectious diseases combined with Omicron's increased transmissibility and immunity-bypassing abilities would be a catastrophic outcome for which the world is unprepared. Overreliance on vaccine and antiviral development is unwise when dealing with a coronavirus that mutates quickly in response to suppression efforts (McDonald, 2021b). The ongoing efficacy of these medicines for newer variants is not guaranteed.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Are we there yet? A guide to achieving endemic status for COVID‐19 and variants

McDonald¹

2022

International Nursing Review

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Aim To clarify factors that support a policy change from pandemic to endemic status and to examine options for non‐medical responses to reduce COVID‐19 transmission. Background Critical factors to be considered in pandemic response decisions are not limited to medical options or public health orders, although these are important. Sources of evidence All evidence drawn from publicly available sources is presented through the lens of the authors’ nursing, management, education, policy and research experience. Discussion As COVID‐19 variants cause infections to surge nurses and other health practitioners, who are the de facto implementers of public and health policy, need to consider the evidence supporting a pandemic policy change to endemic status. Non‐medical options for reducing transmission and variant mutations are needed to enable at‐risk populations to avoid infection. Conclusion Public policy that shifts infection risks onto the general population requires close scrutiny of the evidence base for such decisions and warrants open debate and review. If people are to manage risks arising from policy decisions, they need access to non‐medical virus detection options as well as access to effective medicines and treatment. Implications for nursing practice Nurses have an extension to their advocacy role when policy changes about infectious disease status are declared. Evaluation of policy in terms of validity, equity and scientific basis is part of nursing's public responsibility. Policies that fail to reflect what is happening at the patient care level need to be questioned and modified where necessary. Only policies deemed ‘good’ policy by nurses should be implemented without challenge. Access to devices for environmental detection of the virus would enable real‐time estimation of infection risks and inform individual decisions about the real risk of participating in work or other activities. Implications for health and social policy Policy decisions to transition from pandemic to endemic status must be evidence based. Clear messaging about risks and options assists policy implementation. Terminologies describing stages of infectious disease spread from ‘outbreak, epidemic, endemic and pandemic’ are not interchangeable, although they will expand and contract across the range in response to interventions such as public health safety measures (PHSM), quarantine, vaccinations, antivirals and fatalities that alter the case count in defined locations for those who avoid or survive an infection.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Are we there yet? A guide to achieving endemic status for COVID‐19 and variants

McDonald¹

2022

International Nursing Review

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“…They decide how to resource them, who will be involved, and when and where they will occur. Governments have the capacity to quickly adjust public health strategies to prevent or minimise coronavirus transmission and help to suppress opportunities for pathogens to mutate into a more virulent form (McDonald, 2021). But political will is frequently the deciding factor in responding to expert advice.…”

Section: Public Policy Risk Appetitementioning

confidence: 99%

Appetite for risk in the C‐19 policy environment

McDonald¹

2022

International Nursing Review

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Leadership deficits and poor communication about science connect risk-shifting and vaccination hesitancy to safety issues for nurses and the general public. Background: Nurses can be trusted, especially in these chaotic times, to provide trustworthy information on C-19. Publicly expressed gratitude to nurses does little to improve work environments made more precarious by C-19. Practical support may help retain nurses in the health system. Discussion: Public trust in governments has dissipated during the pandemic. People are confused by inconsistent and contentious information and services. Publishing practices that produce low-quality publications undermine scientific information and impede the flow of high-quality research information. Conclusion: Science can advise on a pathway through the risks of C-19 but it is politicians and government officials who decide policy on whether to accept the science and set the level of acceptable risk to the general public. Problematic publishing and communication pathways for essential information contribute to public uncertainty and undermine trust in vaccines, public health strategies, and immigration and quarantine policies. Implications: Nurse safety needs to be central to policy deliberations that affect transmission or spending on infection risk reduction. Policies that put nurses at increased risk encourage those with a choice, to abandon unsafe health system employment. Research quality systems that improve research communication pathways to support practice are urgently needed. Nurses rely on research information sources for credible evidence to support their clinical practice. Risk-shifting is the unintended consequence of government policy on vaccination, immigration, international travel, quarantine and screening for C-19. Governments must accept their role in generating public mistrust of vaccines and not judge people's decisions made on the basis of information available. Political manipulation of C-19 data needs to be exposed to enable recovery planning.

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Nurses' response to the science of COVID‐19 and variants

Cited by 2 publications

References 5 publications

Are we there yet? A guide to achieving endemic status for COVID‐19 and variants

Are we there yet? A guide to achieving endemic status for COVID‐19 and variants

Appetite for risk in the C‐19 policy environment

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