Open AccessCritical Care Nurses’ Experiences of Caring for Patients With COVID-19: Results of a Thematic Analysis
Author(s) -
Sarah Gast,
Julie Barroso,
Francesca A Blanchard,
Amy A Campbell,
Stacey J Carter,
Emma Clark,
Rachel Hilton,
Richard D. Branson,
Steven Greenberg,
Ruth Kleinpell
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
american journal of critical care
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.592
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1937-710X
pISSN - 1062-3264
DOI - 10.4037/ajcc2022784
Subject(s) - staffing , thematic analysis , pandemic , nursing , medicine , personal protective equipment , health care , intensive care , perception , theme (computing) , covid-19 , qualitative research , psychology , political science , intensive care medicine , disease , sociology , social science , pathology , neuroscience , computer science , infectious disease (medical specialty) , law , operating system
Background The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged health care professionals, especially those working in intensive care units (ICUs). Objectives To explore critical care nurses’ experiences with and perceptions of the COVID-19 pandemic during the early phases of the pandemic. Methods Data were from national surveys conducted during March and April 2020 to assess ICU providers’ perceptions of the initial phases of the pandemic. A total of 831 responses from nurses to open-ended questions were examined by using thematic analysis. The questions assessed potentially limited resources in the ICU, adequacy of staffing, and measures used to reduce the possibility of spreading COVID-19 to family members. Results Overarching themes concerned access to equipment and preventive measures taken to reduce exposure to the virus. These themes included “sheltering the patient when I don’t have enough” and “protecting those I love when I am a vector of transmission.” Subthemes for the first overarching theme included not having enough personal protective equipment, not enough staff and not enough properly trained staff, and not enough institutional support. Subthemes for the second overarching theme included “isolating myself from everyone I care about” and “isolating everything I touch from everyone I care about.” Conclusions This thematic analysis identified several concerns of ICU nurses related to caring for patients in the initial phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. Ensuring adequate supplies, staffing, and administrative and emotional support are provided to frontline health care providers during the ongoing pandemic remains essential.