Nurses’ strategies for overcoming barriers to fundamental nursing care in patients with COVID-19 caused by infection with the SARS-COV-2 virus: Results from the ‘COVID-NURSE’ survey

Sugg, Holly V. R.; Richards, David A.; Russell, Anne‐Marie; Burnett, Sarah; Cockcroft, Emma J.; Thompson Coon, Jo; Cruickshank, Susanne; Doris, Faye E.; Hunt, Harriet A.; Iles-Smith, Heather; Kent, Merryn; Logan, Philippa A.; Morgan, Leila M.; Morley, Naomi; Rafferty, Anne Marie; Shepherd, Maggie H.; Singh, Sally J.; Tooze, Susannah J.; Whear, Rebecca

Abstract

Aims: To identify strategies used by registered nurses and non- registered nursing care staff in overcoming barriers when providing fundamental nursing care for non- invasively ventilated inpatients with COVID-19.Design: Online survey with open-ended questions to collect qualitative data.Methods: In August 2020, we asked UK- based nursing staff to describe any strategies they employed to overcome barriers to delivering care in 15 fundamental nursing care categories when providing care to non-invasively ventilated patients with COVID-19. We analysed data using Framework Analysis.Results: A total of 1062 nurses consented to participate in our survey. We derived four themes. 1) Communication behaviours included adapting verbal and non-verbal com-munication with patients, using information technology to enable patients’ significant others to communicate with staff and patients, and establishing clear information- sharing methods with other staff. 2) Organizing care required clustering interventions, carefully managing supplies, encouraging patient self-care and using ‘runners’ and in-terdisciplinary input. 3) Addressing patients’ well-being and values required spend-ing time with patients, acting in loco familiae, providing access to psychological and spiritual support, obtaining information about patients’ wishes early on and providing privacy and comforting/meaningful items. 4) Management and leadership behaviours included training, timely provision of pandemic information, psychological support, team huddles and facilitating regular breaks.Conclusions: Our respondents identified multiple strategies in four main areas of clinical practice. Management and leadership are crucial to both fundamental care de-livery and the well- being of nurses during pandemics. Grouping strategies into these areas of action may assist nurses and leaders to prepare for pandemic nursing.Impact: As these strategies are unlikely to be exclusive to the COVID-19 pandemic, their global dissemination may improve patient experience and help nurses deliver fundamental care when planning pandemic nursing. However, their effectiveness is unknown. Therefore, we are currently evaluating these strategies in a cluster rand-omized controlled trial.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Online Publication Date: Apr 25, 2022
• Publication Date: Apr 25, 2022
• Deposit Date: Jun 21, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 21, 2022
• Journal: Journal of Advanced Nursing
• Print ISSN: 0309-2402
• Electronic ISSN: 1365-2648
• Publisher: Wiley
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.15261
• Keywords: General Nursing
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.15261
• Additional Information: Projects : MR/V02776X/1;unspecified